Who Is a Candidate for Micropigmentation?

Many patients who undergo cancer treatment experience hair loss. This is a common side effect of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplant. While working to kill the cancer cells, the hair cells are also damaged.

This hair loss occurs all over the body. The medical term, alopecia, means hair loss.

Once the treatment ends, the hair regrows for most people. Yet, it may be thinner or leave bald patches. If your treatment required surgery to the head or brain, you will have a permanent scar.

The good news is that there are treatment options for many of these problems. Scalp medical tattoos or scalp micropigmentation can improve these side effects.

The International Journal of Dermatology examined how satisfied patients were with this treatment. They reported patient satisfaction scores of 4.8 on a 5-point Likert score with 5 being the highest.

This shaved style micropigmentation approach lets individuals choose where to create their hairline. This impacts the framing of your face. This technique makes thin hair look stronger and bald areas denser.

By color matching your hair follicles, the artist decreases the visibility of scars. These small “hair follicle” deposits cause the scar to blend in with the rest of your scalp.
 

How do you prepare for the procedure? 

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Your practitioner or artist will give you instructions to follow before your treatment. In general, you may shave or pluck your hair within 48 hours of having the treatment. Some procedures don’t require any shaving or plucking.

It’s important to eat a meal before your procedure begins. You may also bring snacks and drinks. If you feel nervous, ask about listening to music or watching a movie to distract you.
 

How is the procedure performed? 

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This treatment involves placing microdot tattoos in the outer layer of the skin. This stippling pattern gives the effect of hair follicles. It looks like you have cut your hair close to the scalp.

Similar techniques introduce colors into scars allowing them to blend with your scalp. The artist chooses colors that closely match your natural skin tone.

These procedures involve a high level of detail. Depending on the extent of the micropigmentation needed, it can take 4 to 5 hours. Often, individuals choose to have this completed over 2 to 3 sessions.

Now let's discuss each step of the scalp micropigmentation process.

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The Artist Consultation

You may conduct your consultation in person with the artist. This is often the best choice so they can look at your scalp and give you recommendations. If needed, you may have this consult over the phone or by a video chat.

 

Treatment Planning

During the consultation, the client and artist work together on planning the desired effect. You will discuss pigment color, placement of the hairline, and other details. It’s important to ask questions and make sure you understand the plan.
 

First Treatment

The purpose of the first session is to create the foundation for your new look. A tiny needle places the color in the outer skin layer. This creates microdots of color intended to look like hair follicles.

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Additional Sessions

During the second and future sessions, more microdots and placed. The procedure completion time depends on when you have your desired outcome.
 

Does it hurt?

Many people worry about the pain involved with scalp micropigmentation. Since only the outer layer is treated, this is less painful than a traditional tattoo.

Each person experiences pain differently. Thus, it’s important to tell the artist if you’re uncomfortable.

After Treatment

After each treatment, your practitioner or artist will give you specific care instructions. The following describes commons post-treatment care.

During the first 4 days after a treatment session you should:

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• Not touch the treated area

• Avoid showering because you don’t want the water hitting the treated area

• Not shave the treated area for at least 10 days

• Avoid activities that cause you to sweat a lot

• Stay out of direct sunlight

• Not go swimming because you don’t want the area soaked with water

• Avoid hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas because they cause you to sweat

• You must also refrain from using moisturizers or shampoo on the treated area.

• The overall goal is to keep it clean and dry.
   

Beginning of the fifth day after your session, gently wash your head with cold water and mild soap. Put a non-perfumed moisturizer on your scalp three times a day. This will help avoid excessive dryness and flaking.

It’s also important to avoid letting your hair grow too long. This will recreate the appearance of patches and thinness. Use an electric shaver instead of a manual razor. Be sure to avoid any wet shaving with a razor blade during the first 10 days after the treatment.

What to expect after the procedure?

Most clients have little to no problems following treatment. The Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery states that some redness and slight swelling can occur. This should go away within a couple of days.

If the area becomes more swollen, red, and painful, this could indicate an infection. Infections can also cause you to have a fever. If you have any of these symptoms, call your practitioner or artist immediately.
 

Possible Side Effects

The most common side effects of scalp micropigmentation are redness and itching in the treated area. This usually goes away in a few days as the skin on the scalp recovers. In some rare cases, clients may experience more serious side effects.

Some of these “side effects” are, in fact, caused by poor technique of challenging skin types.

Lymph Nodes

The lymph nodes filter abnormal cells from the blood. Enlarged lymph nodes occur when they fill with cells the body views as dangerous.

A swollen lymph node feels like a firm, moveable ball. The lymph nodes that drain the scalp are located at the base of the skull, behind the ears, and down the neck. They may or may not feel painful when touched.

Swollen lymph nodes often signal an infection. They can also swell in response to the pigments used.

Scalp Tightness

Some clients complain of their scalp feeling tight. As the skin heals, tiny wound scabs form which aren’t as elastic as normal skin. As these wounds heal and lose their scabs, the skin loosens and feels more natural.

Oversized Dots

As mentioned, scabs form over each micropigment dot right after treatment. The scab will have the pigment color in it. This makes the dot look larger at first.

After about 5 to 10 days, these scabs fall off and the true size of the dot appears. Once it’s completely healed, it will look like a normal hair follicle.

Quick Fading of the Pigmentation

Some clients mistake the healing loss of the scab as fading pigmentation. They may not have the look they expected. If you have this experience, speak with your practitioner or artists.

Dots changing color?

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If the practitioner or artist uses regular tattoo ink and injects it too deep in the skin, the color may change. Pigments break down and turn blue when they’re deep under the skin. This can also happen if the equipment becomes contaminated.

If you notice any signs of infection, including swollen lymph nodes, contact your medical provider. It’s also important to make sure you find a practitioner or artist who’s highly qualified.

Long Term Care

To avoid future problems, there are several long-term care strategies you should follow. One of the most important rules is to always use an SPF sunblock when going outside.

Reapply during prolonged outings or if your head gets wet or sweaty. Exposing the treated area to the sun can cause the pigment to fade quicker.

Using body lotion on your scalp routinely will help keep the skin more vibrant. Also, avoid swimming in chlorinated pools for the first 28 days after treatment. Paying close attention to protective measures will extend the life of your treatment.