Semi-Permanent Makeup Tattoos: Why You Must Remove Them At A Dermatology Clinic

Hello, I am Dr. Sang-ju Lee, a dermatologist. Semi-permanent makeup tattoos are common around us, but do you think they can be easily removed? If pigment is injected into the skin and lasts for more than a month, it can be considered a tattoo. I would like to explain in detail whether semi-permanent makeup tattoos can truly be easily removed, comparing them to regular tattoos.

First, performing semi-permanent makeup tattoos is illegal, but removing them outside of a hospital is also illegal. In the past, tattoos were sometimes removed by scraping off the skin with chemicals, but these methods had the disadvantage of causing many scars and are no longer used in hospitals. However, some shops are known to illegally perform these procedures, so caution is needed.

In dermatology clinics, tattoos are mainly removed using lasers. Since lasers can only be used by medical professionals, any tattoo removal performed in a shop should be considered illegal. Semi-permanent makeup tattoo shops cannot use medical lasers, so their methods will inevitably differ from those provided by dermatology clinics.

Semi-permanent tattoos use less ink than regular tattoos. However, various pigments are often mixed to create beautiful colors. While one might think it's easier due to the smaller amount of ink, it is by no means easy to remove.

• Ink Volume: A smaller amount of ink is used compared to regular tattoos.
• Color Diversity: Because various colors are used, the laser response can vary, sometimes high and sometimes low, making treatment often more challenging.

Currently, laser treatment is known to be the most effective method for removing semi-permanent makeup tattoos and regular tattoos. Laser treatment is recognized as the most standard treatment method due to its few side effects and excellent treatment efficacy. Using a laser is most desirable for effectively removing the makeup tattoo ink located in the dermis.

Generally, when there is a large amount of ink in the skin, the pain is more severe. This is because pain occurs as the ink is broken down and removed. In the case of semi-permanent makeup tattoos, the amount of ink is relatively small, so the pain may be less compared to regular tattoos. However, there may be pain in sensitive areas such as the eyelashes.

Multiple sessions are required to break down the tattoo ink into small particles. If the ink is thickly embedded from the top to the bottom layer, it must be removed layer by layer, so semi-permanent makeup tattoos also require multiple sessions, just like regular tattoos.

To maximize treatment efficacy, it is most important to use a laser with high treatment effectiveness and few side effects. In the past, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was widely used for makeup tattoo removal, but recently, picosecond lasers are reported to show excellent effects in tattoo removal.

So far, we have addressed common questions about semi-permanent makeup tattoos and tattoo removal. It is crucial to consult with a dermatologist and receive safe and effective treatment for semi-permanent makeup tattoo removal.