Macrophages are important cells of the immune system that are formed in response to an infection or accumulating damaged or dead cells. They are large, specialized cells that recognize, engulf and destroy foreign bodies and infection. Macrophage are the reason permanent makeup fades in the days following a treatment. The cells react to the trauma of the needle, detect the pigment and recognise it as a toxin, engulfing the pigment and either push it out of the skin surface, drag it away via the lymphatic system or it encapsulates it in a coating to protect the body the coating dulls the colour of the pigment.

Macrophage cells also play a similar part in IPL pigmentation and Tattoo removal treatments, Xtract Non Laser Tattoo Removal is designed to work with the bodies Macrophage response to drive ink out of the body.