In a study published in the iScience journal, the specialists explain that these patches will be less expensive, less painful and quicker than current tattoos.

These new kinds of tattoos can even be applied without the assistance of a professional.

To create this device, the researchers used the microneedle skin-patch technology already used for drug injections. Here, however, the microneedles feature ink and are able to dissolve in the skin.

Once the patch is applied, each needle turns into a single dot of ink. The pattern represents the requested shape.

Another specificity is that the ink can potentially interact with its direct environment. For example, the tattoo can appear only when the temperature is high or when it is exposed to ultraviolet light.

For the moment, the tattoos offered are limited to letters, numbers, simple patterns or even a QR code.

The effect has the look of a pixelated image. The tattoos remain visible on the skin for at least a year. However, they could remain for life, depending on the ink chosen.

In addition to being purely aesthetic, these pigmented designs can be administered for medical purposes, to notify caregivers of potentially life-threatening chronic diseases or to mask a scar following an operation. These patches could also be used to tattoo pets.