Tattoos, Microblading & Brow Tinting/Lamination
Everyday exposureBeauty & personal careAlso called · 8 names▾▴
tattoo pregnancy, microblading pregnancy, permanent makeup pregnancy, eyebrow tint pregnancy, brow lamination pregnancy, tattoo breastfeeding, microblading while nursing, laser tattoo removal pregnancy
Treatments
General information · effects depend on amount, timing, and how it is used. About these sources
Research strength: 3 / 5
BfR includes microblading and permanent makeup in its definition of tattooing. It recommends against tattooing during pregnancy because ink can spread through the body and the procedure can introduce infection. MotherToBaby says there is not enough research to know how microblading may affect pregnancy. This rating covers skin-penetrating tattoos and microblading, not separate brow tinting or lamination. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- BfR: Questions and answers about tattoo inks
- MotherToBaby: Microblading in PregnancyTeratology service
- CDC: Hepatitis C Prevention and ControlUS government
Research strength: 3 / 5
BfR includes microblading and permanent makeup in its definition of tattooing. It recommends against tattooing during pregnancy because ink can spread through the body and the procedure can introduce infection. MotherToBaby says there is not enough research to know how microblading may affect pregnancy. This rating covers skin-penetrating tattoos and microblading, not separate brow tinting or lamination. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- BfR: Questions and answers about tattoo inks
- MotherToBaby: Microblading in PregnancyTeratology service
- CDC: Hepatitis C Prevention and ControlUS government
Research strength: 3 / 5
BfR includes microblading and permanent makeup in its definition of tattooing. It recommends against tattooing during pregnancy because ink can spread through the body and the procedure can introduce infection. MotherToBaby says there is not enough research to know how microblading may affect pregnancy. This rating covers skin-penetrating tattoos and microblading, not separate brow tinting or lamination. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- BfR: Questions and answers about tattoo inks
- MotherToBaby: Microblading in PregnancyTeratology service
- CDC: Hepatitis C Prevention and ControlUS government
Tattoos, Microblading & Brow Tinting/Lamination — Breastfeeding
Research strength: 3 / 5
BfR says tattoo inks can spread through the body, so transfer into breast milk appears possible, and recommends against tattooing while breastfeeding. LactMed calls pigment or infection transfer to an infant a theoretical concern and reports no relevant published infant information as of its revision date. MotherToBaby also says there is not enough information to know whether microblading pigment reaches milk. A human tissue study found pigments in lymph nodes, but did not test milk or infants. This rating covers tattoos and microblading, not separate brow tinting or lamination. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- BfR: Questions and answers about tattoo inks
- LactMed: TattooingUS government
- MotherToBaby: Microblading in PregnancyTeratology service
- Schreiver et al. 2017: Tattoo pigments in human skin and lymph nodesUS government
Pregnancy
BfR includes microblading and permanent makeup in its definition of tattooing and recommends against tattooing during pregnancy. Its stated reasons include possible spread of ink components through the body and infection from non-sterile tools or contaminated ink. MotherToBaby says there is little information about microblading in pregnancy and that the amount of pigment, if any, reaching blood, placenta, or the baby is not known. Schreiver et al. (2017) studied tattooed human skin and lymph tissue from deceased donors and found pigment transport to regional lymph nodes; the study did not examine pregnancy or placental transfer. Wang et al. (2021) analyzed tattoo ink ingredients and labels, not pregnancy outcomes. Henson (2019) published a technique note about a spinal needle passing through existing tattooed skin; it says adverse effects are not known, while noting a theoretical possibility of pigment entering the spinal canal. This note does not study a new tattoo during pregnancy. FDA and CDC describe infection routes from tattooing in general, not fetal outcomes from tattooing during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
BfR says tattoo inks can spread through the body and that transfer into breast milk appears possible; it recommends against tattooing while breastfeeding. MotherToBaby says there is not enough research to know whether microblading pigment reaches milk. LactMed reports no data on tattooing during breastfeeding, describes pigment or infection transfer to an infant as theoretical, and says relevant published infant information was not found as of its 2021 revision. Schreiver et al. (2017) found tattoo pigments in lymph nodes but did not measure breast milk or infant exposure. The PubMed search for the last 12 months found no study of newly applied tattoos or microblading in breastfeeding people or their infants. These statements concern skin-penetrating procedures, not separate brow tinting or lamination.
BfR describes tattoo inks as mixtures of pigments, dispersants, water or alcohols, and additives such as polymers and preservatives. FDA considers intradermal tattoo and permanent-makeup inks cosmetics and says no color additives are approved for injection into skin. FDA and the American Academy of Ophthalmology warn about eye injury from permanent eyebrow and eyelash tints; this is general eye-area guidance, not pregnancy-specific guidance. FDA's current color-additive listing permits silver nitrate, up to 4% by weight, in professional-use-only eyebrow and eyelash cosmetics. Ghanem et al. describe thioglycolic acid or ammonium thioglycolate in the first step of brow lamination; this is an ingredient-specific description, not a claim about every product.
