ingrowns gone wild

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi everyone,
First a little background:
I started electrolysis on my upper lip and chin back in May 04 (thermolysis). I go now for touchups in this area (about 7 hairs need clearing every 2 weeks or so) plus a little work on sideburns. This past summer I wanted to start on my nipples, so I decided to go with a different electrologist—one I had tried last year when I first started on this journey. She came with recommendations and I did like her.

The treatment:
Microflash thermolysis. Apilus machine.
Visit #1 was for 30 mins and we nearly cleared everything, but the experience was not comfortable. She estimated that 70-80% of hairs were not in the growing stage (they had hard white root balls). Maybe that’s what made it so uncomfortable–the hairs didn’t come out easy.

Visit #2 was 15 mins, two weeks later. We cleared the rest out. (Oh, and unlike visit 1, the treatment was comfortable.)

After that, I’ve been going once every 3 weeks for 15 mins, though last week I had a major growth spurt and needed a whole half hour. Part of the problem is that the hairs are very coarse and very, very deep and I have got an ingrown hair problem that is ruining my life. I would be the biggest buzzkill on a Girls Gone Wild video right now.

She explained that the hairs can’t find their way to the surface, so I am putting Tend Skin on twice a day until, honestly, the skin around my nipples now looks shiny!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Yet, I can still see these &^@$&^@# ingrowns under the skin. She also told me to gently rub the area with a washcloth under hot water to further exfoliate. I tried that only twice because that part of my body is feeling a little raw. I have been avoiding my boyfriend because I just feel a mess. It’s so bad that I’m actually thinking of stopping this treatment. Can anyone help?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Thanks,
susie

#2

the nipple problem will get better!! once you are getting rid of the hairs permanately, you wont get ingrowns. no hair=no ingrowns. so you got to keep it up. and the nipples are better than other body parts. the hairs grow much slower and they clear much quicker. i too are having my nipples, chin, side burns and chest bone done with thermolysis. i do nipples like every 3 weeks. i do get occasional ingrowns, but they arent that bad. if i can see the hair i’ll get a pin and help them out. (i know some of you are going ewwwwwww dont do that) but honestly its not that bad just make sure everything is clean with alcohol sanitation. i do it also so the electrologist can see the hair and treat it, rather than it hiding otherneath. hope that helps.

good luck with everything and just keep up with it. the hairs will be gone for good.

-rachel

#3

Thanks for the encouragement, rachelle, but i think I need more than encouragement. Unless I solve this problem with ingrowns, my electrologist can’t even get to the hairs to get rid of them. I also tried digging the ingrowns out with a pin or tweezers, but they are pretty damn deep and I was left with horrible scabs everywhere!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> (this is why i’m so embarrassed about that area.) I’ll never do that again!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I have ingrowns growing beneath the skin, completely parallel to the surface of my skin! They are quite deep.

Can anyone else help me with practical advice on how to solve ingrowns?
thanks,
susie

#4

bumped…hoping for advice

#5

Have you tried the Tend Skin styled products, (purchased, or home mixed) as directed all over the boards here? They usually release these hairs in a day or three.

#6

Hi James,
Yes, I’ve been using Tend Skin twice a day for the past two weeks. The skin looks shiny from so much exfoliation, but those ingrowns are still under there, growing sideways. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> They are deep!

Any other suggestions?

#7

Isn’t laser the only way to kill hairs that have become ingrown?

#8

I sometimes have hairs that look like they’ll never outgrow and you can see them through the skin, but eventually they do come out, you just have to be patient…not sure if using Tend Skin twice a day is a good idea, it makes my skin all flaky…don’t stop the electrolysis, eventually you will get past this point, but maybe ask the doctor what to do about the ingrowns.