Is my skin being damaged? Pro help needed!!!

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi,
My name is Jennifer and I’ve been seeing my current electrologist for about 8 months now. I’ve noticed more pitting and perhaps minor scarring on my facial area, especially right under my nose and on my chin. As well as what appears to me, as hyper-pigmentation (lasting red undertone color) on my chin.

A little background info: I’m a MTF transgendered person (this means I’m a male who is in the process of changing his sex to female) and I have had 1 year of laser on face prior to beginning electrolysis. Laser was with a Candela GentleYAG machine. My electrologist is currently using an Instantatron “Blendtone” model machine and looks like it was built in the 1970s. She has the intensity set to “5”.

Can a professional electrologist look at these attached pics of my face and tell me if this is normal. These pics were taken 5 days after my last treatment. I usually have an 1 hour appointment and the tech clears my whole face and neck during the 1 hour. Just not one specific area. It seems that the hairs under my nose and on my chin are the hardest to kill. Please be honest and let me know if the electrologist I’m seeing is doing any long-term damage to my skin.






Here are direct links for bigger pics:
Explore jennx255

Explore jennx255

Explore jennx255

Explore jennx255

Explore jennx255

Explore jennx255

Thanks in advance! :slight_smile:

#2

Personally I would look for someone else. If you can mention your general location maybe someone here can recommend a better practitioner.

#3

This is not normal. I recommend you look for another practitioner.

#4

That is what pretty close to what my skin looked like after electro as well :frowning:

#5

I am dismayed by what I see. I hope it heals well by the good graces of Mother Nature. If it doesn’t, you can seek out the expertise of a dermatologist. It is not necessary to have such highly noticeable and rough reactions for our dear transgender people or for anyone else.

#6

Thanks for the replies everyone! All of your posts confirmed what I suspected. I live in Miami, FL and if anyone knows of an experienced and competent electrologist, let me know.

I never had any of this sort of pitting/scabbing from my old electrologist, but she retired. Looks like I’ll have to search out some other options.

Thanks again. :frowning: :frowning:

#7

The Blendtone that is being used is a machine that we manufactured in the 70’s, and is quite different from the computerized models we now offer. The current epilators are much milder in sensation and have the capability of treating in hundredths of a second, if desired. All Professional Electrologists should be using more up to date equipment, as older machines get tired after decades of use. Instantron has always used the Electrologist’s suggestions for designing new equipment, and we now offer the latest in design, comfort and permanent results with very reliable Epilators, both Thermolysis and Blend, both of which can be used with or without a footswitch. I invite all to respond to my post here, and welcome your suggestions.

#8

I see this as operator error (potential overtreatment) not the machine. As long as an epilator is properly maintained and calibrated it should continue to work well … although it will not be as precise and comfortable as newer computerized equipment.

#9

I agree.

#10

hi dafhey if this skin were of african descent do you still think the red marks are not supposed to be present even though they fade gradually daily?

#11

One thing I forgot to ask, is that the “electrologist” in question recommended that I use Desitin cream on my face after the treatment.

Yep… Desitin Diaper Rash Cream:

Has anyone ever heard of this for post-treatment care… or is this completely nuts? I see many use Tea Tree oil and Aloe Vera for after-care. My old electrologist just put Neosporin on my face and that was it.

#12

Desitin may not be as crazy as you think:

http://www.tgboards.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=10456&start=150

http://www.tsroadmap.com/physical/hair/genital-hair-removal.html

Seems a couple people who tried it says it worked really well for them.

#13

I can see why she’d recommend it. A foot cream like Flexitol does the same thing MUCH better actually, though I’d wait a week or two after treatment to use it.

But it doesn’t change the fact that she provides very shoddy treatment. And it’s very sad that such practitioners will continue to get away with this, simply because there will always be desperate people around who are not familiar with how it should be.

#14

Desitin has parabens in its ingredients. Pure zinc oxide would be better. The best thing would be not to overtreat the skin. I like soap and water. Keeping the area clean and dry is always prudent. For certain skin types, witch hazel, a dab of tea tree oil for a few nights, with the purest aloe vera put over top of the tea tree oil is quite helpful.

