Permanent Makeup Safety Advice for the Valued Client

by susanchurch

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.

• IIPC is a latex-free clinic. 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.

Permanent Makeup... Coming soon...

What is Permanent Cosmetics?

Permanent Cosmetics, often referred to as Permanent Makeup, Dermapigmentation or Micropigmentation, has been gaining in popularity since it's emergence in the late 1980's. It is a form of cosmetic tattooing in which color pigments are chosen and strategically inserted into the skin to emulate everyday cosmetic makeup. Most clients seek out Permanent Makeup to enhance their existing facial features; however, more recently permanent makeup has been utilized to help burn survivors, cancer patients and others who have tissue damage. The most common Permanent Cosmetics procedures are: eyelash enhancement, eyeliner, lipliner, eyebrow hair simulation, scalp hair simulation and full lip color. Other types of Permanent Cosmetics procedures, deemed "Paramedical Procedures," include: Skin Needling™, Scar Relaxation, Areola Repigmentation and Corrective Pigment Camouflage. IIPC offers instruction in all areas. The Permanent Cosmetics Industry continually works to regulate and accredit procedures, ensuring that there are safe and standard practices for patient care. Permanent Makeup Professionals and supply manufacturers work together to make certain that the inks used in permanent cosmetics pigments exceed agency regulations as cosmetics and color additives. Unfortunately, there are some people who claim to be Permanent Makeup Professionals that neither have sufficient education nor practice permanent cosmetics safely. It is IIPC's recommendation that extensive research be done before selecting a permanent cosmetics institute for training and prior to undergoing any permanent makeup procedure.

 

Copyright © 2011 International Institute of Permanent Cosmetics - Susan Church, All Rights Reserved

 

One skincare brand delivers women more youthful skin—at every age

If you’re like most women, you haven’t found that one skincare product that you can always count on—that works as good now as it did five years ago.  That’s because that product doesn’t exist.

While everyone knows that age is a big factor for our skin, most women don’t realize just how strongly aging impacts our skin’s needs.  Not surprisingly, the cream a 30-year old uses to fight wrinkles will not help a 40-year old fight her increased sun-sensitivity (which also happens to trigger sun spots and spider veins).

Yet today there is one brand of skincare products that goes way beyond wrinkles to address all of the biological needs of a woman’s skin, particularly as she ages.  This brand—created by a woman who earned a Chemical & Biological Engineering degree from MIT—is the first that caters to all of our skin’s anti-aging needs throughout life.  The brand in question is Stages Of Beauty.

Committed to the philosophy that there is beauty in every age of life, Stages of Beauty features four complete lines of skincare products—for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s & over.

Twenty-something women’s skin is often besieged by extensive free radical damage, which speeds up the formation of early wrinkle lines.  To fight these wrinkle lines, Stages of Beauty introduces the RADIANCE anti-aging line.  This line of skincare products offers environmental protection, repairing and rejuvenating young skin.  The RADIANCE Treatment Cream is a light cream that provides continual damage control against those nasty free radicals.

For those of us in our 30s, skin regeneration is a major issue.  In fact, our skin takes twice as long to regenerate in this age period—yielding skin that is often dull or discolored.  Here, the HARMONY anti-aging line serves to bring younger, radiant skin cells to your skin’s surface, all while fighting wrinkles, too. 

By the time we enter our 40s, a new skin-foe arises: thinning skin.  As our skin thins, it also becomes redder, and dryer.  To firm up this thinning skin, the ELEGANCE line helps by soothing, calming, and hydrating the skin to help rebuild its elasticity, tone, and firmness.  Once the skin thickens, the redness and dryness tend to disappear, too.

For women in their 50s, the main skin-issue is its immunity.  As the skin’s natural defenses weaken, the skin becomes susceptible to extra dryness and increased damage.  For women in this stage of life, the GRACE anti-aging line offers focused intense hydration.  Additionally, it serves to balance the effects of hormones while bolstering the skin’s natural immunity.

If you’ve been looking for a skincare product that actually works, look no further.  The Stages Of Beauty anti-aging skincare brand fulfills all of the changing needs of your skin. 

So if you’d like to keep your skin as beautiful, smooth and youthful as possible—no matter what stage of life you are in—visit MyStagesOfBeauty.com today for your free sample.

Get Ready for Spring: 10 great tips for healthy skin, hair and nails

The new year is a great time to make some resolutions to keep your skin, hair and nails healthy. Your dermatologist can help you with these resolutions. Dermatologists are medical doctors who have extensive training, experience and passion for keeping skin, hair, and nails healthy throughout a person’s lifetime. Here are 10 tips to keep you healthy looking from head to toe.

