Could Tattoos Alert You to Medical Issues? Brooklyn Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation Looks at New Technology

The team from the Technical University of Munich is focusing on three biomarkers that would be tied into chemical sensors on the body. The skin would then change colors if a dangerous change or trend is occurring.

Brooklyn Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation would like to detail each of the three biomarkers that are currently being tested on pig skin.

Albumin

A decrease in albumin levels could be a sign of kidney or liver failure.

pH

The tattoo sensor for pH turns from yellow (slightly acidic) to blue (alkaline). Imbalanced pH levels can occur if the lungs or kidneys are malfunctioning.

Glucose

A high glucose level is a sign of diabetes that is uncontrolled. It could indicate to people when insulin doses are needed instead of regular blood tests.

Further Skin Testing

Another tattoo sensor that would be useful is being developed by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. The tattoo will only be exposed when it is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, so it can be used as an indicator that a person’s sunscreen has worn off.

Finally, for those a bit hesitant about getting a tattoo, even if it is for medicinal purposes, a group at UC San Diego is testing temporary tattoos that serve this purpose. So far, the only one being tested would monitor glucose levels through sweat on the skin.

This particular advancement in medical technology is actually being tested on humans in a clinical trial. The results of the test will be compared to actual blood glucose readings, but even if the experiment is successful, more testing will have to take place before it would be available to the public.