| Beauty Articles :: Skin Care // Esthetics |
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| A Black Mark on Permanent Makeup? |
| by Robyn Tellefsen |
Breaking news for aspiring makeup artists: Permanent Makeup can disfigure patients for years, federal researchers said in June.
It's no secret that these ink injections, actually tattoos on the lips, eyelids, and eyebrows, can cause allergic reactions in some. But according to the latest research, the effects of these reactions can be long-term.
In interviews with 92 women who experienced problems after their Permanent Makeup procedure, researchers from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that more than 9 out of 10 women had swelling and tenderness, nearly that many complained of itching, and more than 4 out of 5 had bumps. These allergic reactions lasted anywhere from five months to more than three years.
While the study is sobering, it doesn't leave a black mark on the face of all permanent makeup.
Most of the adverse reactions included in the CDC study were caused by a single product line of inks, Premier Pigments True Color Concentrates, which have since been recalled by their manufacturer.
As a Makeup Artist, you have the opportunity to present a realistic picture of permanent makeup, or micropigmentation. Clients with a history of allergy should be warned against such procedures, as 74 percent of those involved in the CDC study had a history of allergy. If a client is insistent, you can recommend an allergy skin test before the pigment is permanently applied.
You also have a professional responsibility to investigate all inks and ingredients used on your clients. According to the American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM), iron oxides and titanium dioxide are the least likely ingredients to cause problems. Be sure that your eyeliner colors do not contain ink, which is known to migrate under the skin and look like a permanent bruise. And remind clients that all colors soften and fade over time and needs to be refreshed every year or two, most notably for eyebrow colors with muted browns, golds, and grays.
You can also restore the face of permanent makeup by undergoing professional makeup artist training and earning AAM Board Certification (AAM), the mark of excellence in the industry.
Ultimately, the meaningfulness of micropigmentation is more than skin deep. Makeup artists also camouflage scars from accidents, burns, hair transplants, and cleft lip repair, and many even offer their services free to cancer survivors who've lost their eyelashes and eyebrows to chemotherapy.
A career in permanent makeup requires skill, compassion, and discernment. With this combination, your work will indeed have a long-term impact on clients--for the good.
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