A tattoo can be done quickly and painlessly.
The Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a self-inking tattoo.
The microneedles can be attached to adhesive patches. The patches can be applied to the skin, and the ink will then be left behind.
“We saw this as an opportunity to leverage our work on microneedle technology to make tattoos more accessible,” said Mark Prausnitz, principal investigator. “While some people are willing to accept the pain and time required for a tattoo, we thought others might prefer a tattoo that is simply pressed onto the skin and does not hurt.”
Researchers don’t think microneedle tattoos will be replaced by traditional tattooing. This is especially true for large pieces. They believe that it might be an option for smaller images and letters.
“The goal isn’t to replace all tattoos, which are often works of beauty created by tattoo artists,” Prausnitz said.
