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Tattooing is a stressor that could have adaptive benefits. Previous research indicates that endocrine and immune systems adjust to the stress of modern electric tattooing over lifetime experience, but it is unclear how these systems react to traditional hand-tap tattooing. The objective of this study was to explore how the body responds to this intense cultural stressor through examining traditional tattooing in Samoa, where saliva samples were collected throughout the first day from a Samoan man receiving the tattoo. Morning elevations and diurnal profiles of cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), and bacteria killing activity (BKA) are described, and comparison is made between these data and a previous study including hand-tap and electric tattooing. Peaks in the diurnal cortisol slope correspond with anticipation of beginning an important tattoo, tattooing activity, and evening pain as stress-related analgesia diminishes and inflammation rises. Peaks in CRP levels may reflect normal moment-to-moment changes in salivary excretion. sIgA and BKA fluctuate similarly to one another throughout the day of tattooing. There were no significant differences in average pain ratings or biomarker levels between the two tattooing styles. Exploring tattooing and endocrine function is important to understanding how culture interacts with endocrine and immune function. 

Objectives Tattooing is not an evolved behavior, but it may be a phenotypic gambit to highlight immunological health. Phenotypic gambits are traits or behaviors that appear costly but occur at high rates as a honing process of natural selection not constrained by genetics. Tattooing is an ancient practice that is increasing in popularity worldwide, but it involves wounding the body, which seems counterintuitive because it challenges the immune system and makes one more susceptible to infection. But tattooing may represent a costly honest signal of fitness by “upping the ante” in an era of hygiene or a means to stimulate the immune system in a way that improves and highlights underlying fitness. Materials and Methods We investigated this hypothesis by assessing bacteria killing activity (BKA) in saliva samples collected during two studies of tattooing (N = 40). We compared previous tattoo experience (extent of body tattooed and hours spent being tattooed) to BKA before and after getting a new tattoo. Results Tattoo experience positively predicts post-tattoo BKA (β = 0.48, p = 0.01), suggesting that people with more tattoo experience have a relatively more immediate and active immune response than those with less tattoo experience. Discussion Tattoo experience may elevate innate immunological vigilance, which could aid in protecting against future dermal insults.