Dry tattooing (also known as, Microneedling) is an exciting alternative treatment that works directly on damaged skin, relaxing and smoothing scars, also reducing stretch marks. Any micro-needling treatment essentially brings new life into damaged skin, and using a digital permanent machine is a very quick way and precise way of making this happen. No pigment is tattooed into the skin, however, pigmentation begins to normalize as a result.
Dry tattooing is not a new service to the market, but it’s not widely heard of outside of hospitals where it’s better known as MCA Micro-Needling. MCA Micro Needling is an advanced course available to those already specializing in cosmetic and medical tattooing. Clients generally hear about this treatment by referral from a friend, doctor, or consultant.
Using the same principles of causing the growth of healthy new collagen as a derma roller, dry tattooing works on the specific areas of affected skin only i.e. each stretch mark and only the scar. Areas that are not affected are not treated. The digital tattoo machine causes blood to come into the treated area, without removing the top layers of skin. Over the weeks and months new collagen is formed i.e. healthy new skin rather than poor quality scar tissue, stretched or creased skin. A 20-50% improvement can be seen in just one session, with a course of 4 recommended for best results.
Dry tattooing can be used on all colors of skin, with only dark skin prone to over-pigmentation and keloid scarring advised not to go ahead. Once approved for treatment, scarring, hypo or hyperpigmentation are unlikely risks, as no heat is used and the surface of the skin is not removed.
Micro Needling began as a treatment to relax and reduce scar tissue, however, it’s a valid alternative treatment to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, especially for darker skin where laser treatments would not be advised.
Expected results for stretch marks
If skin lacks elasticity or is loose, like on the bust or tummy, dry tattooing will firm any stretch marks, the rest of the skin will still look loose, and the stretch marks are less likely to blur away. A combined Derma Roller/Dry Tattooing treatment would be suggested to tighten any loose skin, this can be carried out in the same session.
If the skin has good elasticity, fine, silvery white stretch marks are likely to disappear after 2 or 4 treatments. Color begins to naturally return, the shine of thin skin disappears, and as the stretch marks thicken and tighten and blur into normal skin.
Medium and wide stretch marks are more difficult to treat and a client’s expectations need to be well managed. If the skin is tighter, and the marks looking and feeling firmer can be accepted as a result, then all is well as any result more than this would be very individual, and medium to wide stretch marks disappearing is unlikely. Medium to wide stretch marks needs to be treated while they are fresh, still very pink or red, to get any result and this would be with specific creams rather than any needling.
Finally, if stretch marks are already normal skin color and not shiny or striated, it’s harder to see any difference in skin thickening, until they blur into normal skin. It’s unpredictable how much this will happen for medium and wide stretch marks
Natural Re-Pigmentation of scars and stretch marks
After dry tattooing, with new life brought into damaged tissue, natural pigmentation starts to return. This can be helped by gentle sun exposure. This means white and shiny scars and stretch marks blend away, and shades of pink and brown scars begin to normalize, often turning white before normalizing.
Expected results for scars
Loose scars respond just like stretch marks, dry tattooing causes new collagen growth in the thin and stretched tissue, helping to create firmer skin. As new tissue grows in response to dry tattooing, discolored scar tissue achieves a more natural tone, and white scars return pigmentation. No pigment is used, this is the body’s natural reaction to scar tissue being needled, and dry tattooing is the most precise and intense form of it.
Dry tattooing also relaxes the fibers of tight scar tissue, with restricted scars or burns softening, allowing a much larger range of movement. Atrophic and Hypertrophic scars are smoothed, with pitted acne scars being treated individually. The finest needles can be used, chosen depending on the scar to be treated. Active keloid scars cannot be treated. Inactive keloid scars can be treated with discretion, and not all raised scars are keloid. Active keloid scars grow and cause pain, itching, and numbness. Inactive keloid scars do not grow and their color is pinkish or normal skin color
Scar Reduction – Managing Client Expectations
There isn’t the same emotional attachment to stretch marks as there is to a scar one thinks is unsightly. It takes some doing to mentally revisit a scar and hope to improve it, especially if it was a traumatic experience. This is why on my website I have chosen to show the immediately after treatment photos, so clients know exactly what to expect. I believe bodies have painful memories, and I see my clients, just before I start treatment, suddenly remembering that it hurt to create, surely it’ll hurt to treat… forgetting that they’ve had numbing cream on the area for at least 30 minutes.
How much a scar improves is very individual, and results can’t be promised, but we’re giving the body a chance to re-heal in a more controlled manner, rather than the rush of scar tissue that formed when the wound was healing. The emotion my clients generally feel is excitement, that they’re doing something that makes sense. Scar tissue is stuck; we’re gently and precisely waking it up so it can heal again
Results don’t happen overnight, you’ll see I add dates to my photos, and one of the reasons I’ll be adding more and more photos to my website is so viewers can see there are no standardized before and after photos. There is nothing to judge your result against, only seeing each person’s scar improving. I recommend 4 dry tattooings, and micro-needling treatments, and then leaving the area to settle and develop for about 4 months before considering having any more. Some clients book these treatments regularly; others wait to see a development before returning. I’m of the view the 4 sessions of regular stimulation will work best, as ultimately we want to stimulate the skin so it can re-heal.
Skin or scar camouflage is tattooing of the skin with different colors of flesh-tone pigments. Its purpose is to disguise a scar or skin area that is missing pigment or color. It is a specialized area of permanent cosmetics that falls under the category of Medical or Paramedical Tattooing. This process is also called Corrective Pigment Camouflage (CPC), Corrective Camouflage, Skin Re-Pigmentation, Scar Camouflage, Skin Camouflage, Camouflage Tattooing, and Skin Color Tattooing. The science behind pigments and the physiology of human skin and tissue must be understood by the specialist performing these procedures. These procedures require advanced knowledge, training, skills, and experience in permanent cosmetics as well as an artistic eye for color and skin tones. (Note* Multiple sessions are required)
You might be a candidate if you meet the criteria below. Your scar should be:
- Healed and no longer pink or changing color: Your scar should be at least 9 to 12 months old with stable color. If it is red or pink or still changing color, the tissue may still be healing. A reputable, experienced medical tattooist will not work prematurely on scar tissue because it may cause further damage to the skin. (Note: If you were under a physician’s care for the condition, ask him/her if you may undergo skin color tattooing before contacting New Image Beauty Bar)
- Smooth and relatively flat: Camouflage tattooing cannot disguise or correct extreme changes in skin texture. If your scar or skin area is bumpy or raised, the process may not be effective. (Note: If you have any skin surface irregularity, please consult with a Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon first to see if any type of medical treatments can first improve the skin texture.)
- Without dark edges: Dark edges or borders around a scar indicate Post Inflammatory Hyper-pigmentation (PIHP) from the initial trauma or surgery. It is possible that the camouflage tattooing process may increase the hyper-pigmentation and create a wider, darker border. (Note: The risk of this happening is usually greater with darker skin tones.)
- NOT one of the following: Port Wine birthmarks; spider veins; freckles; age spots; under-eye circles; hyper-pigmentation; or unstable Vitiligo (not in remission). These can be improved with non-tattoo medical treatments such as lasers, sclerotherapy, or chemical peels. Please consult with a physician regarding the best course of treatment for these conditions