Gold Tattoos – Can You Really Tattoo Pure Gold Into Your Skin?

After a scene in the Netflix series Untamed, searches for “gold tattoo” have spiked. But is it actually possible to tattoo real gold into the skin?

What is a gold tattoo?

A gold tattoo usually refers to a temporary tattoo with a metallic gold finish. You’ve likely seen them at festivals, weddings, or in beauty posts on social media. They only last a few days and are applied like stickers — no needles, no pigment involved.

But after a scene in Untamed, where a character talks about tattoos made with real gold, many have started to wonder if it’s actually possible to tattoo real gold into the skin.

Can real gold be tattooed into skin?

The short answer is: maybe — but it’s very uncommon.
Gold is a noble metal that the body generally tolerates well, but it’s not used in traditional tattoo inks. To make it work, the gold would need to be broken down into microscopic particles, and even then, it’s uncertain how the body would react or whether the pigment would remain in the skin over time.

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Different types of “gold tattoos”

When people talk about gold tattoos, they often mean different things. Here are a few examples:

• Temporary metallic gold tattoos (most common)
• Cosmetic pigments with a gold ton
• The fantasy of embedding real gold in the skin, like in Untamed

That last one remains more fiction than fact — at least for now.

Gold on your skin – but maybe not as a tattoo

Gold carries deep symbolism, which is likely why gold tattoos feel so intriguing. But if you want to wear gold on your skin, there are simpler ways — like an elegant 18k gold bracelet from Smyckesguld.