![]() Meanwhile, in the US the FDA regulates some tattoo ink ingredients but not the inks themselves. Restrictions on particular blue and green pigments are slated to go into effect in Europe in January 2023 because of their links to bladder cancer. Earlier this year, the EU effectively banned certain hazardous substances in tattoo inks that are used to create colour in these products. Initially, Ephemeral’s ink behaves the same way, but because it is composed of bioabsorbable polymers, it breaks down over time into particles small enough to be eliminated by the body’s immune system.īut to create tattoos, the ink also needs colour additives, which are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority. ![]() After the ink is placed in the dermis (the second from outermost layer of the skin) it aggregates into clusters of larger particles that are too big to be immediately removed by the immune system. Traditional tattoo inks usually have metal components, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and pigments. ![]() It now has five employees with engineering degrees focused on R&D, and a total workforce of about 75 – including tattoo artists and customer service representatives – in its five studios across the US. In July 2021, the company raised $20 million (£18 million) from investors. Together with a third co-founder, Joshua Sakhai, Pierre and Shah worked for about six years to develop a tattoo ink using biodegradable polymers that naturally break down over time. ‘One of my students asked a really good question: “Can we remove a tattoo with an enzyme?” And I thought, well, that probably won’t work for tattoos as they currently are, but we could actually make our own tattoo ink that can essentially disappear.’ The concept for the company was born in that moment, but it would take many years to become reality. ‘I had finished my PhD and was teaching,’ recalls Pierre. The initial spark for Ephemeral came from a student’s enquiry. Both men wanted to express their individuality with physical tattoos, but traditional familial values held them back, so they began looking for a less-permanent solution. The pair met while completing their PhDs at New York University. Brennal Pierre came to New York from St Vincent and the Grenadines, while Vandan Shah moved from India. The company was founded in 2014 by two chemical engineers. ![]() It took several years to find ingredients that could create sharp tattoos with complex shading, but would safely disappear over a suitable timeframe ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |