i’ve been going for electrolysis for years - i’m wondering if i’d get better rezults from laser. i have fair skin with light brown thin hair. would laser work? is it permanent? is it better than electrolysis or vice versa???//
Why have you been getting electrolysis for years!!?? Something is definitely wrong. What areas are you treating?
No, you will not get better results from laser if you have light brown, thin hair. Electrolysis works phenomenally well if it is performed correctly and you do your part to show up for appointments. It is permanent hair removal. Laser is permanent hair reduction. Both modalities require skilled practitioners. Laser has barriers. It works well on dark, coarse hair on light skin, on certain areas of the body, usually. Electrolysis is the bomb for every skin color, hair color, hair structure because it definitely works.
If you want help as to why you have been having electrolysis for years without results, please supply us with detailed information about your experience, so we can trace back and learn why you have not been successful by now.
Laser will not work for your hair color or structure, but you may certainly try it and see for yourself.
Dee
If you choose to go ahead with laser on fine, light brown hair (or blonde velus hairs for that matter) you run the risk of Laser induced hair growth. This is particurally prevelant on the female face and necks and for men their backs, shoulders and upper arms.
As Dee said, laser only works on coarse, dense and dark hair.
Regards,
Benji
First of all, what area are you talking about? Second, is the hair coarse?
As Dee says, having electrolysis for years is not normal. You’re either not getting treatments on a good schedule, or you’re getting poor electrolysis treatments. Without more information, it’s impossible to tell you which is the case. We would need to know the area, how often you go, whether all the hair in the area is removed completely each time, whether the hair slides out easily once it’s been zapped or it feels like they’re being plucked, etc. Also, what kind of electrolysis method are you using?
In general, your hair is probably too light for laser. And if it’s not coarse, it’s definitely not going to work.
thanks for responding. that was my gut and i feel better that you reinforced my initial feelings. i’ve been doing electrolysis on my face. unfortunately i didn’t go consistently whenever it got better - i stopped going as frequently. if definitely have much less hair - how many times is it normal to do the same area -(face). recently i got more hair growth on my kneck. my electrologist claims this happens from time to time with hormones - is that true?
Your electrologist is correct about the hormone thing.
How many times for the face? How much hair do you have? Are the hairs thick or thin?What medications are you taking? What temporary methods did you do and how long before starting electrolysis. Are you faithfully going to your appointments so the electrologist can continually attack growing new hair? (I think you said no) What is the condition of your internal hormonal environment?
The general answer to your question falls in a time frame between 9 to 12? to 18? months, that is, if you’re doing your part and the electrologist is doing his/her part. Patience and manner of approach brings rewards.
How much hair do you have on your face? Have you been tested for any hormonal disorders? How old are you? Have you recently had any hormonal changes like pregnancy etc?
In general, if you have a condition that’s causing the hair to grow in the first place, and that means you’ll need touch-ups throughout your life if it’s not controlled because your body will continue producing some hair over the years.
How long have you been going to treatments? Is all hair removed each time? Are you going in as soon as new hair shows up? The problem is that you NEED to do this on a schedule and go in as soon as new hair comes in so that they can kill it while it’s new and weak and still in anagen phase which lasts for a few weeks. If you wait too long, the hair won’t be able to get killed anymore, once it goes into another phase of growth. So if you’re going in very rarely, you’re probably not actually killing most of the hair, which is prolonging your treatments.
Can you find out what method she’s using? And what about the questions about the treatments that I mentioned before? Do you feel like they’re good treatments? How many electrologists have you tried? Where in NY are you located?
i don’t feel plucking when she pulls out hairs - she does short wave electrology. regarding keeping to a schedule - how frequently do i need to go - is the stage when hairs are weak - before they are noticeable. prior to electrology - i waxed and tweezed on a regular basis for a few years - will this make the process take much longer. i am not taking any medications. i took blood tests and all my levels are good. is there any hair removal method that is safe to do between treatments?
Short wave is fine. Has your electrologist guided you on when she wants to see you next? Usually, you get all the noticable hair cleared off your face as soon as possible, then you go every two to three weeks after that for about 6 months. Thereafter, you usually spread your appointments out to every 4-6 weeks, until there is no hair treat BECAUSE ELECTROLYSIS IS PERMANENT HAIR REMOVAL! Look in the mirror every Saturday morning. Check and see if new hair is coming forth. Call your electrologist within a week and go in and get those new hairs treated. Never leave her office unless you are cleared of noticable hair every single time. Put the time in up front.
