How to clean/disinfect materials for Permanent Makeup treatment

A form of makeup that stays with you forever is nothing less than a dream come true!
If you were to tell us 10 years back, Permanent Makeup would be a thing, we would never have believed it but today in 2022 it’s a blazing reality and a market that is growing at never-before rates. Thus it’s high time that we talk about the potential risks that this Technological Behemoth comes with.

Human skin acts as a protective layer that ceases infectious microbes from entering the body. However, Permanent Skin Treatment involves the use of Microsurgical tools like needles and blades, thus running the risk of causing a reaction on the skin. The first and foremost precaution that any Microblading & Permanent Makeup Treatment Professional must take is the maintenance of proper cleanliness and disinfection of the tools to be used to minimize the inevitable risks.

Severity Of The Cleanliness You Need To Follow

It is a good practice to categorize the tools that you use and the disinfectants you use to clean them. The complexity and severity of the cleanliness or disinfection of a tool can be divided into three basic categories–

• Most Severe
• Moderately Severe
• Least Severe

Let’s understand these categories first–

• Most Severe: The tools & equipment that come in direct contact with your client’s skin need the utmost care while cleaning/disinfecting. If your Permanent Makeup Treatment tools are not properly disinfected and they puncture your client’s skin there is a major risk of infection due to pathogenic entries in the body. Being extra cautious will never harm you as a Professional and it will make your clients’ treatment way safer! 

Some of the tools that fall into this category are Reusable handles for microblading tools,

Microblading needles, Single-use microblading pens, and Pigment cartridges.

• Moderately Severe: Don’t let the name fool you! Although we consider them Moderately Severe, the slightest slips can cause repercussions for you and your client. This category of tools deals with the Skin already cut (Non-Intact Skin) or the bodily fluids ejected during the Permanent Makeup Treatment. These tools usually help you hold your client’s skin in place while you perform the intricate task of Microblading. The main difference between the two categories is a simple fact that the Moderately Severe PMU tools do not puncture the skin. To name a few Moderately Severe PMU tools we have 

Skin holders, Medical trays, Pigment Bottle holders, Tweezers, Disposable gloves, and Micro brushes.

• Least Severe: These are the tools that help Permanent Makeup Treatment Professionals make the final touches to complete the procedure. The Least Severe PMU tools come in contact with the intact skin or the client’s hair during the procedure. The tools may not be in direct contact with the non-intact skin but they are still used in close vicinity making it absolutely must to keep them spotless and sterilized at all times. Very important Least Severe PMU tools include Eyebrow Art pencils and markers, Brow scissors, Alcohol pads & swabs, and Drape sheets.

Cleaners and Disinfectants

Just like the different categories for the severity of cleanliness for tools, we can divide the chemicals used to clean the tools into three categories as well–

• Special Grade: For Most Severe Permanent Makeup Treatment Tools that cannot be properly sterilized with heat but can be submerged within a solution like microblading needles, you need a Special Grade Disinfectant like the Hydrogen Peroxide based Pre-Empt CS20 or Glutaraldehyde based  MetriCide Plus 30.

• Intermediate Grade: Several Most Severe or Moderately Severe Permanent Makeup Tools cannot be submerged into disinfectants and require spraying on top of usual cleaning methods. For tools like machine-based skin holders, you need to spray them with an Intermediate Grade Disinfectant like the alcohol-based CaviCide or Hydrogen Peroxide-based OPTIM.

• Domestic Grade: Even Permanent Makeup Treatment involves a few Least Severe tools that can be reused. The reusability makes it so that you can use Domestic Grade Disinfectants like Isopropyl Alcohol (70-90%) to disinfect and clean. Brow scissors should be thoroughly washed with Liquid Soap and then disinfected with Rubbing Alcohol. 

Steps  to Clean/Disinfect materials

Now that we understand the Tools and the available Disinfectants and cleansers we can finally learn the proper Steps to clean/disinfect materials for your client’s Permanent Makeup treatment.Dutchy Professionals’ PMU experts made a guide for you, to properly Disinfect and Clean your Permanent Makeup Treatment tools:

1. The first thing you should always Clean & Disinfect after a day’s work is the Tray you kept all your tools in. Use the Special Grade Disinfectant or proper washing followed by an Intermediate Grade Disinfectant.
2. Take a tray and put enough Special Grade Cleaning solution to submerge all your Most Severe Permanent Makeup Treatment Tools like microblading pens. Keep the tools submerged for at least an hour.
3. While the Special Grade Disinfectant is at work, take a good quality Liquid Soap and put the washable and reusable tools in the soap solution for at least 45 minutes. 
4. Use alcohol wipes to clean the Moderately Severe Permanent Makeup Treatment Tools like the Skin Holders and then spray them with Intermediate Grade Disinfectants. Leave the disinfectant for 30 minutes and clean the tools with a clean dry towel.
5. Once your Most Severe PMU Treatment Tools are done soaking, rinse them with warm water and towel dry them thoroughly.
6. Wash your tools soaking in the Soap Solution and dry them with a towel then spread them out. 
7. As your tools dry out use good-quality Surface Disinfectants to clean your workstation and the floors of your workplace. It might sound like nitpicking but keeping the work environment clean is necessary. 
8. Properly dispose of non-reusable tools like gloves, clean your hands and Put all your tools in a sterilized tray for the next day.

Now you are ready to give your clients the safest Permanent Makeup Treatment there is.
But did you know, even after being this cautious about everything there is still a big chance that your client might react adversely to the Treatment? Because their skin is allergic to the Pigments or tools you used!

We’ve got the solution.

Dutchy Professionals’ vegan & risk-free Microblading Pigments and Tools (Needles & Blades) will make your client’s PMU Treatment as hassle-free as possible.Visit dutchyprofessionals.com to get exclusive deals on Permanent Makeup Treatment Tools and Pigments. Give Your Clients The Assurity They Always Wanted!