Tech Talk #52: Cosmetic Tattooing Mature Skin

Understanding & Adapting Your Cosmetic Tattoo Technique for Mature Skin

Oil skin, dry skin, combination skin, diffused red skin, thin skin, and thick skin. So many skin types, often presenting different challenges for cosmetic tattooing.

Do you know the difference between thin skin and thick skin, besides the obvious?

Fun Fact: Thin skin lacks a layer, the stratum lucidium. Remember the layers? Top to bottom: Corneum, lucidium, granulosum, spinosum and basale.

Only thick skin has a stratum lucidium. It only occurs on the soles of the feet, palms of the hand and a couple of other places you probably won’t be tattooing.

In this Tech Talk we'll talk about another skin ‘type’: Mature skin

Mature clients bring mature skin, and if the skin is Fitzpatrick I to III, excess sun exposure may mean the skin is more mature than the client (love the Australian sun).

Mature skin brings specific challenges:

• The skin is thinner
• The skin is less elastic
• The skin may be crepey (thin, finely wrinkled, and loose). The result of a lot of sun.

Cosmetic tattooing mature skin requires appreciation of the skin structure by the cosmetic tattooist and an adjusted approach. Here are things to consider when tattooing thinner, 'mature skin':

• The ‘feel’ of the skin may be different, making it harder to feel the junction between the epidermis and dermis.
• The depth of penetration required will likely be less, with the target still being the upper part of the dermis.
• The tattooing action will need to be gentler and smoother.
• Skin stretch will be particularly important, taking care not to cause bruising but ensuring smooth vertical penetration and lateral movement.
• The number of passes may be limited to two rather than three.
• Topical anaesthetic may be more likely to affect the skin, so watch for blanching that indicates the skin has ‘had enough’.
• Allow a minimum of eight weeks for healing, emphasise the importance of good aftercare, and ensure the skin really is fully healed before a ‘touch-up’ treatment.

Your client will appreciate your attention to all these details in creating beautiful work on mature skin.

Want to learn more about skin? The Diploma of Cosmetic Tattooing unit SHBBSSC004 Function and Structure of Skin and Hair contains a wealth of knowledge you can put to good use. Learn more here!