"Soon consumers, permanent makeup and medical professionals alike can point and click for up-to-the minute information about permanent makeup, which includes cosmetic tattoo and micropigmentation" says Linda Dixon MD, President of the American Academy of Micropigmentation.

The Academy, a not-for-profit organization, has evolved since 1992 into the definitive resource for anyone wishing accurate, unbiased information about permanent makeup. The public, members of the media, regulatory agencies and others can rely on Academy sources for facts, not fiction. Academy experts include those skilled in medicine, dermatology, plastic and reconstructive surgery and cosmetic or medical tattooing (micropigmentation), cosmetology, esthetics, laser medicine, electrolysis, nursing and even massage therapists, fine artists and a few skilled in traditional tattooing.

"Two words best describe the Academy's mission for 2005" states Dr. Dixon. "Those two words are information and protection."

An example of protection is the Academy warning against dangerous practices such as the diagnosis and treatment of recent pigment allergic reactions by non-physicians. "If you're a victim of a pigment allergic reaction, do not let anyone, much less someone who has traveled from out-of-state, tattoo salt water or prescription steroids into your wounds," states Dr. Dixon. Charles S. Zwerling, MD, Chairman of the Board, agrees and adds "This is the practice of medicine and is outside the scope of permanent makeup which is intended solely as a cosmetic procedure." Another example of consumer protection is the ability to report any concerns about a pigment reaction online through the Academy "Colorwatch" program. http://www.micropigmentation.org/allergic_reactions/index.php

Published since 1998 in hardcopy, Micronews® electronic edition will offer helpful information as quickly as it is available. "Regular newsletters take too long to reach their intended audience nowadays and may get lost in the mail" Dr. Dixon observes. "Most people prefer to point and click in the privacy of their own homes. And a simple Google search on a topic assures fast information retrieval."

Matters involving public safety will be a top priority of e-Micronews®. Questions from both the public and professionals will be answered. Dangerous products, practices and false advertising claims will be subjects of "e-Alerts™" from the Academy. "e-Alerts" will be e-mailed to members and posted on the website in addition to e-Micronews. Consumers surfing the Academy website can find Board Certified Members and Instructors, State Laws, legislation and regulatory agencies, the Patient's Bill of Rights and Academy members who volunteer their services free of charge to cancer survivors (see SAAVE). These services include breast areola, eyebrow and eyelash tattooing for post-chemotherapy patients.

One example of "snail mail" problems is illustrated by the fact that not everyone read an article in the August 2003 Micronews® which reported cases of allergic reactions related solely to Premier Pigments True Color™ Concentrates, almost one year prior to the FDA warning. At that time Premier had only formally recalled five lipcolors from their scores of colors and they were promoting a "pigment exchange" at an upcoming convention. However, most if not all of the Premier Pigments' True Colors contained an organic orange pigment (benzimidazolone orange), according to Premier, which caused cracking, bleeding, swelling, bumps, pain, itching, "puff paint" appearance, burning, blistering, oozing sores and granulomatous dermatitis of eyelids, lips and brows in the victims. It wasn't until the FDA issued an alert in July 2004 that the problems observed with Premier Pigments True Colors became available to the public and many professionals. See: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/cos-tat2.html

When it comes to public safety, "Iron oxides are by far the safest pigments used in permanent makeup" according to Dr. Zwerling, author of the Textbook "Micropigmentation, State of the Art" published in 1994. Zwerling conducted a retrospective study on the safety of pigments used in permanent makeup in the eighties and nineties. "Not one case of an allergic reaction was reported using iron oxides in the early years of permanent makeup. But we did learn to avoid pigments that contain talc as many cosmetic pigments do" said Zwerling. " Prior to the outbreak from Premier Pigments True Colors, allergic reactions were rare and practically non-existent in the twenty years I've been in this profession ", he finishes.

Experts agree no pigments used in permanent makeup are vegetable based. For purity and to be free from contaminants found in nature, iron oxides are synthesized in a highly controlled environment. Organic dyes are less stable and synthesized from aromatic amine aniline-derivatives. The FDA is doing invaluable work as reported In February 2002, on the "Development of Methods for Safety Testing of Pigments Used for Tattooing, Including Pemanent Makeup" http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/forum02/a169af4.htm. Their work is applauded by the Academy and e-Micronews® will keep professionals and the public updated.

At least twenty other permanent makeup pigment suppliers exist in competition with Premier. No documented allergic reactions were reported to any other pigments except Premier True Colors over the same time period.

The first edition of "e-Micronews®" will be published in early 2005 and, along with "e-Alerts", will be posted on the website.

For updates and information visit the Academy website at: www.micropigmentation.org