There is curiosity surrounding scalp micropigmentation. It’s probably because most people consider the treatment to be nothing short of a hair tattoo. And tattoos are permanent, right? So why isn’t SMP? Contained in this article are the reasons why scalp micropigmentation fading happens and also, why it needs to happen.
How Scalp Micropigmentation Works
If any of you have done your homework on this innovative treatment, or even read some of our previous articles, you’ll know that SMP is tantamount in its techniques to that of tattooing. Pigments are implanted underneath the outer barrier of the skin. This is done using a machine fitted with a needle. Once the said outer barrier heals over, the pigment becomes trapped and an indelible mark is left. However, albeit indelible, the marking, when administered by a scalp micropigmentation practitioner, will fade to invisible after approximately three to five years. If a tattoo artist administers a tattoo, it is permanent.
So why does SMP fade? Well, in simple terms, fading happens because of the depth the pigment has been implanted into the skin. And it has to be this way as otherwise, the pigment will lose control over its shape and expand giving the look of a blotchy and blended mess. And the reason this happens and it is all to do with the physiology of your skin.
Skin Physiology and Pigment Depth for Scalp Micropigmentation Treatment
Your skin is made up of layers and they run as follows :
- The outer layer is your waterproof barrier called the Epidermis. It not only creates your skin tone but it also regenerates every 4 to 6 weeks.
- The layer underneath the Epidermis is called the Dermis. This is a decidedly complex layer that begins with loosely arranged collagen fibers that connect to and sits directly below the outer layer. The deeper into the dermis you go, the more elasticated and denser those collagen fibers become and they are interwoven with connective tissues.
- The deeper layer beyond called the Hypodermis and is made of subcutaneous and connective tissues and fat.
So on reading the above, one could ask the question as to why, if you’re sure you wish to keep your treatment forever, don’t you just tattoo the procedure so fading doesn’t occur? And the answer to that is easy. The loose arrangement of the upper Dermis fibers will allow the indelible mark to maintain control over its shape. If the pigment is implanted deeper than recommended, the pigment can disperse along paths within the lower layers of the Dermis. The result, if this happens, is an expansion of shape which blends together to provide an unsightly (and permanent) treatment.
So as you can see from the above, the fading process is all part of the nature of the treatment you’ll receive. It has to be this way, there is just no way around it. Control over shape is essential and given the shape is tiny, there is little or no room for expansion.
If you’ve received treatment and you are experiencing scalp micropigmentation fading then why not reach out to us right here for a top-up.
