Is this normal? (pictures)

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

I posted about a month ago about being dissatisfied with my electroligist; I have since switched and the new one I am seeing is much more aggressive. One of the first things she said was the previous person was not using a strong enough setting. Now I am concerned the setting is too high? The pain is manageable but I have hyperpigmentation and what seems to be some slight pitting on the corners of my mouth. When I asked her about it she said it was just healing / new hairs growing in, but the next week she said I wasn’t “healing well.” Any thoughts?

Picture: (two days after treatment but some of it is from the week before also) https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4lvunzJDja6RkxnN0JvUzMzcUk/view?usp=sharing

This is really concerning to me because I a lot of hyperpigmentation on my chin and neck a lot from plucking; I am afraid these areas will never return to normal and definitely don’t want the same to happen to my upper lip.

Here is a pic of chin and neck 2 days after treatment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4lvunzJDja6YzNrTTk1UjQwUUU/view?usp=sharing


She also mentioned that I wasn’t going frequently enough (I had been going once every 3 weeks for 45 min) but currently she is scheduling me for once a week for 15 min?? Am I crazy or is that exactly the same?

#2

Any takers? I feel the hyperpigmentation will go away but I am concerned about the pitting.

[edit] also not sure if this is relevant but my new electrologist uses an apilus senior, is board certified and has 30+ years of experience. I think she is doing thermolysis. she was very confident during the consultation but now I am second guessing my choice… Any input would really be appreciated!!

#3

What did your skin look like before you started electrolysis? I don’t know if I’m looking at hyperpig from previous ingrowns and tweezing or electrolysis?

I added the pictures for easier viewing.

#4

You don’t have many lip hairs on the side. Those can be cleared in one session. I don’t usually see hyperpigmentation like this. Talk to your Electrologist about your concern. I like cold aloe Vera gel immediately after a session. It will heal eventually.

#5

While your skin looks pretty beat up, I have to tell you that your skin has been through a lot … so this appearance is not horrific.

Your electrologist, with 30-years experience and a good solid machine, is undoubtedly doing a good job.

Lots of times my clients look like a “horror story” for a variety of reasons … but this all clears up as the skin heals perfectly.

I wouldn’t stress too much about this. Get the hairs OFF! … these hairs are the source of all the difficulty. Nothing you are showing is going to be permanent.

I will post a photo of my poor face in the morning. I’m using a strong cream (Efudex) to remove all the sun-damage and pre-cancers I have on my face. Right now, my face looks like a pizza, and it HURTS too! (The pizza is the “Madonna mia” type!)

But I know, in a couple months, this will look great! My skin will look beautiful … like the real PRUNE that it is.

#6

On the upper lip there was previously NO hyperpigmentation or pitting; this is really my main concern as it has developed after my first few sessions with the new person. The chin and neck has hyperpigmentation from plucking. Is there any hope?? I really feel depressed seeing it like this and can’t even imagine it healing back to normal.

Michael - Just looked up Efudex; pizza indeed! ahah.

#7

As Dee already wrote:

And possibly new hairs forming and not getting through.

That will heal.

Anyway: this is 2 days after treatment!
Electrolysis means killing the stem cells forming the hair. It is inevitable that this leaves tiny wounds which will take their time to heal. Like any other wound. The redness on the upper lip is just the normal redness of relatively fresh and healing wounds, young tissue - i do not see any hyperpigmentation (which is usually brown, btw.)

The traces from plucking on Your chin will resolve perfectly when the hair is gone. This will take its time, so be patient.

#8

Not to detract from the issue at hand, but Mike Bono…you are hilarious! “Pizza” - I actually had a client who was also using Efudex…it was as you said for sure. I saw her for the first time the other day (after having not seen her in in several months)…her skin was BEAUTIFUL!

#9

Pizza face here. WOW I’m glad I didn’t see the photos on-line because, damn, I might not have done the Efudex. I’m finished on Wednesday … then that’s it.

Of course, I lived outdoors all the time in the California sun (never used sunscreen) so there it is. The face is not really as bad as I expected. I think 'cause I’m “EYE-talian” my skin took the sun a bit better? If I were Scottish then … “game over?” The white people (British and Dutch) in New Zealand and Australia … now that’s some serious sun damage! “Pome folks!”

Maybe the hair I had on my back protected me from the sun … until I got it removed? I don’t think I have ever had a “sun burn.”

So, there’s the lesson today (about the sun). Of course I’m not changing my behavior at all … can’t wait to go swimming. I’ll worry about the cancer later.

#10

I’m 70-years-old too … so “who cares” any more … “LIVE IT UP” while I have a few more years? (However, I have forgotten HOW to “live it up!”)

#11

Doesn’t look too bad at all!

Thanks for the feedback everyone; I will bring it up again at my next appointment but I feel more comfortable.

#12

Hi everyone,

So I asked her about it and she said the pits are part of the healing process; I still feel uncomfortable as it seems every week there are more pits / prick marks after the scabs come off. I am very careful not to pick at the scabs but they usually come off in the shower after a few days. Here is a picture 2 days after treatment of the corner of my upper lip (I put on some cover up so you can see the pitted parts better):

If you sit back a few feet you can get a different perspective also.

Any thoughts?

#13

Bascially, you should not get any visible scabs with an upper lip treatment. Occasionally (a tiny crust here and there) is “just part of the deal” … but if this is consistent that’s not a good thing.

#14

I get a fair amount of small scabs every time. Is the pitting going to be permanent? She said it was part of healing but I’ve never had pitting before with other electrologists. Should I ask her to turn it down? Or see someone else?

#15

Not to put too fine a point on it … but what would you say are “small scabs?” Half a millimeter … one millimeter … or larger?

I’ve learned that almost nothing on the skin is “permanent.” Although convincing patients is … well … just about impossible in most cases. (This comment is not directed to you at all … you are extremely reasonable on this subject. Maybe too “reasonable?”)

The photo you are showing is a bit alarming … I see what you are talking about.

#16

The scabs I would say are mostly 1-2 mm in diameter, and I can tell before they fall off that they are slightly indented.

I understand the healing process takes up to 18 months but from my (limited) knowledge I thought pitting was always scarring and not temporary. I have already done a lot of (hopefully superficial) damage to my skin from years of plucking and ingrowns, and I am just freaking out because I’ve managed to spare my upper lip until now but this pitting is driving me crazy. If it’s serious I would rather terminate with this person now than hold out and see what happens.

#17

I’ve re-sized the image so it is a bit easier to see

#18

The upper lip and chin can present temporary pitting from the action of cells called “myofibroblasts.”

Still, I can’t really tell with what I see; but 2mm scabs is too big … especially if these are consistent.

I would try to find an expert (like our own Dee) that uses the Apilus “pico-flash” and insulated needle. This is the best and safest for upper lips (and why I shy away from doing upper lips … I’m a blend user).

If possible find an esthetician that sells a high-quality product with copper polypeptides (peptide) and apply this as per her recommendations. You can read about these products all over the web. This really works. Julie (our esthetician) has one of the top products that is wonderful and corrected a few of my “electrology mistakes” too. If you wish, I will ask her the brand name of the product.

I would hold off doing any more treatments until you see this start to resolve. Remember, nobody ever died from having excess hair! Really you won’t!

#19

Thank you Michael I will follow your advice. I sent her an email about my concerns also; perhaps I will look for someone who does pico-flash as I heal. I would love to know the name of the product.

Thanks again!!

#20

start here:

http://www.smartskincare.com/treatments/topical/copper.html