Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/70637
ascp and you: finer points Tattoos and Skin Care by Susanne Schmaling Tattoos are becoming widely accepted in society. Approximately 21 percent of the population has at least one, with that figure increasing to 38 percent among 30–39 year olds.1 As a skin care professional, it is likely that you are seeing an increasing number of clients who have a tattoo. It is important to understand tattooing and permanent makeup from a skin care perspective, as well as problems that can arise with tattooed skin. New Tattoos Tattoo artists use a machine with small needles that penetrate the skin at a frequency of 50–3,000 times per minute. The needles inject pigment to a depth of 1 ⁄8 to 1 ⁄64 of an inch, which can reach the reticular dermis. Permanent makeup works on the same principle, but may only reach the papillary dermis or even the basal layer. A new tattoo takes time to heal, ranging anywhere from a week to a couple of months. Through the healing process, there is often skin flaking, itching, and redness. There is a high risk of infection at this time, as well as during the actual tattooing process. Skin care services should not be performed on the tattooed area until it is fully healed. Until then, consider it an open wound. It is a good idea to ask your tattooed clients how recently they have had any work done. An 34 ASCP Skin Deep July/August 2012