Get the facts before considering permanent make-up

Get the facts before considering permanent make-upHamburg  - Perfect make-up all day, every day, remains the goal of many women. Some even strive for perfection after swimming or coming off a long day of work.

While eyeshadow and blush fade far too quickly, permanent make-up promises a fresh tone and a perfectly made-up face. The permanent make-up business is booming, but anyone considering having the procedure should inform themselves well in advance.

Permanent make-up can make thin eyebrows look thicker, cover up scars and add new contours to the outer edge of the lip, giving them more volume. The pigments used are tested in a laboratory before being applied to prevent an allergic reaction.

As its name implies, the make-up cannot be washed off at the end of the day. Thus, a thorough consultation is important.

"Customers should check the references of the cosmetic studio and have a thorough consultation, including details about the colours that go best with their complexion," said Monika Ferdinand of Germany's association of cosmeticians.

Apart from that, customers should know in advance whether they will be entitled to a second procedure should the first one fail to turn out as hoped. The cleanliness of the cosmetic studio is also very important.

"Disposable or sterilized needles must be used," said Ferdinand. If hygiene is not up to standard, it could result in a bacterial infection.

A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area being treated, but no needle is required to administer it, said Marcus Schneider of a cosmetic institute in Bad Arolsen, Germany. The anaesthetic, in the form of a liquid or a cream is applied to the area, numbing the top layer of skin. Afterwards, the selected colour is applied with a fine brush.

"The customer can then make sure she definitely likes the colour of the permanent make-up," said Schneider. Only then is it sprayed under the skin, making it permanent.

"Although a blocking system ensures that the needle transfers the colour pigment only a few tenths of a millimetre into the skin, the cosmetician should have plenty of experience and be sensitive. Customers who take blood-thinning medications must be especially careful, warned dermatology professor Michael Landthaler of the university clinic in Regensburg.

"If, for example, aspirin is taken ahead of the procedure, it can result in heavy bleeding because the medicine thins the blood."

Permanent make-up can last up to five years. It fades over time because the skin constantly renews itself. The length of time the make-up lasts depends on a number of factors such as skin type, the colour used and the rate at which the skin renews. To ensure that the make-up looks good throughout the five years it is expected to last, there are a few instructions that should be followed immediately after a permanent make-up application.

"Direct sunlight should be avoided for up to two weeks after the procedure," said Landthaler. Sunscreen can be used to minimize fading and change in the colour.

Customers also should be cautious, particularly when considering a beauty institute that does permanent make-up applications for extremely low prices. The quality of the equipment used and the pigments often fall by the wayside. This means that the colours can change to something undesirable within a few months.

The procedure, which falls in a grey zone between cosmetology and medicine, currently is unregulated. If an application is botched, the only way to remove the make-up is by laser and it must be done by a doctor. Customers who want to ensure that they are not allergic to the pigment should be tested four weeks ahead of the procedure using a sample of the pigment.

Here's a checklist that consumers can use to query a cosmetician about permanent make-up:

- What training has the cosmetician had?

- What anaesthetic is used to numb the area being treated?

- Can the colours be correctively removed after the procedure?

- Does the price include touch-ups?

- How long do the chosen colours last and can they change over time?

- Do you use mineral pigments that are harmless to the body?

- Does the cosmetician use disposable gloves?

- Is there a charge for the follow-up appointment? (dpa)

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