I’ve got about 30 hairs on my chin and started procedures a few months ago. As I was not quite happy with my electrologist (due to her low hygiene standards, yesterday I decided to try with a new one. Unfortunately the new one was much worse. Her hygiene was better but her experience in electrolysis was obviously very small even though she had assured me the opposite. She simply plucked the first hair. After my complaint she turned the current to a higher level. Then she applied the probe , stepped on the pedal, and I saw smoke getting out of my skin. I was least to say shocked and asked her to stop. She did not even apologize… What caused this smoke? How big scar should I expect? What can I do to prevent it from forming?
As soon as I got home I applied a cream containing Retinol Palmitate, Ergocalciferol, Cod-liver Oil,Peru Balsam. And I also bought tea tree oil.
Thank you for your advices in advance!
Ummmm…I wouldn’t apply any of those ingredients to the one follicle that got over treated. If anything, cold aloe Vera gel, the clear kind would be better. Swipe it with the witch hazel and then apply the aloe vera. Sorry for your plight. Keep searching. I, too, would be bothered by a dirty office, but more so, by plucking and tissue overtreatment. A bad attitude is not good, as well.
Did you hear a sound with this? Was your skin blanched at the site of that treatment? Even if that was the case (sound and blanching) you would NOT likely have any scar form.
The electrologist did nothing wrong to apologize for. It is not common, but sometimes the conditions (hair follicle and epilator settings) will result in what you describe. Of course it means that the electrologist should evaluate settings, probe size, insertions and current application - but it doesn’t sound like she got the chance to do that.
I don’t supposed you asked the electrologist what to put on your skin after the removal of your two hairs, did you? One of the problems we run into is that clients go home and apply all kinds of products that don’t result in good healing.
I tried to keep my previous message short so I did not mention all the details.
The number of hairs the electrologist plucked was 4. Isn’t it too much for testing. Each time I informed her she was plucking. Each time she turned the current to a higher and higher level. In my opinion she did not insert the probe deep enough but I did not say this to her. She needed too long time to apply the probe and she did not seem like an experienced person. The smoke appeared on the fifth hair which also cannot be removed without plucking. If smoke was something normal, she should have told me. What would you do in my position seeing smoke out of your face?!
I did not yell at her as you probably imagine but worriedly asked her if there will be a scar, she said it will be OK. Still, I asked her to stop the procedure. In the end I asked her if she would put some kind of a cream or something, instead she answered the phone for a third! time during our 2 min procedure. I asked her again about a cream and she applied some kind of an anti bacterial cream. If she intended to tell me what to apply at home, she would have done it. She did not say a word. As you can see I was not that bad kind of a client.
The skin around the hair is brown.
I was not there, but I think that you may have guessed correctly. Many newbies are just too darned afraid to insert the probe deep enough to do the job right. In that case, one would cause lots of pain, but never a good treatment. In fact, one would more likely cause a high frequency blowout, while not detaching the hair from the blood supply below.
Let us know your location, and we may be able to direct you to some more reliable treatments.
Tea Tree Oil overnight would do fine for helping that heal, and aloe vera can be used any time, day or night.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find aloe vera or witch hazel here.
I’m from Eastern Europe.
You make a mistake, there is no bad electrolysis. There is very bad, bad, mediocre, good and very good practitioners of Electrolysis. Electrolysis has been and remains the best method of permanent hair removal.
Your experience is unfortunate,Mirela, someone should tell your electrologist to begin reducing the intensity and rise gradually.
Can you suggest any alternatives to aloe vera and witch hazel?
Water and soap, saline, hydrogen peroxide (10 vol).
And a little sophisticated, CICALFATE.
Aloe vera is generally available everywhere around the world. You can even buy a plant and use it yourself that way.
Thanks! For how long should I apply these and how many times a day?
Twice a day, until no any trace on the skin.
Shall I start applying, f.e. hydrogen peroxide, immediately after treatment? My electrologist tells me not to wash my chin with water for two days. Is she right?
“My electrologist tells me not to wash my chin with water for two days.”
My question: Why did she tell you this? Is your water source contaminated?
A century ago, soaps were lye-based and not recommended following treatment because of their harshness (often the formulation was wrong and the saop was caustic). Today, soaps are detergent-based and designed with all kinds of beneficial ingredients (and regulated). Funny that the “no soap” recommendation has lasted 100 years. I still read “modern texts” that recommend “no soap.”
So, what’s the best thing for a wound? Well, keep it clean! But don’t go “overboard” on the thing.
Soap and water is fine. There has been feedback on this board that liquid Dial soap works well. I always used soap and water after my treatments and had no problem whatsoever. When I get a bug bite or poison ivy, I can’t begin to tell what a miracle this is for those itchy conditions. In fact, I make a lye paste and apply liberally to the affected area for the first three days. Heals great and controls the itching big time. Thanks to the yahoo side of my family, I have found that keeping a bar of lye soap handy is a top priority. OTC cortisone creams do diddly, but lye soap is awesome. For electrolysis? I never tried it. If someone does an experiment , let us know what you think.
No, water is not contaminated. She probably thinks that water would slow down the healing process.
It’s very bad that in a city with population of 350 000 there’s only one electrologist.
Is there a problem to apply tea tree oil on the first day after treatment or just soap and water as soon as I go home?
Mirela, both of those are perfectly good for your skin. Apply the tea tree oil very sparingly the first evening, then wash with soap and water the morning after and evening.