This is a common question that I frequently receive and an aspect of SMP, which I do thoroughly explain to all my clients prior to their SMP procedure.
When a client asks “Will my SMP fade?” my answer and advice is always as follows:
Will my SMP fade?
Fading takes place at various stages of the process and differs greatly from person to person.
If you’ve had SMP done you might have noticed this for yourself.
So why does this happen?
And is there anything I can do to stop it?
Fading first becomes apparent in between your multiple sessions.
And hopefully your SMP artist has informed you of this so as to avoid any panic.
The reason for this initial fade is your very own immune system; it recognizes something foreign and tries to take it away. This fading process varies from person to person. Some can see a 5% decrease in impressions in between sessions while others can see up to 20%.
However, as the session’s progress and the density increases the fading becomes less and less apparent. Also in my experience I believe the initial SMP fade from session one is the most aggressive. By session two and three it’s as if the body decreases its attack on the pigment (this is from my own observation).
In between sessions you will want to adhere to the aftercare protocols in order to mitigate additional fading
Fading takes place at various stages of the process and differs greatly from person to person.
If you’ve had SMP done you might have noticed this for yourself.
So why does this happen?
And is there anything I can do to stop it?
Fading first becomes apparent in between your multiple sessions.
And hopefully your SMP artist has informed you of this so as to avoid any panic.
The reason for this initial fade is your very own immune system; it recognizes something foreign and tries to take it away. This fading process varies from person to person. Some can see a 5% decrease in impressions in between sessions while others can see up to 20%.
However, as the session’s progress and the density increases the fading becomes less and less apparent. Also in my experience I believe the initial SMP fade from session one is the most aggressive. By session two and three it’s as if the body decreases its attack on the pigment (this is from my own observation).
In between sessions you will want to adhere to the aftercare protocols in order to mitigate additional fading
To maintain a great looking SMP, aftercare is vitally important
And these are some of the reasons why. The skin takes time to heal after an SMP session, the thousands of micro impressions need to seal over and form a tiny scab. So it’s important to wait at least 3 days before allowing water to get on the scalp so as not to wash away the newly formed micro abrasion.
It’s also important not to apply products to your scalp especially those containing alcohol as this can irritate and unduly dry the scalp. Heavy sweating is not encouraged for at least three days after your SMP session so as not to force the pigment out of the healing impressions. Do not aggressively rub the scalp with a towel or your hands as this can prematurely knock off the micro abrasion, taking the pigment with it.
And of course no burning the scalp via sun exposure as this causes damage to the skin and eventually causes excessive skin to flake off.
Once all the SMP sessions are completed and the ten-day aftercare period is over you may return to life as normal.
However your skin will also do what it naturally does, which is shed. This shedding of the skin will eventually cause the SMP to fade.
You certainly can mitigate and slow down the fading by adopting a good skin care routine.
Do not expose the scalp to excessive sun; wear sunscreen or a cap when in direct or extreme sunshine.
Do not aggressively exfoliate the scalp with exfoliating products. Do not use a moisturizer containing alcohol as this has a drying affect on the skin. Do use a moisturizer that is natural and contains healthy skin fortifying, protective ingredients.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle and keep your skin well hydrated.
Rob James is a Vancouver Scalpmicropigmentation expert who works out of Advanced Scalp clinic in Vancouver Canada.
He is always ready to help answer all SMP related questions.
778-917-7772