I’ve been getting galvanic electrolysis treatments on my upper lip and chin area for a few years and stopped a while ago due to noticing that these white spots that weren’t going away. I’m pretty sure they are scars but my electrologist has not confirmed and keeps dodging any questions. The clinic never alerted me to the issue and whenever I would ask was told it was likely part of the healing process, so continued out of ignorance.
I consulted with another electrologist and they said neither the level of scabbing I would develop post-op or the hypopigmentation are normal. My electrologist is trying to get me to sign an NDA for a refund of the sessions I’ve already pre-paid. I always followed both pre and post-op instructions and used the witch hazel and aloe vera provided by the clinic, so I’m not sure why this has happened. I had about 20 hours of the blend method in the past and never had scabbing or scarring.
The scabbing is pretty normal looking. Those white spots are scars, They usually are not that big, but everyone scars differently. Proper post-treatment care can help reduce that, including anitbiotic ointments, 100% aloe gel, and silicone sheets, which can help even if it’s been a while.
If they continue to be a concern, you might try getting a professional “lunch peel” (a light facial chemical peel) to see if it helps.
What would be the cause of these scars if the scabbing doesn’t indicate overtreatment? I was going every 2 weeks for 2-hour sessions for about a year, and then reduced the frequency to every 4 weeks after the advice of the electrologist who has been treating me. Here is a picture of some upper lip scabbing. Apologies for the poor-quality photo.
The other electrologist I consulted with (who also uses the galvanic method) seemed quite shocked when I showed her some photos of the scabbing. She believed the clinic may have been using a higher current than necessary and could not find a single photo of any of her clients with scabbing even close to what I would get.
The first photo I provided was of my upper lip, with me intentionally making it taut to reveal the severity of the scars; they are almost unnoticeable otherwise and don’t appear so large, which is why I went so long without being aware of the true extent of them. Would using tretinoin on the scars be helpful? Also, why would the clinic not notify me that I was developing scarring this whole time? Surely it would be very noticeable during treatments? I first noticed some scarring fairly early on (just a few spots), but was told it wasn’t a result of their work.
Over treatment around the mouth is unfortunately, very common. It’s very hard to kill the hair follicles on such thin and delicate skin, and those hairs are typically the most course hairs on peoples faces.
Were you receiving single needle galvanic or multiple needle galvanic? The white spots are almost always permanent scarring, this is not hypopogmentation. They’re pebbles of uneven collagen. This is caused by too much DC current for too long timing and produce a lot of Units of Lye, operator error not a modality problem. This link discusses this type of galvanic scarring.
That’s quite disheartening to hear. I was receiving multiple needle galvanic electrolysis. What can be done about the scars or am I just stuck with this for life?
I can only suggest finding a dermatology practice or facial plastic surgery practice that have experience and various treatment modalities for scar treatments. Perhaps they will be able to successfully mitigate it with ablative/none ablative laser skin resurfacing or micro-needling radio-frequency treatments.
I wish I had seen this thread earlier, but I don’t come onto Hairtell much anymore. These are typical scars from multi-needle galvanic overtreatment. The scabbing and the scarring are both identical to what I experienced in the LA area – to such an extent that when I saw your pictures in Google Image Search, I thought that I had made this thread and had subsequently forgotten about it. The clinic I went to also did a lot of hemming and hawing when I brought the marks to their attention.
In my experience, tretinoin has done nothing. Deep microneedling and fractional ablative laser has evened out some textural problems, but has done nothing to restore the color. If you’d like to compare experiences, please contact me. I’m the electrologist in the link that fenix provided.
I’m truly sorry you’re experiencing this—persistent white spots after galvanic electrolysis can be incredibly frustrating, especially when communication with the practitioner is unclear.
While hypopigmentation is considered rare in professional electrolysis, it can occur, especially if the skin is overtreated, or the current intensity and timing are not well calibrated to the individual’s skin type. Galvanic current, in particular, involves a chemical reaction that, if prolonged or improperly managed, may affect melanocytes in the basal layer of the skin—potentially leading to pigment disruption.
The fact that you followed all pre- and post-treatment care (like using witch hazel and aloe vera) suggests this may not be a typical healing response but rather a treatment-related issue. It’s commendable that you sought a second opinion; many clients don’t think to do that, and it can make a big difference in understanding the cause.
Hypopigmentation can sometimes improve gradually over time as the skin regenerates, though this process can be slow. If there’s no sign of repigmentation after several months, consulting a dermatologist—ideally someone with experience in cosmetic dermatology—might provide further insight. They can help differentiate between true scarring and pigment loss, and suggest options like topical therapies, microneedling, or even light-based treatments to stimulate pigment recovery if appropriate.
Most importantly, you deserve full transparency from your provider. Signing an NDA should never be a prerequisite for care or a refund. Your experience matters, and your concerns are absolutely valid.
You’re not alone in this, and it’s good that you’re documenting your experience—these conversations help others make informed choices.
Thank you for your kind words. I just wanted to update this thread seeing as it’s still getting some attention. Unfortunately, the scars are still as prominent as ever and have not gone away. There are hundreds of these little scars all over my upper lip and chin area. The scarring has left me deeply depressed and suicidal. I still can’t believe this happened to me. I had “perfect” skin before all this. It was something I always felt good about. Now it just makes me feel terrible.
I can’t even bring myself to let a dermatologist touch my face. I saw one last year and she recommend that I do CO2 laser along with some other treatment. This would have costed me thousands, but how can I trust anyone with my face anymore? The worst thing is that I’ve noticed over time that the scars are more visible than I previously thought. Still, I don’t think anyone really notices. But that’s not the point. My skin was ruined by a clinic who was happy to keep taking my money without saying anything.
I just hope that writing about my experience can prevent someone from going through the same thing. Please be careful of who you trust with your skin. There’s no turning back the clock. I miss how my skin used to look beforehand so much. It really hurts that I’m stuck with this for the rest of my life. I wasted thousands just to replace my facial hair with severe scarring.
