Microinfusion of medications into the skin as a drug delivery technique: a narrative review.

Abstract

Microinfusion of medications into the skin (MMP®) is an innovative method that employs tattoo devices to administer pharmaceuticals transdermally. This technique facilitates the formation of microchannels in the skin, allowing for localized drug deposition with minimal systemic absorption and fewer adverse effects. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify studies discussing the application of MMP as a transdermal drug delivery method, covering publications up to October 2025. All studies identified through the literature search were summarized in chronological order from the earliest (2013) to the most recent (2025). This arrangement was chosen to illustrate the progressive evolution of the MMP technique and its expanding clinical applications over time. Our research found 14 studies that evaluated the effectiveness of the tattoo machine for transdermal drug administration. Eight studies focused on MMP for alopecia treatments, demonstrating notable improvements in androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and frontal fibrosing alopecia, with minimal adverse reactions reported. Six studies investigated its role in treating scars and striae, showing significant lesion improvement. One study examined its use with bleomycin in basal cell carcinoma treatment, and another assessed its impact on psoriasis vulgaris with cyclosporine A and methotrexate (MTX). MMP represents a promising, minimally invasive transdermal delivery system with a growing body of evidence supporting its application in alopecia, oncologic dermatology, and pigmentary disorders. The ability to uniformly distribute medications at targeted skin depths, combined with its favorable safety profile, highlights its potential as a valuable alternative to conventional delivery methods. Furthermore, the microneedling effect of the tattoo device itself may confer therapeutic benefits independent of pharmaceutical administration.