Saturday, August 28, 2010

Permanent Makeup Safety Advice for the Valued Client

The following information is beneficial to share with your clients. Passing it along to your patrons will not only show you are a knowledgeable and credible technician, but it will establish that you care for the well-being of your patients; thus setting the foundation for a comfortable, trusting relationship between you and your clientele.

To Permanent Cosmetics clients:
  • Schedule a consultation with the technician prior to the actual appointment day. This consultation would most likely be the ideal time to go over all of these safety precautions with your technician.
  • Ask if the technician uses ‘disposable only’ machine parts. If they do not, make sure she/he has a functioning autoclave and uses a biological indicator test every month. (Autoclaving pressurizes steam heat to kill germ spores. At 121°C, the pressurized steam will kill all spores within 15 minutes; increased pressure and a temperature of 132°C can accomplish sterilization in 4 minutes.) Ask to see spore strip tests from an authorized lab to make sure the autoclave’s results are effective.
  • Most technicians use totally disposable machine parts. Make sure these ‘Single Use’ and ‘Sterile’ parts are safely disposed of immediately after your procedure.
  • Manual hand tools must be autoclaved prior to use for optimum sanitation. Used manual needles and/or the complete tool should be disposed of in a biohazard container. There are various hand tools that can be re-autoclaved using a new needle grouping. Technicians should check with their supply company regarding these tools.
  • Ask the technician if they follow all of OSHA and CDC guidelines. Ask to see their Sharps container and inquire what the proper protocol is concerning the disposal of used needles. All ‘Sharps’ or ‘Biohazard’ containers must be puncture-resistant, leak proof and color-coded or labeled "BIOHAZARD".
  • Make sure your technician washes their hands vigorously with soap and water and uses a clean pair of disposable gloves before setting up your sterile needle set.
  • If you have any allergies to latex or any other products, be sure to tell your technician at your consultation.
  • Insist on observing your technician as she or he removes a new needle and machine setup from a sealed pouch immediately before starting your procedure. You should also watch the technician set up a clean cap of pigment, poured directly from the bottle for each of your procedures. Be sure to ask the technician about their use of sterile procedures and isolation techniques. It is the responsibility of the client to observe the technician at work, inquiring about their experience and qualifications.
  • Be wary of the technician’s office during your consultation visit. If their areas are disorderly and cluttered, you may consider using another technician.
  • Question the technician on their use of barrier film. This is a clear or blue heavy-duty sheet of plastic that is sticky on one side and will adhere to light fixtures, the tattoo machine, telephone, door handles, or any other article the technician may come in contact with. If the technician does not practice using this product, there could be a transfer of contaminated blood-borne pathogens. All cords and machines should be covered as well.
  • The technician should never touch their hair, glasses, or other items with a gloved hand. If you observe this happening, you should ask the technician to replace their gloves to prevent any chance of contamination.
  • Used needles and pigment should NEVER be kept for a client’s future appointment. Pigment contains bodily fluids and bacteria, and it should be disposed of immediately after the procedure is completed.
  • Clients must sign all of the proper consent forms, as well as forms to confirm that any needles have been properly disposed of in a bio-hazard container immediately following each procedure.
  • Technicians working in open area beauty salons run the risk of airborne pathogens from acrylic nails, hair products and so on… Remember: permanent cosmetic makeup creates an open wound. Contaminants from the air should be kept to a minimum to ensure a healthy, clean procedure.
  • All surfaces should be wiped down with a hospital grade disinfectant (ex.Discide) prior to, and immediately following, any procedure application.
  • Ask the technician to see their current Health Department and Business License.
  • Ask to see a current certificate from a certified Blood Borne Pathogen and Exposure Control Class or from OHSA.
  • Ask your technician to see their current portfolio with photos of other clients who underwent the same procedure that you are requesting.
  • If you are having your permanent eyebrows applied, ask for an ‘Eyebrow Design’ appointment. This appointment should be separate from your consultation. The technician will go over various shapes and colors and what the best eyebrow design for your face will be. At this time, the technician may also wax your brows. If you are not in total agreement with how the permanent makeup procedure looks while drawn on, keep working with the technician until you are satisfied with the design.
  • On your procedure day, if you are not happy with the drawn on shape of your eyes, lips or brows, do not have the procedure completed. Your technician is there to work with you and give you a great looking procedure. If you do not like how something looks, tell them prior to starting, do not wait until they have started your application and change your mind.
  • If the technician is a qualified professional, they will have no problems complying with standards above and beyond these simple guidelines. If the technician, or their place of business, does not appear up to these standards, or if they become evasive when questioned, seek out a qualified professional technician.
  • Permanent Makeup is just that…….. PERMANENT!
  • Remember the old adage: “You get what you pay for.” If your procedure is less than desirable, you cannot cover your face. Choose your technician wisely, based on their training, professionalism and your judgment of their character.



