Don’t Get That Under Eye Tattoo, Says Everyone Who Knows Anything

Cosmetic tattooing has gone through its fair share of trends: from eyebrow fill-ins to faux freckles, the newest addition to the list is “under eye tattoos.”

Dark circles under your eyes are largely genetic, but are considered unattractive in our society. So, we turn to “fixers” for the “problem.” With the intention to conceal dark bags, this new fad is hitting the market, targeting women.

The appeal, similar to microblading eyebrows or having permanent eyeliner, is to ditch foundation and concealer, saving time and money in the “morning routine.”

While this treatment is gaining popularity, the risks that come with using a cosmetic tattoo machine to inject ink in this sensitive area have dermatologists and cosmetic tattooers advising against it. Tracie Giles, founder of Tracie Giles Bespoke Permanent Makeup, explained to MetroUK:

“It never works and can literally ruin a face. More likely it will end up on a case of Botched on TV,” Giles said. “Over time the opaque covering, even if applied diluted or with a pixelation effect, rises in the skin and discolors rather like sour cream.”

This major long-term regret is also difficult to remove, because the laser “makes it black” and poses as an extremely “high risk to even attempt removal so close to the eyes in case of blinding the patient,” according to the same article.

Giles offers her personal opinion, concluding that “This treatment should absolutely be avoided and that no reputable practitioner would ever undertake this.”

While face tattoos should always be approached with caution and commitment, Lance Brown, M.D., a leading dermatologist in New York City and the Hamptons, told Shape magazine,”No nonmedical personnel should be touching that area of your eyes—especially with a sharp instrument.”

Any time you are working near, in, or under the eye, “you need to be very cautious. You can cause an infection around the eyelid, or a sty or cyst could grow around the hair follicles,” Dr. Brown says.

It is common for tattoo scarring to occur if the artist is inexperienced or presses too deeply with the needle. Scarring on the lower eyelids, in particular, can create a contraction in the skin that pulls the lower eyelid down, causing ectropion: a condition where the lid pulls or sags away from the eye.

“The common reason for under-eye circles is changes in the fat pads under your eyes,” says Dr. Brown. Too little and too much fat tissue under your eyes can both result in the visibility of dark circles, and the best way to correct this shadow is actually to fill in the crevice either “surgically or with an injectable filler,” he says.

While traditional tattoos are largely safe new reports from the FDA have seen an alarming rise of infections and unwanted reactions to tattoos as a result of moldy ink. 

However, despite risks that come with any kind of cosmetic treatment, people still take the leap of faith in the name of vanity. So, would you? Let us know in the comments section on the Facebook.