Electrolysis scars

[miss_s]

I am happy I found this forum!
I have started electrolysis on my chin and upper lip 5 months ago. I am doing one weekly session of around 15 minutes. I have lots of fuzz and some coarse dark hair, currently only the coarse hair is being treated and there is an improvement.

The problem is I am getting horrible acne flare ups after each session. The acne leaves terrible scars. My skin is acne-prone, but I haven’t had a flare up in years. Also, it seems that the acne I am getting now behaves different, it hurts badly and leaves deep scars. The only infected area is where I get the electrolysis done.

I do not touch my face or apply any makeup or cosmetics for at least 48 hours after the session. I disinfect it with alcohol or witch hazel and use tea tree oil.

I switched to a different electrologist following the scarring but the result is the same. My colleague goes to the same electrologist and has no problems what so ever.

Is it possible that my skin cannot tolerate electrolysis? I feel very bad about the scarring, I don’t believe it will ever heal properly. My initial plan was to get rid of the fuzz as well but I cannot risk having scars all over my face.

Any advice on what to do? Should I stop the electrolysis process? I was offered a deep cleaning cosmetic treatment for acne and blemished skin at the same place I get the electrolysis done, but I doubt it would help. I was really happy when I started the process, but now I just feel depressed about the entire situation

[impossable]

I switched to a different electrologist following the scarring but

Do you happen to know which probe and/or method is used? Are they both using the same probe/method?

[Bono]

“Also, it seems that the acne I am getting now behaves different[ly].”

I have yet to have a case of acne that didn’t greatly improve with electrolysis; even right after a treatment. Perhaps the lesions might not be simple acne? Maybe the inflammation from treatment is activating a latent problem such as herpes?

Years ago, I had a patient that developed hard lesions following electrolysis. I was at a loss to the cause. Come to find out, she “carried” streptococcus and could not even wear contact lenses. Any irritation produced a localized infection.

[miss_s]

I am not sure about the system - the equipment is identical so it is probably the same system.

The probes are different - switched from stainless steel to gold plated.

[Deedra]

Any chance you can upload some quality pictures? If you are still using the tea tree oil, can you describe how you apply it? The tea tree oil may be the culprit?

[miss_s]

I am still using the tea tree oil, I apply it using a Q tip.

I have not been using the tea tree oil after every session. At first I just disinfected the area. I started using the oil hoping it would make a difference.

qwerty Attachments

[Deedra]

So the pimples were there before you started using the TTO?

How many days after a session do you use the TTO and how much are you using? Are you dabbing or are you coating the whole area? How many times a day are you using the TTO? How many days are these photo’s post-treatment? Are you using the TTO undiluted?

Thanks so much for the pictures. They are very helpful.

Edit: by the way, are your practitioners using gloves after they wash their hands? Do you see them opening a sterile package with a new STERILE PROBE? Are the forceps / tweezers coming out of a package or test tube? They should be sterile as well. Does the office look clean? Once a practitioner puts on the gloves, they should not be touching things outside the zone that were not disinfected, eg. doorknobs, telephone, cell phones, computer keyboard, unless these items have been disinfected as well.

[miss_s]

Thank you very much Dee

The photos were taken a day after treatment.

The pimples started right after my first electrolysis session. I started using TTO only after my fourth session.
I am applying the TTO 3-4 hours after treatment (in the evening) and then reapply in the morning. I apply it twice a day for two-three days following my session.

I am using undiluted TTO and coat the entire area (chin and upper lip) using a Q-tip.

My electrologist gave me a cosmetic liquid for blemished skin and suggested I use it twice a day starting the morning after treatment.
I used it only once, 24 hours after treatment - I felt it was too harsh on my skin (burning sensation) so I stopped.

(The ingredients are: water, SD alcohol 40, witch hazel extract, horse chestnut seed extract, salicylic acid, aloe barbadensis extract, chamomile extract, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, bisabolol).

The practitioner is washing her hands before treatment, she is not using gloves though. The probes are sterile - I see her opening a new package each session. I am not sure about the tweezers, it is usually placed near the package of probes ready to be used.