Waxing and tweezing can make hair stronger, especially on a woman’s face. Some of those hairs need to be broken down to make them smaller, so they may need to be treated and then re-treated again in a couple of months. We always keep the skin condition in the back of our mind when treating you and we don’t want to overdo it with those big, fat hairs. That is why I mention the BREAKING DOWN PROCESS. This is an important concept. The hair will still be permanently eliminated within a decent time frame even if it takes two attempts. This can add to the time it takes to get to the end, but not by much if you stay on a diligent schedule.
I’m curious. Did your electrologist mention any of this information in her initial consult? Just what were you told before you began treatments?
You can not tweeze or wax once electrolysis begins. You may clip or shave in between treatments until your electrologist gains the upper hand.
The best way to do this is to go in as soon as you see new hair pop up. Don’t let them stay there for longer than 2-3 weeks for best results. And make sure to leave each appointment fully cleared of hair, even if that means having longer sessions.
You may want to see an experienced endocrinologist. Hormonal issues are very hard to detect.
Please advise: When is it ‘safe’ or advised to resume facial laser and/or electrolysis after 3 month progesterone horomone therapy? Advised to avoid sun and laser treatments during therapy. Last dose of meds was 1/15/08. Face and neck are a mess and really need to make an appt. Would one form or another be advised at this time due to medication? Have had both electrolysis and laser treatments - laser only for last 2 years. Thank you in advance.
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were the drugs you were on photosensitive? what about now? you have to wait about 6 months before laser can be used. electrolysis should be fine.
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You’ve been doing laser for two years and still need a lot of treatments? Can you describe your situation in a bit more detail? Were you actually getting results?
Pharmacy insert indicated use of sunscreen and no laser treatments while taking meds, etc. Progesterone is the natural hormone responsible for the ‘mask of pregnancy’ and skin discolorations during pregnancy. (No skin discoloration during my pregnancies.) I wear at least 30SPF daily increasing # based on activity or time of year - we live at 4000+ feet altitude. I have not noticed any discoloration since starting/finishing medication.
I am a 46 F, Italian and Scotch heritage. Dark hair and eyes, fair complexion with olive undertone, prone to scarring and keloids. Started electrolysis (blend) about 18 years ago in NY. Hormone testing in normal range. Successful. Resumed (blend)treatments after move west (third pregnancy, clean-up, etc.) for about 18 months. Discontinued treatments after I realized I was scarring. Resumed hair removal treatments via laser about 2 years ago and accompanying Genesis laser treatments to assist with scarring. I have had 9 hair removal laser treatments, face and neck. (Alexandrite, I believe.) I’ve been a little concerned that I haven’t cleared with this number of treatments. Note that coarse, dark hair has responded best. Since medication have noticed more dark neck hair and cheek hair - suspect laser induced hair growth or result of medication, age, etc. Tech had increased levels, but I experienced burn in 2 areas and resumed lower levels. I did experience skin discoloration in burn areas.
Realize I will require electrolysis for light hair still, so believe that returning to electrolysis is best choice at this time. Thank you for the 6 mo. heads up. Will increase to SPF45 also.
Any advise on scarring? My upper lip feels and looks like little tiny grains of sand under the surface of the skin. Most noticible scarring is between eyebrows - craters - years of tweezing, breakouts and treatments.
Thank you so much.
Not all photosensitive medications requires you to wait 6 months. Most are out of your system sooner. Accutane is a different story. Check with the prescribing MD or pharmacist for your particular medication.
Laser also doesn’t work well on fine hair. It sounds like the remaining hair is finer, so you should probably switch to electrolysis again. Properly performed electrolysis doesn’t cause scarring. You may also get faster results by getting thermolysis type of electrolysis (especially microflash) which is faster than blend per hair. There may be recommendations here for someone in your area. Try running a search.
MD indicated that meds out of system at appt 2 weeks ago. Will check with pharmacist.
Yes, the hairs that I am noticing (bothering me) are fine, long dark hairs. I also have coarse light hair to clean up as well.
Open to recommendations for professionals in the greater Salt Lake City area.
Thank you
please visit the electrolysis section of this forum. There is also an FAQ on how to find a good electrologist in your area there.