Microblading is truly a blessing, providing that everything goes right. You get the brow shape of your dreams, the pigment doesn’t turn with time, and the color fades away evenly and completely within 2 years.
But when something goes wrong, it can become a serious source of frustration. Since it is a type of tattoo and the colors are deposited into the skin, it’s not exactly something you can get rid of easily.
Out of desperation and anxiety to remove unwanted pigments, some clients reach for products marketed as microblading removal cream. Yes, we know it would be great if we could just rub away unwanted microblading, but let’s see whether the microblading removal cream works.
What’s Microblading Removal Cream?
With the huge rise in the popularity of microblading, the demand for microblading removal also increased. So a couple of years ago, products started popping up on the market, mostly Asian, marketed as microblading removal cream or serum, a quick, painless way to remove microblading topically, without lasers or needles.
These products claim to bleach unwanted permanent makeup pigments, and even tattoo ink, fading them away significantly.
How Does Microblading Removal Cream Work?
The idea behind the microblading removal cream is to exfoliate the skin so thoroughly that pigmented cells are removed. Products that claim to bleach microblading without breaking the skin are actually chemical peels that make the surface layer of the skin peel off, allowing for new skin to emerge.
However, these creams have to cause a thicker layer of skin to peel off, so they must contain harsh ingredients which are not exactly safe for at-home, unsupervised use. A common ingredient is trichloroacetic acid, a very strong peeling agent.
It’s no surprise you can’t exactly find a microblading removal cream at your local pharmacy. These products have not been approved by the FDA and you can only find them online, on shady websites, and none of them reveal a complete list of ingredients. Talk about a red flag.
Is Microblading Removal Cream Safe?
No microblading removal cream has been approved by the FDA, so, no, we cannot say that they’re safe.
If microblading is to be removed with a chemical peel, a very thick layer of skin would have to be peeled off. This means very harsh ingredients have to be used, and in high concentrations, they can cause extensive damage to the skin.
One example is trichloroacetic acid, an ingredient approved by the FDA for use by medical professionals, but not for at-home use. Consequences of unsupervised use can include:
- Allergic reactions
- Irritation
- Skin bleaching
- Acid burns
- Scarring
Microblading removal cream is particularly unsafe for darker skin tones – the aggressive bleaching agents can cause very prominent hypopigmentation on the skin, leaving light spots that may never darken again.
Dermatologists also speak out against using such products.
Can Microblading Removal Cream Actually Remove Microblading?
No, and we strongly advise you not to try them.
The microblading removal cream can peel off the outer layer of the skin, but microblading pigments are deposited deeper than the epidermis, into the upper dermis layer of the skin. This layer of the skin isn’t reached by chemical peels, as that would be dangerous and could cause serious damage to the tissue.
At best, this could fade the pigments, but it would also bleach the skin.
Or, microblading removal cream can actually make things worse. The bleaching agents can cause the pigments to change color and look even worse than they used.
It’s a no-go in every respect.
So, How Can Microblading Be Removed Then?
Don’t worry, there are safe and effective ways to remove unwanted microblading.
The safe and approved microblading removal methods are:
With laser removal, the pigments are exposed to the laser beam which breaks down their particles and allows the body to carry them away and extract them.
With saline and glycolic acid removal, the skin above the pigments is opened with a needle and special solutions which lift the pigments are injected. As the wound heals, the scab that forms takes away the lifted pigments.
All 3 methods require multiple sessions and the removal is gradual, but it is guaranteed.
Image source: Instagram @philaser_tattoo_removal
Microblading Fading
There are some alternative ways to try to remove microblading which are safer than removal cream, but will fade pigments at best, never completely remove them.
You can fade microblading a bit with retinol or a hydrogen peroxide paste, but bear in mind that these methods can give very limited effects.
Final Piece of Advice
In case you’re dealing with microblading you’re not crazy about, the first step towards fixing the situation should be a visit to a microblading artist (it doesn’t have to be the same one who did your treatment). Most cases of not-so-great microblading can be fixed, either with shape or color correction.
Cover image source: Freepik
