Well, I am an athlete undergoing electrolysis. Just wondering what kind of aftercare would I benefit me to prevent infections or breakouts (other than not working out 2-3 days after treatment). I was thinking of adding a witch hazel and lemon tea tree oil toner from the body shop to add to my night routine (after workouts) and wearing a headband to keep sweat from the scalp away. I have had minor minor breakouts (more like folliculitis) but was hoping to lessen them.
thx!
You should get actual Tea Tree Oil. If scent is a concern for you, then either mix it with Lavendar oil, or get them premixed, as they can be purchased that way.
As for additional steps you can take to speed healing, increase your vitamin C intake. Be certain that your Vitamin D-3 and vitamin E levels are in a good place as well.
James, would it be possible to write up your recommended aftercare routine in detail, from after treatment to a week or so afterward? (I hope you don’t mind, I know you have other things to do 
)
People often ask me what they should do for aftercare here on this board and in person and I would like to give them a direct link to your recommendation. I follow your advice of course but I want to make sure everything is correct.
Feel free to copy and use as you like. If you have anything that you feel should be added, please let me know.
Notes-Aftercare:
There may be some slight initial swelling. You may also see tiny pinpoint scabs form about 24-48 hours after treatment. The following are my home care suggestions (if you are allergic to any of the products noted, let me know and I will suggest substitutions).
If swelling occurs, apply ice to the treated area for about 5 minutes. If you have oily skin, do not apply the ice.
Keep treated area clean using mild cleansers; do not use harsh scrubs.
Then, blot the area lightly with an antiseptic such as Witch Hazel preferably alcohol free.
If your skin is oily, spot treat with 100% pharmaceutical grade tea tree oil.
Then, apply clear Aloe Vera gel.
If you are prone to infection, apply Bacitracin twice a day for just 3 days.
Avoid direct sun exposure. If you have to be in the sun, wear sun block SPF #30.
Wait a few days before using hot tubs, saunas or pools.
Do not apply makeup to the treatment area for at least 24 hours and then use make-up that comes from pump containers or squeeze tubes and apply with freshly washed fingers. If you use mineral makeup powders, make sure that your brush is clean after each application. Clean the brushes using antibacterial soap and rinse until there is no sign of makeup or suds. Dry on a paper towel. Never leave your brushes in liquids.
Avoid any kind of activity that would subject the treated skin to irritating conditions while it is in the healing stage. Don’t go the the gym right after electrolysis. Before is fine, next day is fine.
Do not use any abrasive scrubbing action, touch, rub, scratch or squeeze the treated area.
If any scabs appear following treatment, do not pick at them.
For Best Results: Schedule your appointments to clear as much hair as your time and budget allows. Then, as less hair growth appears in the area, your appointments will be shorter. Catching the hair growth as it surfaces will maximize progress.
Thanks Arlene. That’s a nice piece on aftercare information. I would like to emphasize that any product that has neomycin in it would not be advisable as many people are allergic to neomycin. Neosporin, therefore, would not be a good choice to use after electrolysis. Ointments and oily vitamin E are too clogging. If I remember correctly, there is no evidence that topical vitamin E offers any healing benefits. I would have to research and see if there is any new information on that.
Dee
What area are you treating? What specific aftercare do you use now?
Generally, simple is better. Things from the Body Shop usually have a bunch of chemicals in them in addition to the good stuff. It would be best to buy pure tea tree oil as well as pure witch hazel. I find using witch hazel several times a day and tea tree oil at night works best. And keeping the area dry and clean.
This is a question for Arlene. Ice is my prefered aftercare recomendation. Why do you not recomend its use on oily skin? Another quaint one i like is warm salt compresses.
hi coconnell,
On oily skin, a warm compress is good as it keeps the oils flowing. When the oily skin type uses ice, there is a tendency to develop a little milia and/or comedones in the area. Dry skin types do well with ice.
I wish I could use Aloe! But every time I try it I break out in acne. Almost like my skin can’t breathe or something. I know that my healing time would probably be a lot quicker if I used it.
I have just been using my homemade “tend skin” and then tea tree oil at night. I have always been sensitive to lotions, etc., but thought I may have outgrown it. So I put some pure aloe on the area I have been receiving electrolysis on the other night, and sure enough, I broke out in pimples everywhere. Now I am almost embarrassed to go to my next treatment. As if having hair removed from my shoulders and back isn’t disgusting enough! But if anyone could make me feel at ease it is my electrologist. She’s awesome!
Oh well, I guess the tend skin and tea tree oil is all that I will be incorporating into my healing regiment.
We use Hibyclense (spelling) at the hospital as a cleanser regularly. That may help some people. You can get it at any local pharmacy or walmart
Tommy, some food for thought:
Do you think the aloe vera gel is contaminated? Bacteria can grow in tubes or pumps depending on how you handle it. So, you may be rubbing bacteria laden aloe all over the tiny little wounds and causing infection. Is it the purest formula you can find? What are the other ingredients listed in the aloe vera? Does it have blue or green dyes in it?
Thank you Arlene. My curiosity is now satisfied. We all seem to do things similarly, but with little variations.
Actually I bought some at 2 different places, and the ingredients listed are identical except for the “Carbomer” on one has a 94 after it. And it doesn’t on the other tube.
Here are the ingredients:
(Name) 100% Aloe Vera (From) CVS:
Aloe Vera Gel, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl, Acetate, Carbomer 94, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea.
(Name) Pure Aloe Vera (From Wal-Mart)
Aloe Vera Gel, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl, Acetate, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea.
I wasn’t really surprised that either broke my skin out. For some reason my torso area is always sensitive to any type of soaps, lotions, etc. I typically try to avoid them.
So, if you use these products on your upper arm for instance, you won’t break out? It’s just your torso?
No, actually my upper arms and shoulders is always where I break out the worst. Basically the area that a t-shirt covers.
It is hard to say without seeing you, but this may be a case where the sweat in the shirt is causing the breakouts, or the friction of the material on the skin from the shirt, coats and what not. It is just hard to pin down.
Have you changed your laundry detergent?