What was tested
Wang et al. (2021) analyzed 73 tattoo inks for pigments and metals; the paper inspected labels from 56 purchased samples. It reports that 93% of those 56 labels failed the cited European labeling requirements, half had at least one pigment ingredient listed incorrectly, and 34 of 56 samples contained pigments of concern. This was a product-composition study, not a pregnancy or infant-outcome study. Schreiver et al. (2017) examined tattooed skin and lymph-node samples from deceased donors and detected transport of tattoo pigments to regional lymph nodes; the study did not measure placenta, breast milk, or infant exposure. Henson (2019) is a technical note, not a large clinical series. Ghanem et al. (2025) is a literature review about thioglycolate compounds and brow lamination, not a study of pregnant or breastfeeding clients; its authors call for further research. FDA's eye-cosmetic warnings are not pregnancy studies.
How certain is tattoo pigment transfer into breast milk?
- Source A says
- BfR says tattoo inks can spread through the body and that transfer into breast milk appears possible; it recommends against tattooing while breastfeeding. (BfR: Questions and answers about tattoo inks)
- Source B says
- LactMed describes pigment transfer to an infant as a theoretical concern and reports no tattooing data in breastfeeding. MotherToBaby says the amount of microblading pigment, if any, reaching milk is not known. (LactMed: Tattooing, MotherToBaby: Microblading in Pregnancy)
- Why they differ
- BfR draws a precautionary conclusion from the possible movement of ink through blood and lymph. LactMed and MotherToBaby emphasize that direct milk and infant data are not available.
- Other sources
- Schreiver et al. found tattoo pigments transported from human skin to regional lymph nodes, but did not examine breast milk or infant outcomes. (Schreiver et al. 2017: Tattoo pigment transport in human tissues)
- What the evidence shows overall
- The sources do not report measured tattoo pigment in breast milk or a documented infant outcome from a new tattoo. BfR's transfer statement is a possibility, not a measured result. The human tissue study supports movement to lymph nodes only, not transfer through milk.
- BfR recommends not getting tattoos during pregnancy or breastfeeding and recommends delaying laser tattoo removal during those periods. (BfR)
- FDA lists silver nitrate as an externally applied, professional-use-only color additive for eyebrows and eyelashes, with a maximum concentration of 4% by weight. Its eye-cosmetic page adds a viscous-gel limit, a one-minute application limit, an age limit of 16 years, and no direct consumer sale. (FDA)
- Henson describes a method for lumbar puncture through tattooed skin that passes a spinal needle through a short, larger needle. The article is a technique note and does not evaluate new tattooing during pregnancy. (Henson et al.)
General research, not specific to pregnancy.
FDA and CDC describe infection risks from contaminated ink or non-sterile tattoo tools. FDA's May 2025 alert identified two Sacred Tattoo Ink products contaminated with microorganisms. FDA and the American Academy of Ophthalmology also discuss eye injuries from permanent eyebrow and eyelash tints; these are general product concerns, not pregnancy outcome findings.
- FDA says non-sterile tattoo equipment and needles can transmit infections, including hepatitis. CDC says hepatitis C can spread through tattoos in unlicensed facilities, informal settings, or with non-sterile instruments. These sources describe transmission routes, not the likelihood of infection from one procedure. (FDA: Tattoos & Permanent Makeup Fact Sheet, CDC: Hepatitis C Prevention and Control)
- On May 7, 2025, FDA reported contamination in Sacred Tattoo Ink Raven Black, lot RB0624, and Sunny Daze, lot SD1124, and advised against their use or sale. (FDA: Sacred Tattoo Ink Contamination Alert)
- FDA reports that permanent eyebrow and eyelash tints and dyes have caused serious eye injuries. The American Academy of Ophthalmology also describes eye and vision concerns from these enhancements. FDA's silver-nitrate exception is restricted to professional use under specified conditions. (FDA: Eye Cosmetic Safety, American Academy of Ophthalmology: Know the Risks of Eyebrow and Eyelash Enhancement, FDA: Regulatory Status of Silver Nitrate)
- Wang et al. found labeling and pigment concerns in the tattoo inks they tested. These laboratory findings describe selected products and do not predict an individual health outcome. (Wang et al. 2021: Analytical survey of tattoo inks)
Experiences from moms and non-medical voices. Not medical evidence.
- MotherToBaby: Microblading in PregnancyTeratology serviceSecondaryPage dated 2025-01-21Independent check
- BfR: Questions and answers about tattoo inksSecondaryPage dated 2025-06-05
- LactMed: TattooingUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2021-06-21Independent check
- FDA: Tattoos & Permanent Makeup Fact SheetUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2024-10-15
- FDA: Eye Cosmetic SafetyUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2006-12-18
- FDA: Regulatory Status of Silver NitrateUS governmentSecondary
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: Know the Risks of Eyebrow and Eyelash EnhancementSecondaryPage dated 2019-12-11Independent check
- FDA: Sacred Tattoo Ink Contamination AlertUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2025-05-07
- CDC: Hepatitis C Prevention and ControlUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2025-01-31Independent check
- Wang et al. 2021: Analytical survey of tattoo inksPrimaryPage dated 2021-06-05Independent check
- Schreiver et al. 2017: Tattoo pigment transport in human tissuesUS governmentPrimaryPage dated 2017-09-12
- Henson 2019: Technique for lumbar puncture through a tattooUS governmentPrimary
- Ghanem et al. 2025: Thioglycolate compounds in brow laminationUS governmentPrimary
Last reviewed 2026-10-18
Independent check 2026-10-18
Not yet clinician-reviewed
Ask your provider about your situation.