There Was No Scabbing After Microblading - Is This Normal? (2024)

Since it implies breaking the surface of the skin in order to deposit pigments into it, microblading inevitably entails a healing period. The skin needs some time to recover and close up the wounds created, no matter how thin and tiny they are.

For most clients, the healing goes something like: redness, then scab formation, then flaking, and finally full recovery. But some clients experience no scabbing after microblading. Knowing they should expect scabs around day 3, they may get worried, thinking something’s wrong or that the pigments didn’t get under the skin.

To ease their minds, we’re looking into why some clients get no scabbing after microblading.

How Does Microblading Heal?

Microblading makes cuts on the skin. Although the blade of the microblading tool is pressed against the skin very lightly and it only reaches the top of the second layer of the skin, its surface is still broken, and therefore the immune system will close it up.

It’s important to understand that the incisions of microblading are still wounds, so you might expect that they heal through scab formation.

But here’s the thing – microblading does not form the traditional, thick, blood-clot scabs more severe injuries do.

Yes, microblading is done by making incisions, but very shallow ones. Therefore, their recovery isn’t as complex as with deeper or wider cuts. It happens on a smaller scale.

During microblading, there isn’t supposed to be significant bleeding, as there are very few blood vessels in the skin layer targeted. Pinpoint bleeding is normal, and no bleeding is also normal – heavy bleeding is not.

So microblading scabbing should not be thick or heavy.

So, What’s Microblading Scabbing Supposed to Look Like?

Since there’s very little to no blood, there will be no bloody scabs. But, broken skin still oozes lymph, the runny yellowish fluid that closes up minor scratches.

When left on the skin, lymph dries into a thin, filmy layer that protects the wound from outside contamination and traps moisture necessary for healing underneath.

So the microblading scabbing everyone warns about doesn’t really look like the scabbing you’re used to seeing, even when it does happen.

As the wound underneath closes up, the protective layer falls off. This is what happens during microblading flaking.

Image source: Instagram @prestige.pmu

Why Do Some Clients Have No Scabbing After Microblading?

Here’s a list of factors that can cause the client to go through no scabbing after microblading, or think this is the case.

Scabbing Goes Undetected

It’s possible that clients, lacking information, expect thick scabbing of usual injuries and don’t even recognize the lymph film as scabbing. So they don’t even acknowledge the scabby stage and go through it thinking they had no scabbing after microblading.

Scabbing Starts Later than Expected

It should be noted that everyone heals differently and at a unique pace. Most clients are told to expect scabbing around day 3, and they get worried when it doesn’t occur at that time. But in some cases, scabbing can start as late as day 7, especially with dry healing. This is normal!

Oily Skin

Then, skin type can also play a huge role. Clients with oily skin often experience no scabbing after microblading, because the skin secretes enough sebum to moisten the area and prevent significant lymph oozing.

Undramatic Response from the Immune System

Some clients’ immune systems react more dramatically than others’. The more dramatic the response from the immune system, the more lymph is secreted. So some clients ooze very little lymph to begin with.

Spot-On Aftercare

A factor that really can cause no scabbing after microblading is the aftercare routine.

The first step in microblading aftercare is cleaning off the lymph on day 1 after the procedure. If the lymph is not allowed to build up, there will be nothing to form the scabby film.

Furthermore, if a moisturizing ointment is applied early in the healing process, the body isn’t triggered into oozing lymph, since it registers moisture in the wounded area.

Image source: Instagram @illusionspmu

What’s the Best Aftercare to Prevent Scabbing?

Over the years, artists have figured out an aftercare routine that causes little to no scabbing for most clients. The logic behind it is as simple as: no lymph buildup = no scabbing.

It’s wet healing combined with frequent cleaning.

To minimize or even prevent scabbing altogether, clients need to clean off the lymph from the treated area. Some artists advise 5 times a day on day 1.

They also need to apply a prescribed ointment after each cleaning, to compensate for the moisture. If the body registers that the area is moist, it won’t trigger significant lymph oozing.

Some artists go a step further and use the so-called liquid bandages. Those are special formulas that are applied onto the treated area and form a protective barrier that doesn’t only protects from contamination, but also absorbs the lymph and keeps the area moist. It basically acts as the scabby film and ensures no scabbing after microblading.

If the prescribed schedule is followed, it should ensure minimal to no scabbing after microblading.

To Sum It Up

Is no scabbing after microblading normal? Yes.

Is some scabbing after microblading normal? Yes.

The extent of microblading scabbing varies from client to client, and it can be determined by the aftercare routine. Opinions are mixed on what’s the best approach – some artists claim dry healing with some scabbing gives better results, others argue wet healing does.

Nevertheless, only heavy scabbing accompanied by redness and soreness is a red flag. That could mean you’re developing an infection and you should contact your artist.

Form more information on the microblading healing process, read this article.

Cover image source: Freepik