Thursday, August 5, 2010

Additional Information on Permanent Cosmetics

Pigments

The terms "ink" and "pigment" are both used in reference to tattoos and permanent cosmetics. Although some tattoo artist use inks, they should never be used for Permanent Cosmetics.  Colors used by reputable permanent cosmetic technicians are composed of pigments that are suspended in a carrier solution. The pigment provides the color of the tattoo. The purpose of the carrier is to disinfect the pigment suspension, keep it evenly mixed, and provide for ease of application.
A permanent cosmetic technician has the choice of mixing his or her own pigment (mixing dry dispersed pigment and a carrier solution) or purchasing what are called predispersed pigments.  With predispersed pigments, the manufacturer is required to supply a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any pigment or carrier. The MSDS won't be able to identify all chemical reactions or risks associated with chemical interactions within the pigment or the skin, but it will give some basic information about each component of the pigment. The MSDS may not be available if the technician is mixing their own pigments.  And, by the way, like vitamins, pigments and tattoo inks are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.


Patch Test

Performing a patch test, it would seem, should accurately predict which individuals would have allergic reactions to permanent cosmetic pigments. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Due to the late onset of tattoo reactions, the lack of predictability of these patch tests and the rarity of reactions as a whole, leads to the conclusion that patch tests for permanent cosmetics are impractical and not effective. Patch tests do not allow us to accurately predict whether or not a person will have a reaction to a given pigment. While someone may have a positive patch test, there are well-documented cases of tattoo reactions after negative patch tests.
In the most common occurrence of reaction, the tattoo has been in place for several years and the person has an onset reaction correlating sometimes with sun exposure or a latent sensitivity that becomes apparent upon re-exposure of the same element from another source.
Also, it should be considered that tattoos have been performed for thousands of years (think Cleopatra) and there are only a small number of reports of tattoo reactions in the medical literature. One must conclude that reactions are rare.
Your specialist/technician will perform a patch test, if requested. But clients should now that allergic reactions are rare and the patch test has a low predictability rate because of late onset.

MRI Safety

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is frequently used for evaluating the brain, head, neck and chest - regions where cosmetic tattoos are typically applied. Because the pigments contain iron oxides there has been some questions raised over the safety aspects of getting an MRI if you have permanent cosmetics. Studies have been conducted with MRI patients to determine what reactions, if any, will occur.
The most problematic reactions have been reported with traditional, graphic design, art tattoos with fewer than 10 documented cases from permanent cosmetics. The reactions reported during an MR Imaging scan have been limited to a "slight tingling" and the sensation of "burning" by the patients. These "reactions" were temporary with no lasting effect or damage. Certainly, if the MRI is conducted on the exact area of the permanent cosmetics, the radiologist may not be able to get a good read. Always inform your radiologist that you have permanent cosmetics before a scan is completed. This will ensure the best possible results.



United States FDA and Statement on Tattoos

"The risks of avoiding an MRI when your doctor has recommended one are likely to be much greater than the risks of complications from an interaction between the MRI and tattoo or permanent makeup. Instead of avoiding an MRI, individuals who have tattoos or permanent makeup should inform the radiologist or technician of this fact in order to take appropriate precautions, avoid complications, and assure the best results."