Hi,
I had electrolysis for the first time on Sunday. Everything was fine for the 1st 2 days but now I have a terrible rash on my face. Its is extermely itchy and red with bumpy texture. I feel that it is almost like hives and is spread all over my neck and under my jawline. It is all over, not just on individual bumps where the electrolysis was done. What should I do? My electrologist seemed quite competent. She used an Apilus machine. I am seeing her tomorrow but would love advice from others as well.
THanks!
Did you put neosporin on the treated area after the work was done? What was your after care for the treated area?
After the treatment, I used witch hazel to clean the area and then put neosporin cream on. The day after I was still reaction free and used kinesys spf lotion and libra mat lotion during the day. At night I used the witch hazel and neosporin again. But by the mid-2nd day post treatment the rash had developed and I used some benedryl to calm the itch. Now, I am only using witch hazel and aloe vera gel. The rash started mild but now the itching is almost unbearable. and the redness is spreading.
I also, went running the day after treatment, was that bad?
Many people are allergic to the neomycin in Neosporin. It appears that electrolysis is not responsible for this reaction, but rather, your choice of aftercare products. Don’t know what the ingredients are in the spf lotion and in the libra lotion, but maybe the mixture of all these medicants caused this reaction.
Electrolysis gets blamed for many things, but rarely causes reactions like this. Most skin reactions with electrolysis are very mild and clear up within a week. So, you were given another treatment with this skin reaction? Electrolysis should only be performed on normal skin.
Keep your electrolysis aftercare simple, pure and clean:
Wash your hands before applying anything. Wash your face with a mild soap. Use witch hazel (I like Thayers lemon and aloe witch hazel. Peach scent is nice, too). Use aloe vera gel the purest you can find. Keep it refrigerated and apply with clean hands or cotton swabs. Tea tree oil at beddy-bye-time, small dabs only with clean hands or cotton swabs.
Is this the first time you used the spf lotion and libra lotions?
How about Neosporin? Who told you to follow this aftercare with the Neosporin, etc? and why?
Dee
No I have not had another treatment. So far only one, and will not have another until my skin clears up. I agree about the product use as a potential reason for the rash. All the products I used post-treatment (kinesys and libra mat) were new to me. I bought them from my electrologist on her recommendation since they were water based, non-oil, non-clogging products. I have used neosporin in the past for cuts, etc. but never had a rash develop before. I was told bu my electrologist that the neosporin helps heal the skin after treatment. Now I am only using witch hazel and pure aloe vera as recommended on this site and will get some tea tree oil as well.
Any recommendation for a SPF? I live in LA so it is unavoidable, but am worried about putting anything on my skin at the moment,
Thanks for replying, it is really helping to calm my panic.
This information comes from THE MEDICAL LETTER, Issue 1294 September 8, 2008. I just lifted out some information regarding your question concerning any recommendations for a SPF. I personally don’t like the greasy feel of most SPF’s, so I’m always on the hunt.
You want to look for something with avobenzone (for UVA protection) as the first ingredient. Most products have 3% avobenzone, Neutrogena Healthy has 2%. One of my friends, who knows a lot about skin care and makeup and such, loves Coppertone Sport spray - cost about $10 and she says it is not greasy.
The FDA is coming out with proposed labeling changes for UVB protection. THe SPF 15 to < 30 range is for medium protection and the SPF 30-50 range is the highest protetion. Anything higher than 50 would not be allowed on the label because the FDA believes there is no data showing accuracy of values above 50.
Titanium dioxide and zinc oxcide block UV radiation, have loss some favor over the years because they are less than effective in blocking UVA. COTZ is an example of a product that contains only titanium and zinc. I like COTZ, but am going to explore these other products and compare, since this new information has come to light.
For optimum effectiveness, sunscreens should be applied every 2-3 hours. Most people know this, but it’s worth repeating.
Here are a few products listed in THE MEDICAL LETTER, from September 8, 2008, Issue 1294, that have good ingredients they like:
Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock lotion SPF 30 $10.00
Bull Frog Quick Gel SPF 36 $9.00
Coppertone Sport Spray SPF 50 $10.00
CVS Sunblock SPF 30 $7.50
Neutrogena Healthy Defense Oil-Free Sunblock (stick) SPF 30 $7.60
Sea & Ski Advanced lotion SPF 30 5.99
You don’t have to spend a lot for sunscreen. There are products such as Anthelios 15 Sunscreen cream, SPF 15 that costs about $30. It’s have the ingredients, but I’m not sure it is any better than a $10 product? I would be interested to hear other’s experience with sunscreen products. I haven’t tried any of the above listed products, other than COTZ.
Just watch that aftercare. I don’t sell products in my practice. If I did, it would be Thayers Witch Hazel lemon and aloe, Aloe Vera Gel 100% and tea tree oil and I would only do this as a convenience for clients that didn’t want to run all over the place searching for these after care products.
