What a wonderful concept, “Wake Up With Makeup” or “Makeup That Does Not Smear”.  With the demand for this wonderful concept more and more ladies are making the decision to have their makeup permanently applied.  It is a wonderful concept if it is done correctly.

 more and more people are training to become technicians.  he art of corporal pigmentation originated in Egypt in 2800 B.C. and extended across the world.  During the Civil War in the U. S., the application of corporal tattoos because a usual practice in the army.  Since the mid-20^th century, a tattooing technique termed “permanent makeup” has been used on facial areas, for procedures such as creating or enhancing eyebrows, eyeliners, and lip liners.  Today permanent makeup has become quite popular all over the world.  Although permanent makeup and body tattoos are quite different words with different intents, they are the same in nature.

Tattooing process basically consist of droplets of pigment implanted into the skin.  The process consists of the skin being punctured, scraped, or cut to allow for the pigment.  As the skin heals it grows over the pigment.   The tattoo inks or pigments are classified as color additives which are inert material, and insoluble in water and most organic solvents.  Therefore, these pigments will not be diminished by the surrounding biological substances and biochemical processes. Further more, water detergents, solvents, and mild abrasives do not affect tattoos, as there is not direct contact.

There are a number of reasons to remove these permanent decorations on the skin. They include the formation of undesirable shapes and color changes in permanent makeup.  Sometimes one will change their mind or their philosophy about body art.  Many times an attempt was made at an early age to perform a “home made” tattoo.  As we mature the initials of an old flame or “LOVE” on the forefingers becomes a regret.

There are several techniques being used for removing mistakes or unwanted tattoos.  Among these are excision or surgical cutting away of the pigmented skin.  With this method tissue expander or balloon are sometimes inserted underneath the skin, so that when the pigment is cut away there is less scarring.   Often skin grafting is necessary.  If the size of a tattoo is extensive the end result can often be worse than the offending tattoo.

Another method of removal of a pigment is dermabrasion.  Dermabrasion is the process of abrading or sanding the skin’s surface exposing the pigment.  Silver nitrate or saline is then applied to cauterize or draw the pigment out.  Again, extensive tissue damage can result leaving a scar larger than the area originally covered by the pigmented area.

Salabrsion is a method of color removal by using salt solution to bleach the pigments.  The pigmented skin is soaked in the solution.  Chemical peels such as TCA and other medium depth peels have been used in an attempt to lighten a tattoo.  The lighter dept peels do not reach the dermal layer when the pigment is located.  However, deeper peels can sometimes lighten the area.  There is a great risk of leaving an uneven scar on the skin.  The strength of an acid needed to reach the pigment for removal also kills live cells.  Chemical peels are not recommended or widely used by physicians for pigment removal.

Modern laser technology allows many tattoos and permanent makeup to be removed with hardly a trace.  Prior to 1990 the only lasers being used to remove tattoos and permanent makeup in the United States were the Argonne and CO2 lasers which burned out and vaporized the ink.  These lasers left scars.  Now, other lasers include the Q-Switch Ruby Laser and the YAG laser.

Permanent makeup and tattoos are made up of particles of embedded pigment in the skin.  They are too large for the body to remove even though they are microscopic.  The laser light is selectively picked up by dark particles, and breaks them up into such smaller particles, which the body can remove over time.  Most areas require several laser treatments to get maximal removal.  If a scar remains after laser treatment it is often from the original pigment placement. 

A new approach is a simple esthetic method, which can be an effective and convenient way to correct permanent makeup and can be used to remove body tattoos as well.  The method involves breaking the skin in the same manner as when the pigment was placed into the skin by puncturing the skin in the colored area.  An inorganic substance paste form is tattooed into the area.  When the paste comes into contact with the implanted pigment, the pigments merge into the paste and blend together.  As a result, the implanted pigments can be removed together with the paste.  The area will form a white scab, which will peel off by itself taking the color with it.  The skin will be red after healing, but eventually will return to its natural complexion without scaring.  Again, if a scar remains it is from the original tattoo placement.

This method of pigment removal has been used successfully for a couple of years.  The rate of success is especially good in the removal of unwanted permanent makeup.

There is no magic wand for removing unwanted pigment from the skin.  The best solution is prevention.  Take your time and make sure you really want permanent mark and select the best technician available.  Remember a cheap priced or a good deal could leave you with something you really didn’t want.