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Contra-actions

It’s important to be aware of possible adverse reactions.

Acute skin inflammation following microblading

Acute inflammation usually appears within a few minutes of the microblading procedure. Damage occurs from the initial trauma to the cells and tissues, where the local network of ruptured blood vessels bleeds into the tissue spaces and the cell walls rupture. Cellular damage occurs, leaving dead and dying cells disrupted by the trauma. Within seconds and up to 10 minutes after the initial trauma, local blood vessel constriction occurs. This vasoconstriction minimises blood loss from the area and initiates clotting (haematoma) and causes stimulation of the surrounding pain receptors. However, the resulting hypoxia causes tissue necrosis at the primary injury site. This triggers the lysosomes (waste disposal unit within a cell) found within the dead and damaged cells to start to leak digestive enzymes through their ruptured membranes. These enzymes act as inflammatory mediators causing surrounding arterioles and capillaries to dilate; pain receptors are specialised nerve endings located throughout the body in most body tissues.

Once the nerve endings are stimulated by these chemicals, they begin firing the nerves that are connected to them and send pain signals to the spinal cord and brain. As blood vessels dilate, they become more permeable and within a few hours, exudation increases.

As the vessel walls enlarge, the speed of flow decreases due to vessels being packed with cells. The stasis of blood allows leukocytes to move along the endothelium and escape through the capillary wall, along with plasma and other circulating defensive substances such as antibodies, phagocytes, and fibrinogen to the site of the injury.

The arrival of these specialised cells (antibodies, phagocytes) lead to the engulfing of dead cells, foreign material, or infectious agents. As fluid moves out of the capillaries, stagnation of flow and clotting of blood in the small capillaries occurs at the site of injury. This process is caused as fibrinogen produces fibrin which forms a mesh of fibres creating a collection site for red blood cells (haematoma) and traps microorganisms preventing their movement further from the injury site.

This increased collection of fluid into the tissue spaces causes it to swell (tumour). This expansion of chemical activity in surrounding tissues produces the zone of secondary injury. Normally, lymphatic vessels drain the area of excess fluid and cells. However, following trauma within the tissues, the lymph vessels become blocked. The excess fluid and cells collect in the spaces between the tissues around the site of the trauma, and oedema occurs. As fluid and cells try to occupy a limited amount of space, the pressure caused by nerve endings is perceived as pain.

Many lymphatic channels lie directly beneath the skin. Oedema, which is the swelling or natural splinting process of the body, has two basic components. The first is a liquid, which can be evacuated by the circulatory system and the second is proteins that must be evacuated by the lymphatic system.

The lymph vessel diameter and the flow of the lymph system being decreased cause the swelling to occur in the first 24 hours following micropigmentation semi-permanent make up treatments. Within 12 hours of injury, macrophages move into digest tissue debris to clear the way for peripheral cells to begin the process of mitosis. Fibrocytes also move into the area to start the process of fibroplasia. Tissue repair overlaps the inflammatory process, and within 48 to 72 hours, the haematoma is sufficiently diminished to allow for this new growth of tissue. As the damaged skin within the epidermal layers begins to regenerate, the deeper soft tissues will replace damaged cells with scar tissue. The fibroblasts release collagen, elastin and reticulin fibres, forming a mesh network to reconnect tissues.

Over the next three day’s mitosis continues, and all around the injured area, capillary loops develop (angiogenesis). These sprouting vessels originate from pre-existing vessels and appear as minute red granules, hence the name granulation tissue. As the circulation is increased by these additional blood vessels replacing damaged ones, more oxygen and nutrients become readily available to these cells to aid in speeding up the healing process. When circulation is increased, it automatically increases lymphatic flow with the movement of tissue fluid between the two systems, allowing the excess build-up of lymph to be drained, reducing swelling.

Inflammation is the important first stage of healing damaged tissue. Healing cannot occur until inflammation has come and gone. Therefore, we cannot prevent inflammation; however, we can speed up the processes involved by application of cold therapies following micropigmentation for the first 72 hours following treatment.

Whenever trauma occurs to the surface of the epidermis, the protective barrier will be impaired; the application of micropigmentation treatment has caused a cut or puncture wound to the area infused with pigment. The epidermis will protect this impairment by the formation of a scab; the size and extent of this scab will be in relation to the trauma caused. The scab may be minute and clearer in colour if only lymph vessels have been disturbed; however, if capillary damage was involved, there would be droplets of blood also in the scab formation.

When treating more mature clients or clients with more sensitive skin, there is a higher tendency to bruise and tear the skin resulting in a greater inflammatory response. This will result in a slightly longer healing process. The healing process can differ from one client to another; there are several factors to consider, such as:

Health of client 

Client lifestyle; as a rule, the older you are (once past 25 years), the slower the expected healing rate.

Remember, the superficial tissues will display signs of healed skin long before the internal layers have completed the full healing process.

Age

The following is a general guideline to expected healing rates:

For Eyeliner and Brows:

Other contra-actions include:

Allergic reaction to the pigment or anaesthetic, causing itching, swelling and hives, or worse, anaphylaxis.

If an allergic reaction occurs the client should seek immediate medical attention. Any product/allergen should be removed from the brows immediately.

Redness of the treatment area which should settle in 1-3 days.

Mild swelling in one or both brows. This should settle within 5 days.

Itching in the area due to a histamine response which usually settles within a few days.

Lymph on and around the treatment area that makes the brows scab, look wet. This can occur for up to 3-4 days and can be removed by gently wiping over with damp cotton wool.

Scabbing as the wound heals. Scabs should be allowed to buff away and drop off naturally. They should not be picked or pulled off, as this can delay the healing process, cause scarring, and removing excess pigment. Scabbing usually ends around the 2nd week after the treatment.