Whilst the above list is by no means exhaustive, it’ll give you a good idea of the types of scenarios that may prevent us from going ahead with a treatment. For some of the above, we may also ask that you provide written authorisation from your GP before we can proceed. 

If any of these apply to you, let’s take a look at some in greater detail so you have a better idea of the specific contraindication and why it may prevent us from providing any form of scalp micropigmentation.

Blood pressure/heart conditions

Whilst this may not actually prevent you from being treated at our clinic , we’d always ask for written permission from your doctor first. We list this as a contraindication, as we won’t know the severity of your condition or what medication you’re taking. Furthermore, if you’ve suffered from mitral valve prolapse, have an artificial heart valve or have any condition that means you need to take prophylactic (intended to prevent disease) antibiotics, you’ll also have to take them prior to being treated at our clinic.

Blood Thinners

Blood thinners (anticoagulants) such as aspirin or other forms of medication you’ve either bought over the counter (e.g herbal) or have been prescribed by a doctor, can increase the time it takes for the blood to clot. Bearing in mind that having scalp micropigmentation involves breaking the skin, it’s important that the time it takes for your blood to clot is within a reasonable timeframe. If not, you may experience increased bleeding time and higher than average bruising. Once again, this would require explicit consent from your GP before we’d considering treating you.

Cancer patients

Scalp micropigmentation procedure can cause trauma to the skin, they should not be performed on those with compromised immune systems. The general recommendation is to wait six weeks before or 6 month after any type of cancer treatment, though it’s absolutely necessary to consult with your oncology team before undergoing any elective or cosmetic procedure.For clients undergoing treatment we need to  receive clearance from your doctor first.

Cancer patients face many of the same risks and complications from permanent makeup as the general population. These risks include:

• Premature/unsightly pigment fade

• Infection

• Allergic reaction

• Scarring

• Granulomas                                                                                                                                                                                                     

As mentioned, infection risk may be higher in chemotherapy patients.

Diabetes

If you’re diabetic, it could lead to complications with the healing process and increase the risk of infection.

Pregnancy/lactating

There are a couple of reasons why any cosmetic tatooing procedure should be postponed under these conditions. For starters, your skin tone can change slightly during pregnancy which can make it more difficult to achieve the desired results in the long-term. Secondly, whilst complications are extremely rare, if one did occur whilst pregnant, this can add an extra undesirable factor into the equation. For the sake of you and your baby, it’s always best to put off the procedure until after you’ve given birth and stopped breastfeeding.

Skin conditions – Rashes, blisters, psoriasis, eczema etc.

Any skin condition such as the ones mentioned above can complicate things and can affect the overall long-term results of scalp micropigmentation. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we won’t be able to treat you, but we’ll need to discuss your condition in more detail prior to undertaking any treatment.

Excessive oily skin

The results of scalp micropigmentation can fade really fast if your scalp is super oily  

Keloid/Hypertrophic Scarring

As keloid/hypertrophic scarring is associated with adverse wound healing factors, you may not be a suitable candidate for SMP or any other form of cosmetic tattooing treatment as a uniform healing process without additional complications is more desirable. The same would apply if you were looking to have a permanent tattoo.

Cortisone steroids, Accutane, Retin-A or Renova

In case you’re not aware, the ongoing use of topical steroids can lead to a thinning of the skin, particularly if used long-term. For this reason, SMP isn’t recommended. If you’re only using topical steroids for a very short time, treatment is still possible afterwards provided some time has elapsed after your last application. If you’re using any of the above medications, please speak to your GP prior to contacting us.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Also known simply as hyperpigmentation, this often affects the facial area, particularly after the skin has been traumatised by certain procedures such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser treatments etc. This also applies to scalp and other forms of semi-permanent makeup and isn’t recommended.

Spider veins or birthmarks

If you have either of these in or around the area you’d like us to treat, it can be problematic so you’ll need to discuss this with us in more detail first. 

Bleeding disorders

If you suffer from this type of condition (such as haemophilia) you’ll obviously be aware of the problem with your blood clotting. Similar to ‘blood thinning’ above, having any kind of cosmetic tattooing involves puncturing the skin and the treatment will, therefore, most likely be unsuitable for you.

Compromised immune system

If you have any condition or are undergoing any treatment that can compromise your immune system, you MUST speak to your doctor first. A good immune system is important for the healing process to go smoothly.

Any treatment, medication, or illness that compromises the immune system/healing would NOT make you a good candidate for micropigmentation procedures.