Protect yourself from the sun. Help prevent signs of aging, such as age spots and fine lines, as well as significantly decrease your risk of developing skin cancer by using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing (a long-sleeved shirt, pants, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses) and seeking shade when appropriate. Choose a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 and broad-spectrum protection (protects against ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays).
Do not use tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product (such as a lotion, foam or spray), but continue to use sunscreen with it.
Perform a skin self-exam. Examining your skin for suspicious moles and other lesions could save your life. Use the American Academy of Dermatology’s body mole map, located at www.melanomamonday.org, to record your moles and learn how to perform a proper skin exam. If you find a suspicious lesion, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.
Don’t skip the hair conditioner. Dermatologists recommend using a conditioner after every shampoo. While a conditioner cannot repair hair, it can increase shine, decrease static electricity, improve strength, and offer some protection from harmful UV rays.
Eat a healthy diet. A diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other healthy foods can lead to healthier skin. Be sure to include some lean protein in your diet. Our skin is made of protein, so some protein is necessary for healthy skin.
If your skin feels dry, moisturize. After bathing is the best time to moisturize so that you can trap water in the skin. If your skin still feels dry with regular moisturizing after bathing, apply moisturizer a few times throughout the day.
Stop smoking. People who smoke expose their skin to toxins that accelerate the aging of their skin. And, the repeat puckering to inhale can cause deep lines around the lips. Frequent squinting to avoid getting smoke in one’s eyes can cause noticeable crow’s feet.
Manage stress. To keep your skin looking its best, it is important to effectively manage stress. Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your skin, hair and nails. It can worsen many skin conditions, including psoriasis, acne and rosacea, cause brittle nails and ridging of the nails, and lead to hair loss.
Don’t bite your fingernails. You can transfer infectious organisms between your fingers and mouth. Also, nail biting can damage the skin around your fingers, allowing infections to enter.
If you have acne, do not pick, pop or squeeze the blemishes. People mistakenly believe that picking and popping pimples will get rid of them quickly. The truth is doing any of these can irritate the skin, make acne worse, and increase the risk of scarring

Protect Yourself

Staph bacteria can live on your skin, and your hands generally carry the biggest concentration of germs on your body.  You can pick up or pass germs through contact with objects as well as other people.  If you then touch your eyes or any opening in your skin, such as a cut, scrape or shaving nick, you're giving those germs an easy path straight into your body. 

The most important thing you can do is practice good daily hygiene, and follow these suggestions:

•  Bathe or shower each day.  Staph and other germs build up on the skin - soap and water get rid of them.

•  Wash your hands often and thoroughly (at least 15 seconds) with soap and water.  This is the single best defense against germs and infections.  Use a paper towel to dry, and another to shut off the water and open the door to the restroom. If you're not near a basin and soap, carry and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or sanitary wipes.

 Do not shave your legs for 24 hours before a pedicure.  As mentioned above, small nicks that often happen while shaving can clear the way for any bacteria you might contact in a whirlpool or elsewhere. 

Skin Injuries
If you have an infection, a painful area, or a sore on your legs or feet, postpone the pedicure until the problem is gone.
With any cuts, scrapes, open wounds, or even cracks from overly dry skin, threat the wound by washing thoroughly, disinfecting with alcohol, and keeping it covered with a clean bandage until completely healed.  Repeat that process regularly, and remember to wash your hands before changing the bandage and after.   Throw away the old bandages and tape.Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.

Personal Items:
Do not share anything that can contact the skin directly. This includes such items as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, uniforms, or athletic equipment.
To repeat: Staph infections can spread through contact with objects and people.
Be especially careful with anything that may have had contact with an infected wound or bandage, whether on someone else's body or your own. After washing linens and clothes, it's best to use a dryer instead of hanging them out. 

Sports or Working Out
Staph and other germs thrive in warmth and moisture, which describes any sweaty body.

• • Always shower immediately after working out.
• • Always keep some barrier, such as clothing or a towel, between you and the gym equipment.
• •Wipe the surface of the equipment
• • Before and after using equipment, wipe the surfaces the body can contact with disinfectant on a towel.  Do this before and after using.
• • Do not walk barefoot in the club/gym, restroom or shower facilities (wear shower shoes).  This is especially true if you have a scrape or cut on your feet. 
• • Wash all gym clothes and towels right after using. 

Illness
If you have an infection or are not feeling well, postpone your pedicure and take a break from working out.  When ill, your immune system will be weakened, making you more likely to pick up an infection, and you may spread your illness to others.   Wait until you're feeling well or the wound has completely healed. 

Pre-existing Conditions
If you have any infection of the skin, the nails, or a blood-borne infection, DO NOT GO IN FOR SALON SERVICES.  You are putting others at risk.

If you have any serious underlying health problems, such as diabetes, poor circulation in feet or hands, a weakened immune system, or any chronic illness, DO NOT GO IN FOR SALON SERVICES.  You are putting yourself at risk. 

Sources:
Mayo Clinic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention