Microblading contraindications: the checklist
7 min read . Updated 18 August 2026
Which conditions and medications rule out microblading, which need care, and the questions that catch them before pigment goes into skin.
In short
The absolute contraindications are pregnancy, active skin conditions on the brow, isotretinoin within six months and uncontrolled bleeding disorders. Everything else is a judgement call that should be recorded.
Absolute: do not proceed
These are the answers that end the appointment rather than complicate it. The reason they are absolute is that the risk is either to healing, to the result, or to the client's health in a way you cannot mitigate with technique.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding - unpredictable healing and pigment retention, and no consent from the party most affected
- Isotretinoin within the last six months - fragile skin and unpredictable healing
- Active infection, eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis on the brow area
- Uncontrolled diabetes or a bleeding disorder
- Chemotherapy or radiotherapy, currently or recently, without written clearance
- Under 18, in most jurisdictions regardless of guardian consent
Relative: proceed with care and record why
These do not automatically stop the appointment, but they change the conversation, the expectations you set, or the technique. What matters is that the discussion happened and is recorded.
- Blood thinners or daily aspirin - more bleeding, more pigment pushed out
- Keloid or hypertrophic scarring history
- Botox or filler in the area within two weeks - the brow will move
- Very oily skin - strokes blur and heal softer; set expectations early
- Previous permanent makeup - existing pigment changes what is achievable
- Recent chemical peel, laser or microneedling on the area
The questions that actually surface these
Clients do not withhold this information deliberately. They fail to connect a daily aspirin with a brow appointment, or they do not think of retinol as a medication.
Specific questions get honest answers where general ones do not. "Do you have any medical conditions?" reliably returns no from somebody who will happily disclose a blood thinner when asked about it by name.
Recording the decision, not just the answer
For relative contraindications, the valuable record is not only what the client disclosed but what you did about it. A note that oily skin was discussed and softer healing explained is what turns a disappointed client into a client who was told.
This is also the argument for flagging rather than filing. An answer that changes your approach needs to be in front of you at the start of the appointment, not retrievable from a folder afterwards.
Common questions
Can I microblade someone who is pregnant?
The standard position across the industry is no. Healing and pigment retention are unpredictable, and the person who cannot consent is the one most affected.
How long after Botox can somebody have microblading?
Two weeks is the usual minimum, so the brow has settled into its treated position before you map it.
Is oily skin a contraindication?
Not absolute, but it changes the result. Strokes blur faster and heal softer, so the expectation conversation matters more than the technique.
What about clients on blood thinners?
A relative contraindication. Expect more bleeding and poorer retention, and consider asking them to discuss it with their prescriber first.
This is general information for professionals, not legal or medical advice. Check the rules that apply where you work.