Permanent cosmetics dates back at least thousands of years. From brow tattooing, hair implants, to permanent facial makeup – people have been fascinated with these types of permanent cosmetic procedures. Microblading is a method of creating natural-looking brows using different types of pigments.
It has reemerged in popularity at the dawn of the 21st century and rapidly become one of the most popular permanent cosmetic procedures in the country today. But it has not entirely replaced conventional eyebrow tattooing, and other micro-pigmentation techniques: This procedure may not be for people who don’t artificial pigments embedded in their skin.
This procedure has increased dramatically since 2015, as reflected by thousands, if not millions, of online searches in popular social media pages. With its increase in popularity, as well as the increasing numbers of tattoo artists performing this kind of procedure, there has also been an increase in complications and side effects from microblading, provided by inexperienced, unlicensed, and poorly trained professionals, a problem facilitated by inadequate training requirements or regulatory oversight in some states in the country.
To find out more about the history of makeup, click here for more details.
Microblading
It is also known as brow embroidery, dermal implantation, micro-pigmentation, micro-stroking, 3-dimensional eyebrows, micro-feathering – it is a permanent makeup procedure, and like a regular tattoo, ink or pigment will fade over time. Compared with conventional tattoos that are done using a machine, microblading is done manually using single-use and disposable handheld equipment to deposit feather-like strokes of pigments into the second layer of the skin.
It limits the bleeding, as well as pigment expulsion and fades at a much slower rate. This procedure is a revolutionary method that can transform people’s lives with brow hypotrichosis, trichotillomania, loss of eyebrow because of internal illnesses like thyroid disease, eyebrow loss because of chemotherapy, or people suffering from alopecia.
It can help people who are looking for cosmetic improvements. The art of eyebrow shaping depends on the brow’s natural growth, meticulous mapping and measurement, and facial symmetry of the eyebrow position based on a person’s facial landmarks, as well as bone structure.
The color of the pigment is based on skin color undertones and skin type. Just like regular tattooing, complications and side effects can happen. Although pretty rare, allergy to the pigment, aggravating of underlying skin illnesses like allergic contact dermatitis or psoriasis, or a more severe disease like herpes simplex infections can happen.
To find out more about tattooing and permanent makeup, visit https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/tattoos-permanent-makeup-fact-sheet for more information.
Not only that, if the procedure is performed by “experts” with no experience and little to no knowledge about safety precautions, there is also a big chance that infectious diseases from other patients will contract patients. While licensed dermatologists usually don’t perform this procedure, there will always be complications.
Professionals treating people who have had brow microblading also need to know how to help prevent premature fading of tattoo pigment. Tattooed brow needs to be covered with healing ointments or petroleum jelly before using alpha-hydroxy acids, chemical peels, Vitamin C, retinol, or hydroquinone before the preparation can fade pigments rapidly even if it was applied far from the site.
Any heat like steam from facial procedures, Ultraviolet exposure, radio frequency, or exposure to LED lights can fade pigments and worsen post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. People who have a history of Keloids or hypertrophic scarring, as well as people using isotretinoin, need to avoid undergoing this procedure.
Intense pulsed-light and resurfacing lasers need to be used with extreme caution because it will cause eyebrow-pigment fading even if applied farther from the brow—this procedure needs to be covered with zinc oxide paste before using resurfacing or intense pulsed-light laser. These procedures are performed by clinics who do microblading in Atlanta, GA or in your local area.
Safety precautions
The pigments used in brow colors may be composed of iron oxide pigment mixture. It should not be removed using lasers, with which there is a big chance that pigment darkening will happen and hypopigmentation or post-inflammatory hyper to happen. Eyebrows can be singed, as well as the light absorbed by pigments, chromophore in the follicles, can damage them permanently.
Read more: MAKEUP PRODUCTS: THE BEST FOR DRY SKIN
It can lead to hair loss in the brow area. Despite the procedure’s precision, as well as the needed aggressive safety precautions, there are wide variations in regulatory oversight and training. Poor treatment outcomes, infectious diseases, as well as unsterile conditions, are just some of the horrific consequences of untrained and unlicensed tattoo artists or dermatology “professionals.” Regulations need to be imposed in every city or state to help protect consumers, as well as prevent serious complications related to this cosmetic procedure.