Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that causes the loss of pigment in your skin because the cells that produce melanin are damaged. This can cause patches of skin to lose color.
So, what about getting a tattoo on vitiligo? There are potential benefits, but there are also risks to consider. Micropigmentation, a different process than tattoos, may be another option to explore.
Understanding Vitiligo
Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their color.
Vitiligo is characterized by the patchy loss of skin color, resulting in areas of depigmentation.
Factors to Consider Before Tattooing
If you have vitiligo and you’re thinking about getting a tattoo, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind:
- Stability: Your vitiligo should be stable for at least a year before you consider getting a tattoo.
- Dermatologist consultation: It’s important to talk with a dermatologist before getting any kind of tattoo if you have vitiligo.
Tattooing Over Vitiligo: Risks and Considerations
If you have vitiligo and you’re considering getting a tattoo, it’s important to know that there are risks involved.
Potential Risks
- Koebner Phenomenon: The act of tattooing could trigger new patches of vitiligo to appear. This is known as the Koebner phenomenon.
- Uneven Ink Absorption: Vitiligo-affected skin might not absorb tattoo ink evenly, leading to a patchy or inconsistent result.
- Color Matching Challenges: Matching the tattoo ink to your skin tone can be tricky, especially since your skin tone may change over time with vitiligo.
Reasons People with Vitiligo Choose Tattoos
Despite the risks, some people with vitiligo choose to get tattoos to:
- Camouflage: Cover up depigmented areas and make them less noticeable.
- Self-Expression: Express themselves and boost their self-confidence.
Micropigmentation as an alternative
Micropigmentation, also known as paramedical tattooing, is a cosmetic procedure in which a technician uses semi-permanent ink to camouflage areas affected by vitiligo. It’s often considered a safer alternative to traditional tattooing.
The technician blends skin chromophores, or color components, and then combines pigments to mimic your unique skin tone.
Like a tattoo, micropigmentation isn’t a one-and-done kind of thing. You’ll probably need touch-ups every 2 to 5 years. Most people need at least three treatment sessions for the pigment to take hold, and even then, you can only expect about 50% to 70% pigment retention after the third session.
Also, be aware that topical alpha hydroxy acids, retinoic acids, and chlorinated pools can change the colors.
Traditional tattooing vs. micropigmentation: a comparison
Traditional tattooing and micropigmentation take different approaches to covering up skin discolorations. Here’s a quick look at the differences.
Traditional tattooing
- Uses permanent inks, which may spread vitiligo to other areas of the body
- May not match changes in skin tone over time
Micropigmentation
- Uses semi-permanent inks, which reduces the risk of permanent problems
- Focuses on subtle blending of pigments to deemphasize differences
As one expert explained, traditional tattoos emphasize high contrast and vibrant, long-lasting colors. Paramedical tattoos, by contrast, focus on subtly blending pigments to deemphasize the discolored areas.
In Closing
While tattoos can camouflage vitiligo, they also carry risks. Before getting a tattoo, talk with a dermatologist about the pros and cons. Also, ask whether micropigmentation might be a better option for you.