League of Permanent Cosmetic Providers
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What’s in Your ‘Permanent Makeup Tool Box’? ©
Proper Product Knowledge and Safe Usages
Life can be a bit confusing at times, but as the lawyers say ‘Ignorance of the law is no excuse’. With the internet and various publications at hand, it is simple to get the information that you need. They key is….absorbing and reabsorbing, gleaning and making proper decisions based on factual knowledge and research. There is a lot going on in the tattoo industry, the best technician is an educated one that can readily foresee problems, anticipate issues and be proactive to avoid them.
A great start is proper product knowledge. This would consist of your physical tools as well as compounded products placed into and on top of the skin, broken and unbroken tissue.
Where do you start?
Let’s talk about your products MSDS….What is it? A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), Safety Data Sheet (SDS), or Product Safety Data Sheet (PSDS) is an important component of Product Stewardship (otherwise known as Extended Product Responsibility or EPR) and occupational safety and health. It is intended to provide workers and emergency personnel with procedures for handling or working with that substance in a safe manner, and includes information such as physical data (melting point, boiling point, flash point, etc.), toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment, and spill-handling procedures. MSDS formats can vary from source to source within a country depending on national requirements.
SDSs are a widely used system for cataloging information on chemicals, chemical compounds, and chemical mixtures. SDS information may include instructions for the safe use and potential hazards associated with a particular material or product. These data sheets can be found anywhere where chemicals are being used.
One can readily find product MSDS’s on the internet or by contacting the manufacturer for the products found in their clinic, studio, office and/or place of employment. This is an OSHA standard as well as many state, county and city requirements for the permanent makeup, tattoo and piercing industry. Also, check with these state agencies for a list of all updated laws that you will be required to follow in your place of business.
Do you know, what is in your ink/pigment, anesthesia etc.? Can and will this cause an allergic reaction or a burn in or on the skin? Please check with your manufacturer for this proper knowledge and insist on a MSDS sheet for each item used in your procedures. The products that are purchased from a store usually has their MSDS’s listed on the internet to be downloaded.
Why is this important?…. All the ‘What If’s’ that could happen… We can never say enough about cover yourself for issues that could arise in the future (also known as CYA)! It is best to have this knowledge, know what and how to use the correct products safely, or, best to avoid them all together, especially when dealing with the face. Remember… a bad tattoo on the body, can be covered up, however the face is there for the world to see.
Let’s move on from the chemical component of products, and move into the physical tools and usages of them.
Not all products are equal in quality, many are more hype and expense then you might need.
Personally, try to find out the why’s and how comes before placing a money on any “new tool”, which can be touted as the greatest new gadget. Beware of the person that tries to sell you a machine that is listed as ‘Does not cause pain’, ‘Does not draw blood’, ‘Does not cause swelling’, as this is impossible. If a needle pierces the skin you will always have some discomfort, most of the time droplets of blood and swelling. As educators we are amazed at how people will market something just to make money. Most tools are just in different packaging and someone has put a new spin on them. I like to talk to technicians in the industry not selling a products, and get their opinion of their favorite products. I find their answers to be unbiased. Why do they love or dislike something? It is a valuable insight. We all have our ‘lovely lovelies’ that we adore, I know I do. It is essential as a technician to understand why you like certain products. We also have a certain ‘preferred’ tool whether it is a rotary, hand tool, coil or digital machine.
Know your tools!
But alas always be an educated buyer and watch the spin on things, this would also include your needles/needle clusters. Needle clusters like machines, have various personalities to deliver a specific ‘look’ or technique in the skin. Never think you can achieve a hair simulation with an 18 round shader needle cluster. As funny as it sounds, if you don’t know the answer to that, you REALLY need to know much more!….May we suggest The ‘ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PERMANENT COSMETICS’, the bible for facial tattooing and Permanent Cosmetics A to Z. These are excellent resources for those wanting to progress and be very well versed in permanent cosmetic procedures.
By: Pamela Abshear CCPC, CPDA and Susan Church CCPC, CPDA
