Recently, someone asked me in a private message: “How many PMU (permanent makeup) procedures can the skin endure? If you get PMU every couple of years, what happens to the skin? Does it have a limit or reserve?”
This is an excellent question, and I even have an idea where it might have come from.
From time to time, I encounter a myth that the skin has a specific “reserve,” and after, say, 10 PMU procedures, this reserve runs out. Supposedly, the skin loses its normal properties and inevitably becomes scarred. Spoiler alert: this is not true.
In reality, the skin doesn’t have a built-in “counter” for PMU procedures, nor does it have a fixed “reserve” or “limit.” I believe this myth emerged as an attempt to explain why scarring occurs in areas where PMU is applied.
The skin can regenerate an unlimited number of times—this is its evolutionarily developed ability to restore its native structure. But there’s one condition: the trauma must not be critical, meaning it doesn’t cross the damage threshold at which scars form. If all PMU procedures are performed with a gentle technique and without excessive passes (which can turn the skin into mush), the skin restores its structure perfectly, and scars do not appear.
On the other side, if a PMU procedure is done aggressively, with many passes that literally grind the skin, scarring can occur even after the first session. This will permanently alter the skin’s structure.
So, it’s not about a “counter” or a specific number of procedures but rather the quality of each individual procedure. It’s essential to treat the skin with care and avoid excessive trauma! Remember, the skin is a living and very delicate organ—handle it gently and respectfully!
One more nuance: if you apply PMU regularly but fail to remove the residual ink from previous procedures, this can complicate achieving new, high-quality results due to the leftover pigments of various colors. Before applying new PMU, it’s better to remove the remnants of the old ink using laser removal and do so without causing trauma. This way, it will be easier to create new designs, and the results will be much better!
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