CipherX, a London-based biotech company, has developed a painless tattooing method using patches of polymer microneedles filled with ink, eliminating the need for traditional tattoo guns. The company has already applied 500 of its microdot tattoos since launching the product last month, offering 13 designs at £50 each.
How the Painless Tattoo Patch Works
The new technology replaces tattoo guns with patches containing microneedles made from tattoo ink and a dissolvable polymer. The patch is pressed directly onto the skin and left for 15 minutes, allowing the polymer needles to dissolve and the ink to penetrate the skin. Because the microneedles are tiny, they do not reach the deeper layers of skin where pain receptors are located, making the process painless.
According to Ferdinand Kohle, founder and CEO of CipherX, 'When you scale the needle down and you apply it to your skin, you don't really feel the penetration anymore because it doesn't actually touch your pain receptors.'
No Aftercare Required
CipherX states that no aftercare is necessary after the tattoo is applied, so users can skip traditional post-tattoo care like clingfilm or second skin. This simplifies the process and adds to the convenience of the new method.
Designs and Pricing
The company currently sells 13 different designs, including a cross, a butterfly, and a star, all priced at £50 per tattoo. The launch follows a period of development and testing, with 500 applications completed so far.
The painless tattoo patch is a significant innovation in the tattoo industry, potentially opening up tattooing to a wider audience who are wary of needles or pain. As the technology is new, it remains to be seen how it will be received by the broader market and whether it will lead to further advancements in tattoo techniques.
