Tattoo

Scientists have developed a microneedle patch that can be self-administered and painlessly deposit a tattoo onto skin in minutes. The technology is proposed for simple medical or animal uses but cosmetic uses are possible in the future.

New research presented at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society, analyzing nearly 100 currently used tattoo inks, found many inks contained chemicals not declared on their ingredient list, and at nanoparticle sizes suspected to be harmful.

Scientists have developed a new electronic “tattoo” that can monitor a patient’s blood pressure continuously. The e-tattoo is made of graphene and can be worn for long periods without getting in the way, allowing for better health data.

When treating patients for certain conditions, it's important to monitor their blood oxygen levels. A new sub-dermal photosensitive sensor provides a new means of doing so, plus it could one day be used to measure other blood-borne substances.

Scientists in Europe have leveraged cutting edge OLED technology to produce a first-of-a-kind tattoo that could be used to monitor different metrics of physical human performance, the freshness of food, or even prevent sunburn.

Do tattoos impair the skin’s ability to sweat? Despite the ubiquitousness of tattoos this question has received little research attention. A first-of-its-kind study suggests inked skin may damage sweat glands and reduce the body’s ability to cool itself.

Applying the wearable sensors of the future could be as simple as sketching out a shape on your arm, according to new research that investigates the potential for bioelectronics to be applied through graphite pencils and office copy paper.

Engineers have optimized a novel technology that uses temporary tattoo electrodes to record EEG brain activity. The technology is cheap, can be produced using an inkjet printer, and delivers EEG measurements as accurately as traditional electrodes.

Chromium and nickel nanoparticles from tattoo needles may be responsible for some allergic reactions to tattoos.

​Many people get a tattoo as a means of making a statement. Thanks to new research into permanent tattoos that change color in response to certain biomarkers, that statement could one day be something along the lines of, "My pH levels are being monitored."

​Getting a tattoo certainly isn't known for being a comfortable process. It can also cause damage to the skin, plus it results in bio-hazardous used needles that need to be properly disposed of. A new needle-free technique, however, gets around all of those problems.

​Laser-based tattoo removal is typically a long process, often requiring 10 or more treatment sessions spread several weeks apart from one another. A new acoustic system, however, could reportedly allow for complete tattoo removal in as little as two to three closely-spaced sessions.