Important questions - soon my first thermolysis-session! =D

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi Everybody!
My first thermolysis session (1 hour) will be next monday (!), and I would like to be as prepared as I can. I have follow your good advice and read a lot from the forum, but there’s still some things I’m a little unsure about, so I have some questions that I would be very grateful if I could get direct answers to:

  1. What is the best way that I can prepare my skin for the treatment? Should it be dry, cleaned in some way, moistrued or something? I will probably have thermolysis on my armpits first (because if something “goes wrong”, it won’t be that noticeable) and if there’s time left, also my arms.
  2. What is the best way to reduce the pain? I have heard of a topical cream, called “Emla” here in Sweden, that I should put on 1 & 1/2 hour before the treatment. Is this the only way or are there more ways to reduce the pain? Maybe some kind of pill…?
  3. How should I take care of the skin afterwards? Again, what is “the best way”? I have heard that both tea tree oil and aloe vera are good. I’m not sure though in what kind of dosage the tea tree oil and aloe vera should be in? 100 % pure or in some kind of mixture with other ingredients? And when should I use the tea tree oil respectively aloe vera on my skin? Are there any other products or “methods” (e.g. drinking lots of water & eating healthy) I should consider also, that are good for the skin-care?
  4. What is withez hazel (sp??)? Do you think it exists here in Sweden? I don’t know where to find it… <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
  5. Are there any important questions I should ask my new electrolgists? Like what equipment she uses or how high the “energy” (lack of a better word right now) on the settings is?
  6. How should I expect my skin in the armpit /arms to react? What is the “best reaction”, telling that you’ve received a good treatment?

Thank you so much for your time and any input you might have! I’m sorry if these questions have been asked over and over again, I just need some concrete answers to rely on. I’ll give you an update on how everything goes!Thank you so much again!

/Julia

#2

We welcome people who can help us answer the question, “Who is good in any city in the world”. You help us out with that, and we are happy.

The best way to prepare the skin for treatment is to take good care of yourself. Eat well (green vegetables, fruit, complete proteins) and eat often in addition to supplementation to address any nutrient deficiencies you may have. Get a full 8 hours sleep every night, and drink enough water. Depending on your situation, that could be anywhere between 64 oz a day through 1/2 an ounce per pound to one ounce per pound of body weight(yes, people who are properly hydrated do go to the restrooms often). If you smoke, quit now. If you refuse to quit, at least don’t smoke from the time you wake up until after treatment is finished that day. Stop using anything with caffeine at least 3 days before treatment, if you refuse to comply with that, you should at least not have caffeine for 24 hours prior to treatment. The Amino Acid L-Tyrosine helps people replace both Caffeine and smoking with healthy behavior.

Make sure your skin is clean with no make up, and in the case of your under arms, no deodorants, or antiperspirants prior to treatment. At the very least wash it all off at the office before you get on the table.

Understand that the armpit is usually going to have more sensation in the left side than the right side. You may want to have the right side done first for this reason.

Sensation depends on so many factors, but the only thing you have control over is the health things mentioned.

Witch Hazel is a plant known for its healing properties, and the astringent made from it is used for first aid and facial skin care.

After your treatment, you should have a tingling or pulsing sensation that goes away in a short time. Any redness and swelling should not last long either.

Tea Tree Oil is used overnight, you just need to cover the area. Aloe Vera can be used all day, as frequently as you like, or need. Again, just cover the area.

That is all I have time to tell you now, my next client is here.

#3

One thing I’d like to add from experience is that you should try not to sweat for a couple of days afterward. I have had my upper lip done, and if I sweat, I tend to have more irritation/infection. If you happen to be irritated, don’t touch it, except to wash or apply aftercare product. Aloe vera gel is very soothing after. Let us know how you do with the pain. I’m curious about that area. I know tattoos sure do hurt the inner arm. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

