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Scientists develop tattoo ink that switches on under UV light and turns invisible in ONE SECOND

PhotoTat ink, developed by University of Colorado Boulder's Carson Bruns, can produce 16 distinct colours and at least 300 shades, switchable with UV light or an LED.
PhotoTat ink, developed by University of Colorado Boulder's Carson Bruns, can produce 16 distinct colours and at least 300 shades, switchable with UV light or an LED.

University of Colorado Boulder engineers have created PhotoTat, a new tattoo ink that turns from invisible to vivid colour within seconds under ultraviolet light and can be switched off just as fast with a bright LED. Lead researcher Carson Bruns has worn a fish-scale PhotoTat tattoo for over two years with no side effects and says colours remain fully switchable throughout. The inks are made from colour-changing dyes sealed inside microscopic plexiglass-like spheres already used in medical dermal fillers. Bruns envisions cancer patients using the technology to hide radiation-guidance tattoos between hospital visits.

'You turn it on with UV light, but you can turn it off again when you go to grandma's house,' Bruns said.

PhotoTat can produce 16 distinct colours and at least 300 shades — but white is impossible because it reflects light.

The ink is not yet available in tattoo parlours; Bruns and colleagues are continuing to develop it for wider commercial release.

Morethedermdigest.comNow You See It, Now You Don’t: Light-activated Inks May Let Tattoos Temporarily Disappear - The Dermatology Digestindiatimes.comResearchers developed tattoo inks that can be switched on with ultraviolet light and made to disappear in sunlight; tests found the colours remained switchable in skin for up to 2.2 years, opening possible medical usesgjsentinel.com‘Invisible’ tattoos switch on and off under different lightinterestingengineering.comScientists create tattoos that vanish in seconds and reappear with UV lightlivescience.comCool chemistry trick allows new tattoos toiosconews.com‘Invisible’ tattoos switch on and off under different light - Iosco County News Heraldnewscientist.comTattoos could be turned on and off with lightInteresting EngineeringPhotoTat: Switchable tattoo inks turn on under UV light and fade with LED exposure
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