Semipermanent ink could soon be used in radiation treatment

Permanent tattoos could soon be a thing of the past for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, thanks to early research backing the safety and efficacy of biodegradable ink used for medical markings.

Ephemeral Tattoo plans to make its made-to-fade tattoo ink—which is composed of FDA-approved ingredients—available later this year. It will serve as an alternative to the more permanent ink used to mark the skin of cancer patients to ensure radiation therapy is accurately delivered. The company is “finalizing the initial group of providers” with whom it will collaborate.

“Radiotherapy patients already have countless considerations and worries in mapping out a successful treatment journey, and the reality of an unwanted permanent tattoo is yet another added weight,” Ephemeral Tattoo co-founder Brennal Pierre told Healthcare Brew. “We’re proud of Ephemeral for medical markings, which is specifically designed to meet treatment requirements.”

The announcement follows a study in which Henry Ford Health researchers, in conjunction with Ephemeral, gave a total of 44 semipermanent tattoos to 15 patients set to undergo radiation therapy.

Eric Schaff, a Henry Ford Health radiation oncology resident who worked on the study with principal investigator Farzan Siddiqui and research engineer Marissa Gilbert, said the initial safety data “is promising” with “no adverse effects”—like pain or rashes—reported yet by participants.

The tattoo ink is applied similar to a traditional tattoo: via a needle into the skin. However, the ink breaks down and disappears over several weeks—longer than other nonpermanent options, like henna, that don’t last the six to eight weeks required for some radiation courses.

The ink’s ability to fade, Schaff argued, could help patients whose religions or cultures prohibit permanent tattoos—or those who don’t want a daily reminder of their radiation therapy.

“We believe semi-permanent tattoos could offer patients an alternative to permanent tattoos, which has long been the standard of care for radiation therapy alignment,” he said in a statement.