Two women were left with a disease that thickens the lungs and makes breathing difficult – after microblading their eyebrows

TWO women were left with lung disease after having their eyebrows microbladed.

Both were diagnosed with systemic sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that thickens the lungs and makes breathing difficult.

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It is the first time that doctors have recorded cases of people developing the disease after this popular cosmetic treatment.

Sharing details and photos of the unusual event in one DailyDoctors in Slovenia are calling on beauticians to make their clients aware of the potential health risks of the procedures.

Both women, aged 33, went to the doctor, concerned about some “red-orange plaques” on their eyebrows.

The first had her eyebrows microbladed – a semi-permanent tattoo technique that makes eyebrows appear thicker – a year earlier.

The second had received the same procedure six years before the marks appeared.

Skin biopsies from the affected areas revealed that both women suffered from sarcoidosis.

X-rays and chest exams revealed that the disease was also present in the lungs and lymph nodes.

What is sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis causes small patches of swollen tissue, called granulomas, to develop on parts of the body.

In some cases, it is limited to just the skin – this is called cutaneous sarcoidosis.

But in most people, the disease spreads to the lungs and lymph nodes, which is called systemic sarcoidosis.

It can also affect other parts of the body, including the brain, kidneys and heart – which can be fatal.

The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown, but some experts believe it may be triggered by exposure to certain irritants, most commonly mold and pesticides.

There is some evidence to suggest that certain people may be more genetically predisposed to developing the disease.

When this happens, the body’s immune system goes into overdrive and starts attacking itself.

There is currently no cure, but symptoms can usually be controlled with medication, says the NHS.

Writing in the Journal of Medical Case report, doctors said that “microblading likely triggered the development of sarcoidosis in both patients” in these two cases.

With one woman a cashier and the other a nurse, it was “unlikely” that they would be exposed to irritants in other ways, they added.

Doctors said the dye used in treatments could trigger the disease “in susceptible individuals when a certain threshold for the accumulation of a foreign substance (ink) is reached.”

Treatments

The first woman was treated with steroids for two years, during which time the skin lesions disappeared and lung growth “regressed.”

The second was also treated with steroids and achieved similar improvements in the first year of treatment.

The authors called on doctors and beauticians who offer these treatments to make clients aware of the link between microblanding and sarcoidosis.

“Before such procedures, patients must be adequately informed of this risk, despite its rarity,” they stated.