[impossable]

You are right, that liquid is a bit harsh for freshly treated skin. I’ve found that just a mild soap and tea tree oil works best for me the first week.

Another thing is weekly sessions, stainless steel probes and even gold probes can be overkill for certain skins. Especially if the electrologists treats at higher-than-necessary intensities.

One idea would be to stop treating fuzz and only deal with the stubbly hair for a while. About once a month or so to give the skin a chance to heal a little. A good insulated probe might also help.

Michael’s theory also makes sense.

[waxnomore]

I have flare ups every once in awhile, and I sometimes get a few white bumps after upper lip and chin sessions. To keep it under control I wash my face as soon as I get home from a session with a mild soap and apply witch hazel. If my skin is tender I apply antibiotic cream. The next day, if my skin does not appear to be tender, I apply PFB Vanish roll-on, and then antibiotic cream. I alternate between the PFB Vanish and witch hazel and I always wear sunscreen.

I notice that when I eat oily foods, milk, cheese and nuts I break out so I really try to limit my intake of these foods.

[miss_s]

Thank you for the advice everyone!

I will try to allow more time between sessions. Hopefully my skin will heal a little.

Michael may be right, the electrolysis did cause a negative reaction. I hope to get it under control. I am beginning to see results and I feel it would a shame to stop the process.

I am not washing my face after the treatment, my electrologist told me not to. I wash it before going to my session. After the session I just disinfect the area and apply TTO.
I haven’t tried antibiotic cream.

Food is a good point. I should pay more attention to that.

[Deedra]

In my opinion, it is fine to wash your face with water and a mild soap, like Purpose. If anything, I would not use tea tree oil twice a day, undiluted. For pustule prone people , using TTO at bedtime for three days is all you need. It would be helpful to put some aloe vera gel over the tea tree oil to dilute it. No need to to use antibiotic creams if you are using tea tree oil.

Discuss your skin reaction with our electrolysis and maybe she will be able to refine things on her end. Sometimes, clients make things worse with using too many medicants. Keep it simply, clean and pure. No need to defy Mother Nature.

[miss_s]

Thank you very much Dee.
I will follow your advice and keep it simple.
I bought aloe gel today, I hope it could also soothe my skin a little. My upper lip area is irritated and somewhat red, most likely because of the TTO.

[Bono]

Helena Rubinstein was a Polish-born Australian-American business magnate. She was the founder and eponym of Helena Rubinstein, Incorporated, (cosmetics) which made her one of the world’s richest women.

Rubinstein’s beauty salon in NYC (1920s) boasted a “secret facial treatment that came from the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.” In reality, the treatment was pure aloe grown “in my back yard.” (At that time, ingredients could be secret.)

Rubinstein had a friend living in Santa Barbara with a few acres (near Westmont college) and there they grew the “secret” herbal plant … um, from Romania. You can still find “wild” aloe growing in the area. I tell my clients to go “pick your own.”

I wonder if using aloe directly from a live plant is better than using a processed “in the jar” version? I know aloe grows in Spain … what say you Jossie?

[miss_s]

Michael - that is very interesting.
I had to visit a few stores in the search of natural aloe vera gel with no additives. I could only find it in an health shop, where the sales assistant told me the best results come from using the leaves of a live plant.

[Deedra]

Aloe from a plant is 100% pure, for sure… It is very sticky. Most people don’t like that property. You can snip the leaf and store it in the refrigerator. I bought my plant at Lowes or Home Depot. If you try it, let us know what you think. The aloe I buy is from a local organic market here. You an also order from www.herbspro.com

[miss_s]

Thank you for the tip and useful link The aloe vera gel I have is labeled natural, however I get a stinging sensation when I apply it…makes me wonder about its ingredients…

[James_W_Walker_VII]

Active Aloe Vera would have at least a warming or tingling feeling.

[James_W_Walker_VII]

Active Aloe Vera would have at least a warming or tingling feeling.