METHOD FOR REMOVING TATTOOS, AND USE OF A MICRONEEDLE PATCH IN A METHOD FOR REMOVING TATTOOS

Abstract

A method for removing tattoos, having the steps of positioning a microneedle patch (1) on a tattooed region of the skin, wherein the microneedles penetrate the tattooed skin layer; introducing, in particular by manual pressure, a solution, in particular an aqueous solution, for dissolving the color pigments into the skin through the microneedles of the patch; allowing the introduced solution to act for a duration of time ranging from 15 to 45 minutes, preferably from 20 to 40 minutes, particularly preferably from 25 to 35 minutes; and removing the color pigments, in particular extracting the color pigments using low pressure, through the microneedles (2) of the patch.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A method for removing tattoos from skin, the method comprising: positioning a microneedle patch on a tattooed area of the skin, wherein the microneedles penetrate into a layer of the tattooed skin; introducing into the skin, through the microneedles of the patch, a solution for dissolving the color pigments; allowing action of the introduced solution for a period within a range from 15 to 45 minutes; and removing the color pigments through the microneedles of the patch.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the solution for dissolving the color pigments: has a pH of <7; or has a pH of >7; or has a pH within the range from 6.0 to 8.0 and an enzyme.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the microneedles have a length within the range from 200 to 2000 m.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein individual microneedles of the patch have differing lengths.

12. A kit comprising: one or more microneedle patches; and one or more solutions for dissolving color pigments of a tattoo.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the solution for dissolving the color pigments is introduced by manual pressure.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the color pigments are removed, by extraction, by negative pressure.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the solution for dissolving the color pigments has a pH within a range of from 0.5 to 4.

16. The method according to claim 8, wherein the solution for dissolving the color pigments comprises lactic acid.

17. The method according to claim 8, wherein the solution for dissolving the color pigments has a pH within a range of from 10 to 14.

18. The method according to claim 8, wherein the solution for dissolving the color pigments comprises a base selected from the group consisting of: calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, amines, for example ethylenediamine or butylamines.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the lactic acid is present in a concentration within a range of from 5 to 45% by volume.

20. A kit according to claim 12, wherein the kit additionally comprising instructions for carrying out a method for removing tattoos from skin, the method comprising: positioning a microneedle patch on a tattooed area of the skin, wherein the microneedles penetrate into a layer of the tattooed skin; introducing into the skin, through the microneedles of the patch, a solution for dissolving the color pigments; allowing action of the introduced solution for a period within a range from 15 to 45 minutes; and removing the color pigments through the microneedles of the patch.

Description

[0030] The invention will be described in more detail below on the basis of figures, where:

[0031] FIG. 1: shows a flow chart of the method according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 2: shows a sectional sketch of a microneedle patch for the removal of tattoos.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows the method steps of the method according to the invention for removing tattoos. In step 1, a microneedle patch is positioned on a tattooed area of the skin, with the microneedles penetrating into the tattooed skin layer. At the same time, the microneedles penetrate skin layers situated above a tattooed skin layer and form channels into the tattooed skin layer. The tattooed skin layer is understood to mean the skin layer of a tattooed area of a skin, in which area the color pigments of the tattoo are situated.

[0034] In step 2, a solution for dissolving the color pigments is introduced into the skin through the microneedles of the patch. This is preferably done by means of manual pressure.

[0035] The introduced solution acts for a period of 30 min (step 3). Thus, the color pigments are dissolved out of the cell matrix and can then be removed.

[0036] In step 4, the color pigments, especially dissolved color pigments, are extracted through the microneedles of the patch by means of negative pressure and thus removed. For this purpose, the microneedle patch is connected to a device for generating a negative pressure. To this end, the device for generating a negative pressure is directly connected to the microneedle patch via a tube. Alternatively, the microneedle patch can be removed and a second microneedle patch for the extraction can be applied to the skin. A negative pressure of 350 mmHg is applied to the microneedle patch and extraction is carried out for a period of 5 h. Alternatively, a plaster can be applied to the microneedle patch and surrounding skin area so as to form a seal. The plaster is, in this case, connected via a tube to the device for generating a negative pressure. As elucidated above, a negative pressure can be applied and the color pigments can thus be extracted.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows schematically a microneedle patch 1 for use in the method according to the invention. The microneedle patch 1 comprises microneedles 2 which protrude through a substrate 3. The microneedles 2 and the substrate 3 form a so-called microneedle chip. The substrate 3 is, in certain areas, bonded to a hot-melt layer 4. The microneedles 2 are in contact with a membrane 5. The membrane 5 is in contact with the hot-melt layer 4. The hot-melt layer 4 is arranged on a backing layer 6. The membrane 5 and the backing layer 6 form a reservoir 7 for the accommodation of the solution for removing a tattoo. Accordingly, the microneedle patch 1 can comprise, in the reservoir 7, the solution for removing a tattoo. The membrane 5 retains the solution in the reservoir. The membrane 5 is permeable for the solution once pressure is exerted on the reservoir 7. Thus, the solution can be introduced into the skin by manual pressure.

[0038] The microneedle patch 1 is positioned on a tattooed area of the skin, for example stuck on by means of the hot-melt layer 4, with the result that the microneedles 2 pierce the upper skin layers and protrude into skin layers in which color pigments of the tattoo are situated. Owing to the hollow configuration of the microneedles 2, they form channels between the reservoir 7 and the tattooed skin layer. The solution for removal can be introduced into the tattooed area through the microneedles 2. After an action time within the region of 30 min, the color pigments, especially dissolved color pigments, are extracted via the microneedles 2 by means of negative pressure.