Painless Tattoos Developed – Easy, Do-It-Yourself Microneedle Patches

Scientists Develop Painless Tattoos That Can Be Self-Administered

Imagine getting painlessly tattooed by a skin patch containing microscopic needles, instead of sitting in a tattoo chair for hours enduring painful punctures. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) have developed low-cost, painless, and bloodless tattoos that can be self-administered. They have many applications, from medical alerts to tracking neutered animals to cosmetics.

The tattoos were also designed with privacy in mind. The developers even created patches sensitive to environmental factors such as light or temperature changes, where the tattoo will only appear with ultraviolet light or higher temperatures. This provides patients with privacy, revealing the tattoo only when desired.

The study demonstrated that the tattoos could last for at least a year and are likely to be permanent. This also makes them viable cosmetic options for people who want an aesthetic tattoo without the risk of infection or the pain associated with traditional tattoos. Microneedle tattoos could alternatively be loaded with temporary tattoo ink to address short-term needs in medicine and cosmetics.

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