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Why That Viral Glow In The Dark Harry Potter Tattoo Is Actually Really Dangerous

You know that photo of that UV glowing Marauder's Map tattoo going viral on Imgur? It's actually really dangerous. Find out why at MTV.co.uk

When it comes to Harry Potter, there is very little we wouldn't do to get closer to the dream that is finally receiving a Hogwarts letter.But one thing we won't be doing any time soonis getting a tattoo like theglow in the dark one that's gone viral on imgur this week.

While the tatt might looktotally bodacious and gives an even more magical effect to the quote taken from the infamous Marauder's Map, it turns out that it's actually been done using a pretty dangerous tattooing technique.

The ethereal blue UV glow only shows up when the tattoo is put under a black light and is a pretty controversial type of tattoo, withmany commentingon the photo questioning how safe this practice is.

Explaining why it's so worrying, dermatalogic surgeon Joel Schlessinger tells RealSelf that using UV ink is much more likely to provoke allergic reactions than normal tattoo inks.

"There are risks with any tattoos, regardless of the method used or the type of ink involved," he says. "The FDA doesn't regulate any type of tattoo ink so you never know what is being injected under your skin.

"Another cause for concern is many inks that glow in the dark contain phosphorus, a dangerous element that can be incredibly toxic to humans depending on where it's derived."

He adds: "Because tattoo ink is not regulated by the FDA, it can be difficult to know if the ink to be used contains even the smallest amount of phosphorus."

Err yeah, think we'll be managing any mischief in a way that seriously steers clear of this one. How about you? Tweet us to @MTVUK to let us know.

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