Dee
Thank you so much for the reply. I went to see my electrologist, she said that she did not notice any allergic reaction to the electrolysis during treatment, so right now the cause could be anything. I went to the pharmacist who also confirmed that I was having an allergic reaction to something and told me to take Benedryl capsules which I did.
Hopefully, the rash/hives will clear up soon. So, do you think I should try electrolysis again? I am nervous after all this, but it seems that it is not a result of the electrolysis directly, but it does not help being hair free if you cannot leave your house.
How long should I continue after care? Also, I will try one of the listed SPFs and let you know how they work out as.
Thanks again for all the responses.
Please suggest that your electrologist that neosporin and its generic equivalents are not a good thing to use post electrolysis. The number of people who have reactions like you had, and some even worse is a large part of the population. Post treatment for electrolysis should be based on treatment of irritation and burn tissue injury. It is this reason that we ask HairTell Readers to keep it simple and just use a cold processed pure aloe vera gel, or break off a leaf from a home aloe plant, and use Tea Tree Oil over night, and use Witch Hazel as an astringent.
Drink lots of good pure water, at least one hundred ounces a day, and use Aloe Vera, and Tea Tree Oil to heal up the area. If irritation persists, you can treat that with a good Aloe-Cortisone for comfort.
Most people need only conscern themselves with post treatment of electrolysis for 24 to 72 hours.
Even without seeing you, I’m pretty sure that the reaction you described two days after having an electrolysis has nothing to do with electrolysis. Putting the wrong stuff on your face caused the reaction. If you let things heal, go for another treatment and do the proper aftercare, then you will understand better if you want to continue. Any skin manifestions you get in those beginning sessions should heal within a couple days to a week. If you cannot accept that, then permanent hair removal is not for you.
Work closely with your electrologist. She will understand your skin and hair soon as she makes adjustments tailored to your special needs.
This really isn’t hard or scary. It sounds like you are hooked up with someone good. Give her a chance and ask questions along the way.
Dee
Can I ask who you’re seeing in LA?
I wouldn’t even use aloe vera. I would just use witch hazel during the day and tea tree oil at night. The less stuff, the better in general. Also, do NOT use any sunblock or moisturizers and lotions etc on the treated area until it heals. All of those things have lots of chemicals, clog pores and cause more issues. Avoid neosporin too. And avoid facewashes until things heal each time. Nothing with chemicals at all if you can avoid it.
Btw, the fact that you’re seeing a reaction on areas where electrolysis wasn’t even done sounds like you had an allergic reaction to something that was put on your skin.
Of course, avoid touching your face with potentially dirty hands too much too.
And please do not go for any more treatments until everything heals. You should only get new treatments on completely healed skin.
Lagirl,
I’m curious as to why you feel 100% aloe vera gel would cause her any problems.
Thanks,
Dee
I prefer not to use it myself because it’s somewhat greasy. So for some people with already somewhat oily skin, it can potentially cause issues.
Well, my swelling continued to increase and the rash was not reducing so I went to the doctor. He confirmed that I was having an allergic reaction and prescribed Benadryl and a steroid pill to help clear it up. He did not think the cause was electrolysis but rather something put on my skin after. He asked if electrolysis uses any other chemical other than the electrical current. I did not think it did, does it? He recommended not putting anything on my face until it cleared up and suggested (if I absolutely had to) baby oil for dryness, nothing with any preservatives. The rash is still pretty bad, lots of swelling and redness so I don’t feel comfortable leaving the house. One woman actually came up to me and asked me what happened to my face so that was a clear sign that I should stay in. But, the doctor reassured me that my face would go back to normal in a couple of week.
Thanks again for all the replies.
Can you tell me who you’re seeing in LA? I’ve used a few so I know what they put on you after the treatment.
Also, I would make a list of everything that’s touched your face since the treatment.
I went to Platinum Electrolysis in Beverly Hills. Katrina did my treatment.
I haven’t tried them, so I don’t know what they use. It must be pretty new because it wasn’t around when I was looking.
If you search for Los Angeles here, you’ll see a bunch of recommendations. I would highly recommend Robin Harris or Tina Reynolds, both in Westwood. They both also use Apilus.
Thanks. I will see, right now I am pretty nervous to try electrolysis again. But, I appreciate the help.
You should not be nervous to get further electrolysis treatments. We have a unanimous agreement that what happened here was not caused by the hair removal, just something that came in contact with your skin after the treatment was over.
I’m hoping you told the doctor spefically about the Neosporin.
Again, why would you be nervous about electrolysis when it is clear that certain medicants caused your rash - not electrolysis? One is innocent and the other is guilty. Don’t do guilty again.
You are right. So the next time I try electrolysis should I just not put anything on or try only aloe vera and tea tree oil. O told my doctor about the varying products I used but he said it was too hard to determine which was causing it since there were so many new products. He suspected it was something my electrologist may have applied because there was no rash at all on my hands.
thanks for the encouragement 