{"id":4748,"date":"2026-07-31T12:20:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T12:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silvybrand.com\/?p=4748"},"modified":"2026-07-31T12:20:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T12:20:46","slug":"cipherx-permanent-pain-free-tattoo-microdot-patches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silvybrand.com\/?p=4748","title":{"rendered":"This tattoo is permanent, pain-free, and maybe delivered in the mail"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The refurbished railway station in London I entered last week had none of the usual signs of being a tattoo studio. The walls were devoid of any art, and there were no reclining chairs or massage tables in the room. The only tattoo gun on the premises sat in a display case instead of buzzing in someone\u2019s gloved hand. I felt like I was getting inked in a half-assembled biolab with some interesting benefits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I\u2019m not trying to put on a show of bravado when I say my latest tattoo didn\u2019t hurt. Getting the small sparkle lineart permanently marked on my skin was a genuinely painless experience. It was over in seconds, and didn\u2019t involve any grisly needles \u2014 at least, not in the traditional sense.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It was applied by CipherX<\/a>, a London-based biotech company that\u2019s developed disposable \u201cMicrodot\u201d patches that provide an alternative form of permanent tattooing. Each patch is roughly the size of a US quarter and uses microscopic, biodegradable needles to deposit pigment into the upper layers of the skin. The process is designed to be \u201cquiet, fast, and pain-free,\u201d all of which I found to be true, opening the door for even more people to rock some permanent ink.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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CipherX set up this rotating display, and I had to really squint to see the microneedles on the tattoo patches.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Here\u2019s a closer look at the microneedles, viewed using a live microscope video feed.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Some cosmetic products already use a similar technology, and microneedle tattoo patches have been explored since at least 2022<\/a>, but CipherX appears to be the first to turn that latter concept into a consumer-ready product. My Verge<\/em> colleagues<\/a> have previously put their bodies on the line<\/a> in the name of testing technology, and I was more than happy to offer up my flesh.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The application itself was actually faster than I expected. After choosing my design \u2014 a \u201cBold Sparkle<\/a>,\u201d now widely associated with AI iconography \u2014 CipherX CEO Ferdinand Kohle placed an ink-coated transparent guide disc on my arm to indicate where it would be applied. He then lined up the seemingly 3D-printed applicator with the ink guidelines, pressed a button, and removed it to reveal the Microdot patch affixed to my arm, embedding 112 microneedles into my skin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Applying the Microdot patch took a few seconds, and I barely felt anything.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A flexible tattoo bandage was applied to prevent it from moving around, and a branded plastic sticker was placed over that \u2014 presumably for marketing as Kohle admitted that part wasn\u2019t necessary. The final step involved waiting 15 minutes for it to process, and I was free to move around during that time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I was warned that I might feel a slight \u201cflicking\u201d sensation as the applicator was pressed, but I barely noticed a thing. It felt more like someone had lightly touched my arm with their finger. I wouldn\u2019t even describe the sensation as uncomfortable, let alone painful. It\u2019s also worth mentioning that I have sensitive skin and bleed very<\/em> easily, but I didn\u2019t experience any bleeding or irritation from the microneedles. There was no scabbing or healing time at all, unlike my other tattoos.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Step 1) pick your design and position it using the ink-coated guide lens. I obviously didn\u2019t opt for the smiley face.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Step 2) the applicator is lined up with the ink guidelines, and snaps the patch against your skin.<\/em> (This photo was taken between steps (3) and (4)<\/em> \u2014 note the skin irritation caused by the sticker.)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Step 3) cover the patch to prevent it from moving and chill for 15 minutes while the pigment is deposited.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Step 4) remove the covering and patch to reveal your new tattoo.<\/em> This is what it looked like immediately after application.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The tattoo is revealed after the patch is removed, and becomes visibly darker over the course of two days. Initially, the tattoo consisted of lots of teeny dots rather than a smooth, connected line. The ink is supposed to \u201cbleed\u201d together as it develops, like a regular tattoo does over the years, but that hasn\u2019t occurred in the five days since I had it done. I now have to look very closely to see the dots, but they\u2019re definitely still there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This macro shot was taken five days later. The dots remain visible but you\u2019d have to be creepily close to actually see them.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The superfluous branded sticker they applied over the tattoo bandage was actually the most annoying part of the entire experience because it pinched my skin when I moved my arm. I had the tattoo applied near the inside of my elbow as that\u2019s one of the more painful areas for traditional tattooing \u2014 I have my ankles done already (another notable pain zone) and wanted to compare.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This isn\u2019t a viable solution for tattooing most of the more painful body areas like your ankle joint or fingers though. The applicator requires enough of a flat surface area to accommodate the patch and skin that can be lightly stretched, so bony areas aren\u2019t ideal if you want every bit of the tattoo to come out cleanly. CipherX also isn\u2019t applying these on people\u2019s face, neck, hands, or groin area, but that\u2019s more because the company isn\u2019t comfortable doing so, and some tattoo artists reject those areas over similar personal boundaries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This is the applicator used to apply the Microdot patches against your skin.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Right now, the tattoo selection only includes about 15 designs, they can\u2019t be customized or measure larger than 15mm in diameter, and black is the only color option. CipherX is working on expanding beyond those limitations: It\u2019s developing additional colors, including an invisible UV-reactive ink, and is working on a larger size option, both of which were previewed at the event. The company is also increasing its range of designs and plans to collaborate with established artists for future releases.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The bigger size option that\u2019s in development can be seen here, compared to the current patch size on the right.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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These are some of the available designs.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The UV-reactive ink option CipherX is testing is pretty neat!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The patches are disposable and come in this silver packaging, with clear warnings that this is going to be permanent.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As someone who prefers larger, colorful custom ink, I can confidently say that I\u2019m not the target demographic for Microdot tattoos, but I\u2019m also not entirely sure who is. The tats could be a good space filler for people with existing tattoos, but those folks clearly don\u2019t have any issues with going the more painful traditional route. It\u2019s a good option for needlephobes, but they would have to really<\/em> want a tattoo while simultaneously not caring about hosting a generic design on their skin, forever.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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CipherX showed me another interesting perk in development: It\u2019s planning to sell kits that let you apply the tattoo yourself at home. At the launch event I attended, the company showed off a mockup of a palm-sized metal tin that could be shipped to a customer\u2019s doorstep in the future. I asked CipherX for a launch timeline, but it hasn\u2019t responded at the time of writing. CipherX is currently only offering tattoos through approved pop-ups in London, using trained practitioners to manage age verification requirements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This is the current prototype for the DIY home kit that CipherX is planning to launch<\/em>. It doesn\u2019t include a tiny applicator, which might mean customers have to purchase it separately or 3D print their own.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I don\u2019t think Microdot patches will revolutionize tattooing, but it might make them more accessible for a wider audience of needle-fearing folk. At \u00a350 (about $66), I feel it\u2019s a fair price for a more comfortable tattooing experience, and comparable to the price of similarly sized tattoos, though this obviously varies by area and artist rates. My only remaining test will be to see how \u201cpermanent\u201d these tattoos really are. While it did darken, it\u2019s now settled to a shade of black that looks fairly washed out, as if I\u2019d had it for years, not days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I\u2019ll provide an update in the coming months to show if the tattoo has changed. But for now, I have no ragrets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Photography by Jess Weatherbed \/ The Verge<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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