CipherX Launches Microdot Tattoos With Dissolving Microneedles

CipherX, a London-based skin technology company, launched its Microdot Tattoos applicator this week, which utilizes dissolving microneedles to deliver tattoo ink with significantly less pain than traditional methods. The company claims the process is less painful than brushing one's hair, a stark contrast to the discomfort associated with conventional tattoo needles that puncture deeper into the dermis. Instead of a traditional tattoo machine, Microdot Tattoos employs capsules containing microneedles designed to dissolve upon contact with the skin's moisture. These microneedles penetrate only the top layer of the skin, releasing tattoo ink arranged as microscopic dots that form the image.

Ferdinand Kohle, cofounder and CEO of CipherX, explained the microneedle technology's function, comparing it to a sandcastle that dissolves when wet. He stated that the needles are rigid and penetrate the upper skin layer but immediately begin to dissolve in the skin's moisture, releasing the ink into the appropriate layer. This approach aims to minimize trauma to the skin, reducing the typical weeks-long aftercare period to a claimed 48 hours. The microneedle technology is already used in minimally invasive applications for drug and vaccine delivery.

The Microdot Tattoos applicator is reusable and uses off-the-shelf tattoo ink. The initial launch in London's Shoreditch neighborhood features approximately a dozen pre-designed tattoos, including simple icons like a smiley face and a heart. The design philosophy behind the applicator is described as "embodied brutalism," inspired by the geometric forms of brutalist architecture, such as the Trellick Tower in West London. This innovative approach to tattooing seeks to make the process more accessible and less daunting for individuals seeking body art.