Medications and Permanent Makeup: What Saskatchewan Clients Should Know Before Booking
You've found your brow shape, picked your lip colour, and you're ready to book. Before you do, take a quick look at what's in your medicine cabinet. A few common medications change how your skin takes pigment and how it heals, and a little planning makes a big difference in how your results turn out.
Whether you're in Saskatoon or making the drive from Regina, P.A. or anywhere in between, here's what Leah wants you to know.
Accutane
Accutane does great things for acne, but it leaves skin thin, dry and slow to heal. Tattooing skin in that state can mean blurry strokes, patchy colour or scarring.
If you've been on Accutane, give your skin a full 12 months after your last dose before booking. If you’re thinking about having some old ink lasered out before you get your new brows, you’ll want to wait 6 months after your last dose of accutane. It's worth the wait.
Cold sores and lip blush
If you've ever had a cold sore, even once, let us know when you book. Lip blush can bring one on, and a flare-up while you're healing can leave gaps in your colour.
A preventive antiviral like Valtrex takes care of it. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you when to start and how long to take it, usually beginning a couple of days before your session. Here in Saskatchewan, pharmacists can prescribe for cold sores, so a quick stop at your local pharmacy is often all it takes.
Retinol and exfoliating skincare
Love your retinol? So do we. Just press pause on it, along with Retin-A, Differin and glycolic acid, around your brows or lips for 2 weeks before your session. Once you're healed, keep them away from the area so your colour stays fresh longer.
Aspirin, Advil and supplements
These thin your blood, and extra bleeding during your session means less pigment stays put. For 2 to 3 days before, skip aspirin, Advil, Aleve, fish oil and vitamin E. Go easy on the wine the night before, too. If you need something for a headache, Tylenol is fine.
On a blood thinner your doctor prescribed? Keep taking it, and check with your doctor before booking.
Botox and filler
Book Botox after your brow session so Leah can design around your brows' natural shape. For lip blush, wait at least 4 weeks after filler or have the lip blush done 4 weeks before the filler.
Antibiotics, steroids and treatment
If you're on antibiotics, finish them first and book once you're feeling like yourself again. If you're going through or recovering from chemo or radiation, including areola tattooing clients, we'll ask for a quick okay from your care team. Then we'll plan everything around you.
And please never stop a prescription to get permanent makeup. Talk to your doctor, then talk to us. We'll find the right time together.
Coming from out of town?
Sort out any prescriptions before you leave home, book your touch-up while you're here, and bring your aftercare kit for the drive back.
Ready to wake up beautiful?
Not sure if your medications affect your timing? Book a free consultation and Leah will go through it with you, one on one, so you walk into your session feeling confident and walk out loving your brows or lips.