Microblading and tattoos: Are they safe for the skin?

Microblading promises fuller, well-shaped eyebrows, but the cosmetic procedure carries health risks that are often overlooked. From skin infections and allergic reactions to raised scars and accidental eye injuries, experts warn that a beauty treatment could have lasting consequences if proper safety measures are ignored. JENNIFER BASSEY examines the dangers and what people should know before undergoing the procedure.

Kate Musa, a resident of Bwari area council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, narrated how her desire for fuller, more attractive eyebrows turned into an unpleasant experience. Three months after undergoing microblading, she noticed growths around one of her eyelids.

“It was this year. I wanted to enhance my eyebrows, but I ended up having this growth on my eyebrow. I had to stop desiring beautiful eyebrows because the whole experience made me very tired.

“If I had known, I would have just left my eyes the way they were. Even now, I have to take antibiotics from time to time when I feel feverish and in pain,” she said.

A salon operator, Patricia Akpan, who lives in Kubwa, Bwari area council, said her friend’s experience had discouraged her from undergoing microblading, despite her attraction to the cosmetic treatment.

“I am afraid to microblade or go through that procedure. I am scared that I might have bumps, growths or rashes on my eyebrows. I don’t even advise women or even some men who are microblading to continue such beauty procedures,” she said.

Abigail Samuel, a resident of Dutse Alhaji who recently underwent microblading, also reported feeling feverish after the procedure, much to the displeasure of her husband.

Beauty routine

For many women, well-shaped eyebrows are an important part of their beauty routine. While some spend time every morning filling them in with pencils, others prefer longer-lasting options that reduce the need for daily makeup.

Microblading has become an attractive choice for people seeking fuller eyebrows without repeatedly applying makeup. However, beneath its cosmetic appeal lies an important question: what happens to the skin during the procedure, and how safe is it?

It breaks the skin – Expert

A video by popular Nigerian doctor, Dr. Chinonso Fidelis Egemba widely known as Aproko Doctor, has drawn attention to the health implications of microblading. He explained that the procedure is a form of tattooing.

Demonstrating the difference between a traditional tattoo needle and a microblading tool, he said both procedures involve breaking the skin and introducing pigment beneath its surface.

“If you have done microblading, you have done a tattoo,” he said.

Microblading involves using a handheld tool fitted with tiny blades to create fine strokes resembling natural eyebrow hairs. Pigment is deposited into the skin to give the eyebrows a fuller, more defined appearance.

Unlike eyebrow pencils and other makeup products that sit on the skin’s surface, microblading deliberately breaks the skin to introduce pigment. This creates an opening through which microorganisms can enter and triggers the body’s healing process.

Contaminated equipment and poor hygiene

Vivian Tijani-Ademola, a dermatologist who spoke about the dangers of eyebrow microblading, warned that the procedure should not be treated as an ordinary beauty treatment because it involves injuring the skin.

She identified infection as one of the immediate concerns, explaining that germs could enter the body whenever the skin is broken. Contaminated equipment and poor hygiene can expose clients to infections.

The risk becomes more serious when blades or needles are reused between clients without proper sterilisation. According to Aproko Doctor, contaminated instruments can transmit blood-borne infections, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

The risks may continue after clients leave the salon. Aproko Doctor noted that some people react to pigments used during microblading, developing itching, redness, swelling or irritation around the treated area.

Although such reactions do not occur in everyone, symptoms may sometimes appear weeks or months after the procedure. A person may initially experience no discomfort but later notice changes as the skin reacts to the pigment.

Some people also develop small bumps around the treated area. Known medically as granulomas, these bumps can occur when the body’s immune system reacts to a substance introduced into the skin.

Such reactions may require medical assessment and treatment, particularly when the bumps persist, become painful or worsen.

Scars and skin changes

Another concern highlighted by Aproko Doctor is abnormal scar formation, particularly among people prone to keloids.

Keloids are raised scars that grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound. They may cause discomfort, itching and cosmetic concerns and can be difficult to treat.

Microblading may also leave lasting marks if the skin is injured too deeply or repeatedly. Depending on the injury and the individual’s healing response, the procedure could alter the appearance of the skin around the eyebrows.

Changes in pigment are another possible complication. As the colour fades, the eyebrows may become uneven or develop shades different from the original colour. Correcting unwanted results may require additional cosmetic procedures, exposing the skin to further injury.

Accidental slip

Microblading raises additional concerns because it is performed close to the eyes, where accidental injuries can have serious consequences.

Tijani-Ademola warned that an accidental slip of the instrument could injure the eye itself.

“An accidental slip of the instrument during the procedure could injure the eye. The area around the eyes is very delicate, and any injury could have serious consequences, including damage to the eye itself,” she said.

She added that the risk should not be ignored, particularly when the procedure is performed by someone without adequate training and experience.

Severe swelling or infection around the treated area also requires prompt medical attention, especially if the eye becomes affected.

However, Tijani-Ademola clarified that blindness is not an expected outcome of eyebrow microblading. The more immediate concerns include skin injury, infection, allergic reactions and scarring, although direct eye injuries could have serious consequences.

Sight-threatening complications

The President of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, Dr. Abiola Oyeleye, also warned that microblading involves instruments that can cause injury and carries a risk of infection, particularly when equipment is reused between clients.

Oyeleye noted that eyebrows serve a protective function by helping to divert sweat and other substances away from the eyes. Although eyebrow grooming does not automatically cause eye infections, injuries around the eyebrows can become infected.

Research published in the medical journal “Clinical and Experimental Optometry” has documented eye injuries associated with cosmetic procedures performed aroundthe face, highlighting the possibility of serious, sight-threateningcomplications.

Similarly, Prof. Michaeline Isawunmi, a professor of ophthalmology at Osun State University, warned that injuries sustained during eyebrow grooming, including microblading, could expose the affected area to infection.

“Shaving of eyebrows does not have a direct relationship with eye infections. However, there could be infection through a wound on the eyebrow but not to the eyeball,” she said.

Isawunmi said eyebrows help protect the eyes by preventing sweat and other potentially harmful substances from entering them.

She stressed the importance of good hygiene in preventing eye infections, advising people to wash their hands regularly and seek appropriate medical care when they experience eye problems. 

Safety measures 

Traditional tattoos carry many of the same risks as microblading because both procedures involve introducing pigment into the skin, said Aproko Doctor.

According to him, differences in the instruments used do not eliminate the need for proper hygiene, safe practice and appropriate aftercare.

Also, anyone considering either procedure should pay attention to the equipment and hygiene practices of the practitioner. Blades and needles should be sterile and used only once.

He reiterated that practitioners should maintain a clean working environment, observe appropriate infection-control measures and explain potential risks before beginning.

Aftercare is equally important, he said, adding that, “The treated skin needs time to heal, and picking at scabs or applying unapproved products could interfere with healing and increase the risk of complications.”

Some redness, mild tenderness and swelling may occur after microblading. However, increasing pain, spreading redness, pus or persistent swelling should not be ignored, as these could indicate an infection or another complication.

Anyone experiencing such symptoms should seek medical attention rather than relying on self-medication. Sudden blurred vision, reduced vision or severe eye pain requires urgent medical assessment.

Beauty vs safety

Microblading and tattoos offer ways to enhance appearance, but neither procedure is entirely without risk. Their safety depends partly on an individual’s skin response, the practitioner’s competence, equipment hygiene and proper aftercare.

As the experiences shared above illustrated, cosmetic decisions should be made with an understanding of the possible consequences rather than appearance alone.

Ultimately, the desire to look good should not come at the expense of health. Understanding what happens beneath the skin is just as important as appreciating the result in the mirror.