From the Guidelines
For contact dermatitis secondary to microblading, the most effective treatment approach is to discontinue all products on the affected area, gently cleanse with mild soap and water, and apply a medium-potency topical corticosteroid like triamcinolone 0.1% cream twice daily for 7-10 days to reduce inflammation, as recommended by the British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines 1. When managing contact dermatitis, it's crucial to consider the multifactorial causes, including irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, as well as atopic/endogenous dermatitis, particularly in cases involving microblading of the eyebrows.
- The treatment should start with discontinuing all products on the affected area and gently cleansing with mild soap and water.
- Apply a medium-potency topical corticosteroid like triamcinolone 0.1% cream twice daily for 7-10 days to reduce inflammation, as supported by guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis 1.
- For severe cases, consider a short course of oral prednisone starting at 40mg daily for 5 days, then tapering by 10mg every 2 days.
- Cold compresses can provide symptomatic relief when applied for 10-15 minutes several times daily.
- Oral antihistamines such as cetirizine 10mg daily can help manage itching.
- If there are signs of infection (increased redness, warmth, pus, or fever), seek medical attention as antibiotics may be needed. The condition typically improves within 1-2 weeks with proper treatment, but complete resolution may take longer, and it's essential to avoid future microblading procedures if a significant reaction has occurred, as sensitivity to the pigments or other materials used may have developed 1.
From the Research
Treatment for Contact Dermatitis Secondary to Microblading
The treatment for contact dermatitis secondary to microblading (micro-pigmentation) of the eyebrows involves several steps:
- Avoidance of the causative substance: The first step is to identify and avoid the substance that caused the contact dermatitis 2, 3, 4.
- Topical corticosteroids: Localized acute allergic contact dermatitis lesions can be treated with mid- or high-potency topical steroids, such as triamcinolone 0.1% or clobetasol 0.05% 2.
- Systemic steroid therapy: If the contact dermatitis involves an extensive area of skin (greater than 20 percent), systemic steroid therapy may be required 2.
- Emollients and antihistamines: Restoring the skin barrier and reducing skin inflammation can be achieved through the use of emollients and antihistamines 4.
- Patch testing: If the diagnosis or specific allergen remains unknown, patch testing should be performed to identify the causative substance 2, 3, 4, 5.
Specific Considerations for Microblading-Induced Contact Dermatitis
- Granulomatous reactions: Microblading can cause granulomatous reactions, including foreign-body granulomas and sarcoidosis 6.
- Diagnostic workup: A thorough diagnostic workup, including patch testing and biopsy, may be necessary to diagnose and manage microblading-induced contact dermatitis 6.
- Treatment of granulomatous reactions: The treatment of granulomatous reactions secondary to microblading may require specific therapies, such as systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressants 6.