I had electrolysis done at a high frequency on the thigh area and over a period of about nine months developed lumpy keloid scarring and broken veins(not to mention ingrowns). Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience or has found a way to reduce the scarring. Despite using a reputable experienced electrologist in New Zealand, I am out of pocket and no longer wear shorts. I have had better luck with laser but not sure it’s worth the risks considering it seems to rely on the skill and mood of the user.
I recommend that anyone considering electrolysis get a patch test and wait at least a year to see what happens to your skin!
Even Doctors don’t understand Keloiding very well. People who are prone to Keloiding can develope growths from their necks rubbing against the collars of their shirts.
A year would not be needed to evaluate a patch test of a treatment area. Three weeks to Three months is more than enough time.
I am more concerned about the broken blood vessels you mention. That sure is something that should not be a part of electrolysis treatment. I have not seen you, and can’t say for sure, but it sounds like you either had insertions that went way too deep, or that missed the follicle all together.
It is very important that electrologists have good vision aids so that they actually can see the follicle opening itself. Most work with poor magnification and simply guestimate, and feel their way into an insertion.
You need to see a dermatologist for treatment of this. The only successful treatments I know of for Keloids involve medications not available without doctor’s supervision. You may get injections to clear them up, topical applications of sloughing agents, and perhaps pills to take as well.
You should know that Laser Treatments can’t promise keloid free treatment. Keloiding is all about a body’s personal responce to irritation, injury and regeneration.
I’m very sorry to hear about your problems with electrolysis. It underscores the importance for people with a tendency to scarring and keloids to use exteme caution with any form of hair removal that removes hairs roots and all.
As James said, you need to see a dermatologist about your condition-- there are some sclerotherapies and vitamin K products that may help.
Again, I’m very sorry, and thanks for sharing your story. Let’s hope it will help someone else avoid the same troubles.
Please keep us posted on your progress in dealing with the side effects! 
Thanks, Andrea and James for your messages.
Sorry I sent my last message privately by accident. I will try the Mederma (or onion skin)and cortisone as James suggested since they are the only thing I haven’t tried yet. 95% Alovera gel is amazing stuff, I dont know if it works on scars but it does work for inflamation, and just about any skin irritation. It is probably a good thing to use after laser or electrolysis. I may or may not send a photo when I can borrow a digital, but at least I’m a good warning for people who scar easily. I will let you know if any thing works. Merci encore 
Here’s what I don’t understand…
Earlier in this thread, it was written that 3 weeks to 3 months would be enough time to evaluate a patch test of a treatment area. In that case, wouldn’t it make sense for everyone to get a test patch, and then return to the electrolysist three months later to start treatment?
But it seems like people are cleared to start immediately after consultation. At least, that was my experience. My first session was a week after the consultation. The second was the following week. Should I have waited a while prior to starting?
Some electrologists will require such a patch test every time they have a new client of African descent. It was based on an assumption that this dark skin is prone to keloids.
A better protocol, in my opinion, is to ask about keloids and to observe the skin for possible keloids before beginning treatments. As far as I know, electrolysis has never been the cause of keloids. I have also not heard of it causing keloids in keloid-prone skin. Could it have happened to Pelorous? Of course. Keloids do NOT just happen on dark skin, but properly applied electrolysis treatments should not cause it to happen.
Most electrologists are willing to begin treatments immediately after the consultation. There is not reason not to do this, as you have let the hair grow and you want to get rid of it.
Here is an article about selecting an electrologist, in case you haven’t run across it: http://electrology.com/consumer/selecting_electrologist.html
If you want proof of the effectiveness of the treatment, sure, it’s better to wait 3 months otherwise you might be going ahead with ineffective treatments. Of course anyone will take your money at any time, but if you want to be certain they are providing permanent hair removal (rather than just playing with hairs as Michael has said) there should be a definite wait period after a patch test. The wait period would depend on the area treated but 3 months should do it no matter where you are treated.
This thread started out referring to keloids but I think charmingstarla was referring to overall effectiveness of the treatment If I read/understood her correctly. My apologies if I haven’t. 
No problem. I was referring to any type of ill effect actually. I was thinking that if it could take up to three months for a poor reaction to manifest, if you started weekly treatments immediately, you would have done considerable damage before you even had a clue…
But I am thinking (and hoping) that I understand correctly from the various responses that there would be some sign - poor healing or extreme reactions from the start - that would signal a person to reverse course early on, and not get to the point where a bad reaction would seemingly manifest “out of the blue”.
There would be signs of poor treatment within days of a first treatment/consultation. It would be best to go back to that electrologist so they can see the “problem” and explain it or figure out what happened. Sometimes there is a reaction that the client doesn’t expect, but that was explained to them during the consultation. Sometimes the client does not follow the electrologists recommendations for aftercare, and sometimes there are some poorly skilled electrologists…