Premier Pigments Rebounds from FDA Action; Heartens Permanent Cosmetics Industry with Medical Treatment Offer

Industry leader Premier Pigments has heartened the permanent cosmetics and tattoo communities with its offer to arrange medical care and financial support for anyone who has an allergic reaction to permanent cosmetics or tattoo pigments. The unprecedented offer covers not only their clients, but also the customers of certified technicians who use other pigment suppliers.

Arlington, TX November 28, 2004 -- Premier Pigments, which provides the majority of the permanent make-up pigments used throughout the world by physicians, cosmetic technicians, and body artists, has heartened the permanent cosmetics and tattoo industries with its offer to arrange medical care and financial support for anyone who has an allergic reaction to permanent cosmetics or tattoo pigments. The unprecedented offer covers not only their clients, but also the customers of certified technicians who use other pigment suppliers.

In 2002, Premier Pigments received reports of allergic reactions exclusively to its new Premier True Color Concentrate line, the first such reports in its 16-year history. In 2003, the company implemented an aggressive voluntary recall of the entire line and advised the Food and Drug Administration. The pigment allergy problems were isolated to a benzimidazole pigment used in Premier True Color Concentrate formulas. Those pigments were discontinued and recalled in 2003. Premier Pigments has supported the FDA review of permanent pigments and cooperated fully with the agency's consumer alerts.

Premier Pigments encourages any customers who have experienced an allergic reaction to permanent cosmetics to call the Premier Pigments Hotline for more information regarding treatment--800-642-1096.

Technicians have expressed appreciation and support:
Permanent cosmetics expert Brenda David: When despite testing when one line of colors was of some concern, this supplier of what I have found to be high quality colorsPremier Pigmentsdid the right thing. In an industry where misinformation abounds, they have integrity.

Phil Sanabria, seasoned body artist: I have been practicing the art of tattooing for over twenty years. Rare cases of allergic reactions have occurred since tattoo pigments were first implanted in the skin. Premier Pigments recall of Premier True Color Concentrates was unprecedented and their offer to provide medical care for anyone allergic to pigment regardless of the manufacturer is most impressive!

Tish Poole, reality DVD star, The Permanent Cosmetic Apprentice: I used to tell people I use Premier Pigments because they work; they implant well and they dont fade and change colors like the others. Today I also tell people that I use Premier Pigments because the company stands behind their products.

We need this kind of dedication to excellence to resolve our problems as an industry and to protect both customers and technicians from future problems, said Mary Pike of Blushes Day Spa in Granbury, Texas.

The company also announced today a comprehensive education plan that will network and train physicians to deal with allergic reactions and other undesirable results, including an intense training seminar in early 2005. Because these reactions are rare (one in 250,000), many dermatologists are currently unfamiliar with the most efficacious treatment regimens.

Premier Pigments CEO Sandi Hammons said "During the past two years, we have learned much about allergic reactions to pigments. In an effort to find solutions to the allergic reactions associated with the recalled Premier True Color Concentrates, we searched the world over for physicians with any experience in treating these reactions. We have now found a number of physicians who are successfully treating the allergic reactions, and we are seeking to expand the list."

Since 1988, Premier Pigments has trained and educated most of the physicians, nurses, cosmetologists, and technicians who administer permanent cosmetics. Premier Pigments' mission is to manufacture cosmetic colorants that are safe and predictable, and remain true-to-color for many years.

Media Note: For more information, or to interview Sandi Hammons, president of Premier Pigments, contact Debbie Payton or Jim Jewell at Rooftop MediaWorks: (404) 245-8500 or e-mail protected from spam bots.

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