#4

Dear James,
Thank you so much for all the questions you had time to answer! Really helpful information, thanks! I’ll tell you later what I think abut the skills of my electrologist.
I already take relatively good care of myself, have been vegetarian since I was 8 years old and have always been quite healthy living. I have never smoked, and hate to be around “smoky areas”. I don’t drink caffeine either. I have one big problem though, and that’s with how I sleep. I have big sleeping problems (have had it more or less since I was 12), I’m not sure if it’s a good thing to try sleeping pills though. I’m a little afraid of pills, since they are artificial and I prefer to only use as natural products as possible. I hope this issue won’t have to bad effects on my results.
There’s also two last things, I don’t think you had time to answer, that I would be very happy if you or someone else who has the knowledge, could answer (I’ve copied and pasted from my previous post):
“1. How should I take care of the skin afterwards? Again, what is “the best way”? I have heard that both tea tree oil and aloe vera are good. I’m not sure though in what kind of dosage the tea tree oil and aloe vera should be in? 100 % pure or in some kind of mixture with other ingredients? And when should I use the tea tree oil respectively aloe vera on my skin? Are there any other products or “methods” (e.g. drinking lots of water & eating healthy) I should consider also, that are good for the skin-care?
2. Are there any important questions I should ask my new electrolgists? Like what equipment she uses or how high the “energy” on the settings is?”

And one more thing (sorry… <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />): Should I take the witch hazel as a topical cream or as capsules? If as a cream, when should I put it on? Directly after treatment?

Thank you so much again for your time! It really means a lot to me!
Sincerely,
/Julia

#5

Dear Tattudemom,
Also a big thank you to you! I guess it will hurt a whole lot in the armpits, but I rather endure some more pain than risk to have scars in an area with bigger pain-tolerance in my face for example. How strange though, that the sweat causes more irritation/infection in the skin, since it’s “pure”… Thank you for letting me know anyways!
Sincerely,
/Julia

#6

Sweat has “pure and natural” salt. Do we need to talk about pouring salt into wounds?

The Witch Hazel form we are talking about is an astringent liquid that is applied to the area pre and post treatment.

If you are having trouble sleeping, and have for a long time, you are probably having a nutrient deficiency, but without more information about you, getting a good idea of what that is would not be possible, and this is not the place to do that. You should know, however, that there are many natural ways to bring on sleep. Take calcium and vitamin B 30 mins prior to when you want to go to bed, making sure that you have twice as much b vitamin as calcium, and most people will find sleep comes easily and naturally. Many vegetarians and vegans have trouble getting the amino acid L-tryptophan in high enough doses. Sweden, like most of the rest of the world, probably allows direct sale of L-tryptophan supplememts. In the United States the only direct source of L-tryptophan “over the counter” so to speak is baby formula. You can’t sell it directly, but you can sell the stuff the body uses to make it out of, so a 5-htp supplement might be needed to get you back on track there. If the deficiency is serious enough, you may need both 5-htp and St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) taken a few times a day to get your system back on track. Your tryptophan and seratonin levels could be the only problem you have.

People who fall short on these nutrients (vitamin B, essential amino acides and the like) tend to have trouble with depression and energy as well.

The Aloe Vera should be pure Aloe Vera Gel, perferably cold processed with no additional ingredients. The Tea Tree Oil should also be pure oil, no additional ingredients.

As stated above, you apply the aloe and tea tree oil over the area, just do it at separate times, so they have time to sink in and give you the most they have to offer. You want a thin layer to cover the treatment area.

#7

Again James, thank you so much for your very helpful information and advices!
You have no idea how grateful I especially am for the information you’ve provided me about the possible causes of my sleeping problems, although it’s somewhat off topic. I have been searching and wondering about the causes for years, and all I’ve got as answers from doctors were sleeping pills and more sleeping pills, which have just made things worse. But I think you hit it right on the target! I think the lack of L-tryptophan must be it (since I also, as you mentioned was possible, have trouble with depression and energy). Otherwise I’ve been very careful with taking enough B-vitamin and calcium, since I knew they are essential for a vegetarian like me. Thanks to you, I’ve also bought a bottle with essential amino acids now, including L-tryptophan, and am really positive on how they will work. Hopefully there won’t be any need of stronger dosages (I’ve heard that that unfortunately can cause severe side effects).
Anyways, to bring everything back to subject, I’ll tell you that I’ve also purchased aloe vera, witch hazel (in Swedish it’s called “trollhassel” I’ve now found out) and tea tree oil besides the amino acids. I am really looking forward to my first treatment, although I know it will be painful. I’m just so excited. =)
Oh, btw, I just realised how stupid I was that didn’t figure that out with the “sweat and salt” thing. I’ll try my best to keep my armpits dry now! Lol! =)
I’ll try to post again soon about my experiences!
/julia