Pre-Care Guide | Skarlet Leon PMU Bournemouth
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Client Guide  ·  PMU  ·  Bournemouth

Your Pre-Care Guide

Everything you need to know before your appointment. A little preparation makes a bigger difference to your result than most people realise — and I want yours to be perfect.

Everything on this page protects the same thing: your result. When your skin bleeds more than it should — from alcohol, exercise, sun or certain medications — pigment cannot settle properly. That is why these rules exist. They are not formalities. They are the difference between a result that lasts and one that disappoints.

By Skarlet Leon  ·  PMU Specialist  ·  Queens Park, Bournemouth

Good preparation = less bleeding, better pigment retention, longer-lasting results.

Every treatment — brows, lips & laser

The basics — everyone needs these

Please read all of these carefully — they apply to every treatment.

Eat before your PMU appointment
Eat before your appointment
Have a proper meal at least 1 hour before
Do not come fasted. Low blood sugar increases sensitivity and makes you more likely to feel unwell during treatment. A good meal stabilises everything and makes the whole experience much more comfortable for you.
Why: low blood sugar = more sensitivity + discomfort
Stay hydrated before PMU
Stay well hydrated
Drink plenty of water the day before and morning of
Well-hydrated skin is calmer, less reactive and holds pigment significantly better. Dehydrated skin bleeds more easily and does not absorb colour as well. This single step genuinely affects your healed result.
Why: dehydrated skin = more bleeding + poor pigment retention
Clean healthy skin before PMU
Arrive with clean, healthy skin
No makeup, irritation, cuts or active breakouts in the treatment area
No makeup on the area being treated — it will be removed before we begin. If you have any active skin concerns in the treatment area — spots, irritation, sunburn — please message me beforehand so we can discuss.
Why: compromised skin = uneven pigment + healing complications
Avoid sun exposure before PMU
No sun exposure
Avoid sun, sunbeds and fake tan — minimum 2 weeks before
Tanned or sunburned skin is inflamed skin. Inflamed skin does not accept pigment properly, bleeds more easily and is significantly more sensitive during treatment. For laser removal this extends to 4 weeks minimum.
Why: sun-damaged skin = inflammation + pigment rejection + more pain
No alcohol before PMU treatment
No alcohol
Avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours before your appointment
Alcohol is a blood thinner. It dilates your blood vessels and makes your skin bleed significantly more during treatment. Excess bleeding pushes pigment back out of the skin before it can settle — leaving you with patchy, lighter results. Please do not drink the night before.
Why: alcohol thins blood → more bleeding → pigment cannot settle properly
No exercise gym sauna swimming before PMU
No exercise, gym, sauna or swimming
Avoid on the day of your appointment
Strenuous exercise raises your heart rate and body temperature, opens your pores, thins the blood and increases skin sensitivity. Sweating, saunas and swimming all have the same effect — they dilate vessels and sensitise the skin. A calm, rested body makes for a calmer treatment and a much better result.
Why: heat + sweat = open pores, thinned blood → poor pigment uptake
Avoid AHA acids retinol before PMU
No acids or retinol
Stop AHA, BHA, glycolic, lactic acids and retinol — 2 weeks before
These active ingredients thin and sensitise the skin surface significantly. Using them before any PMU treatment increases the risk of irritation, poor pigment retention and uneven healing. Stop all actives on or near the treatment area at least 2 weeks in advance.
Why: thinned skin surface = irritation + pigment doesn’t hold evenly
Tell us about your medications
Tell me about medications
Let me know about any medications or health conditions
Some medications — including blood thinners, certain antibiotics, immunosuppressants and topical steroids — can affect how your skin heals and retains pigment. There is never any judgement. I simply need to know so I can prepare properly and give you the safest, best result possible.
Why: some medications affect bleeding, healing and pigment retention
Avoid blood thinning pills before PMU
Avoid blood thinners
Stop 48 hours before your appointment
Aspirin, ibuprofen, high-dose vitamin C and E, omega-3 fish oils, and natural supplements including garlic, ginger, turmeric and green tea in large amounts. All of these thin the blood and increase bleeding during your treatment, which affects how well your pigment settles.
Why: thinned blood = more bleeding = pigment pushed out before it settles

Treatment-specific preparation

Brow PMU — additional preparation

Everything in the general section above applies — plus these brow-specific steps.

4+ weeks
Stop brow tinting, lamination and waxing. These affect skin texture and interfere with pigment placement.
2 weeks
Stop retinol and acids on or near the brow area. They thin the skin and reduce pigment retention.
1 week
Stop plucking and threading. Come in as natural as possible — I will design your shape from scratch.
48 hours
No alcohol. No blood thinners. Keep skin lightly moisturised.
On the day
Bare, clean brows — no pencil, gel or powder. Makeup everywhere else is fine. Eat before you come.

Had previous brow PMU or microblading? Please send me photos before your appointment. Previous pigment that has shifted colour affects what we can do — and I want to plan your treatment properly in advance.

Lip Blush — the most important preparation

Your lips are the most reactive area we work on. These steps are non-negotiable — each one directly protects your result and your safety.

No lip filler before lip blush PMU
No lip filler
Wait at least 6 weeks after filler — ideally 8
Fresh filler changes the surface tension and structure of your lips. Lip blush done too soon after filler is one of the most common causes of uneven, patchy results. Please plan ahead — and always tell me if you have had filler, even months ago.
Why: fresh filler = altered lip structure → uneven pigment

If you have any history of cold sores — even once, even years ago — you must take antiviral medication before your appointment. Lip blush will always trigger the virus if it is present in your system. Starting antivirals 5 days before is not optional — it is the single most important step for protecting both your health and your result.

6+ weeks
No lip filler.
2 weeks
Begin hydrating your lips daily — morning, night and throughout the day. This is the most underrated prep step. Dry lips retain pigment poorly.
5 days
Start antiviral medication if you have any cold sore history.
Daily
Gently exfoliate lips once a day to remove dry skin. A soft toothbrush or gentle sugar scrub works perfectly.
48 hours
Stop exfoliating. Keep lips moisturised. No alcohol.
On the day
Clean, bare, moisturised lips. No lipstick. Eat before you come.

If you have an active cold sore on the day — please contact me to reschedule. We simply cannot treat over an active outbreak. It is not a problem — we will rebook once you are fully healed.

Laser removal — most critical preparation

Your skin’s condition on the day determines how effective the session is and how safely your skin responds. Please take laser preparation especially seriously.

No sun before laser tattoo removal
No sun — 4 weeks minimum
Sun is the single biggest risk factor for laser
Tanned skin during laser significantly increases the risk of burns, blistering and permanent pigment changes. We will postpone your session if you arrive with a tan. Use SPF50 on the area every single day — not just before laser but always throughout your removal journey.
Why: tanned skin during laser = burns + permanent pigment changes
4 weeks
No sun, sunbeds or fake tan on the area. SPF50 every day.
2 weeks
Stop retinol and all acids on the area — they sensitise skin and increase adverse reaction risk.
48 hours
No alcohol. No blood-thinning supplements. Keep skin moisturised.
On the day
Clean skin — no makeup, creams or SPF directly on the treatment spot. Eat beforehand. Stay hydrated.

The better prepared your skin, the more effective each session. Good preparation across every session means fewer sessions overall and better results. Stay hydrated in the weeks after too — hydration supports your lymphatic system in clearing the broken-down pigment from your body.

Questions before your appointment?

Just message me directly — I answer every message personally and I am always happy to talk through anything before you come in.

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