#15

Look for CONSTANT CARE, a product that smells and looks like Desitin. It has zinc oxide. I always use it after groin area treatments, and some clients like it on their face, as well. As far as I know, you cannot purchase it in a store, but must order it online. It is NOT a prescription, just isn’t available in stores. I think the best price is from allegromedical.com.

#16

the pictures are really scary…I myself got shock…what bad electrolysis can do to your skin…The poster of this thread has significant damage to her skin…I hope her skin recovers well…

#17

I’d like to offer my opinion, you mentioned that you had been doing one year of Candela laser prior to electrolysis treatments. You’ve got to realize that your skin can only handle so much, especially the facial area which is WAY more sensitive then the rest of your body. Granted the Instantron in question is a really rough machine, i’ve had experience with it, and especially set at ‘5’ that is way to high for the face. Ask her to at least take it down to no more than 3, which will still kill the hair but also be gentle on the skin. I also assume by admitting it was on 5 you’re having pure thermolysis done… Yes, there is a difference between blend, thermolysis and galvanic. Also, by admitting you are a MTF you have the gift of harder skin, luckily this is something you can’t change, our skin (male) is more resistant to damage from the elements, but everything has its breaking point.

Long term damage? Perhaps… 5 is a very vicious setting on many models including the Instantron. Long term scabbing (>1.5 - 2 weeks.) is usually a good determination that there will be minor hypopigmentation. The good part? It’s very hard to scar/cause pigment damage with electrolysis (or thermolysis for that matter) unless the operator is a bumbling idiot. In situations like this only time can tell, according to the people on this board it takes skin about a year to heal properly.

Bottom line, don’t rush things and do your research before hand, i suspect you are over extending yourself. Also, if you are indeed serious about removing your beard, look into getting galvanic done exclusively. The Galvanic method is kinder on the skin (heat is a very dangerous weapon in an area that sensitive).

Now onto the healing part! Moisture is the best weapon in promoting skin to heal, a dry area will simply not heal as efficiently as an area with sufficient moisture so be sure to keep the area hydrated and use a SPF moisturizer to keep it protected from the harmful effects of the sun. Tea Tree oil does wonders with disinfecting and also has subcutaneous properties.

Any ‘professionals’ feel free to correct me on any part of this post. And to the original poster, please remember i have no formal experience just personal experience on having it done on me and personally doing it on myself. Oh, and a couple of books on electrology here and there, i was drunk when i read them anyway…

#18

Thanks for the info and advice.

I had a feeling the setting on the epilator was too high. She indeed was doing pure thermolysis… I never held an electrode. When I asked her about this, she said she needed to keep the setting high to kill the hair… but more than once I could hear burning/sizzling going on… which just felt wrong. Regardless, I won’t be going back to this electrolysis.

It makes sense what you are saying regarding galvanic only electro. However, there are few to none electrologists in my area. My laser laser tech does electro, and has an Apilus Senior machine… but he flat out refused to do my face cause he said it was too big a job for him (the entire face and neck, to remove the remaining blond hairs)… and not enough $$$ for him compared to what he makes spending the time with laser customers… I think he doesn’t like to do facial elector in general… so I wasn’t happy with that.

Most of the discoloration/hyper-pigmentation seems to have lessened now… bit it still looks like there might be some minor scarring/pitting left. Hopefully with the right skin care, this will improve as well.

Looks like I’ll have to find another electrologist… or look in to doing it myself (after I do some research, homework, and book reading that I’ve seen mentioned in other posts on this forum).

Facial hair sucks. :frowning:

#19

I edited the post for aesthetic reasons, it might have more information for you, again I think i hit it spot on. But this is only my opinion, there is room for error.

Hey! I love facial hair, I can’t imagine not taking a double edge razor or straight razor to my face everyday. Something about a sharp edge is relaxing!

#20

If Ms. Iris Gminski can receive me this month of August, maybe soon I can respond to this post with data collected from my own experience. A machine made in USA, if our German friends bet on it is that has to be good. Moreover, I’d say it’s a double guarantee.