Laser Hair removal gone horribly bad!!! Please Hel

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

PLEASE HELP!!

I am a 28 year old male of Mediterranean descent & reside in sydney australia.
Up until May this year i was receiving laser hair removal treatments on my upper torso for approximately 2 years. Initially i just wanted to treat sparse hairs on my shoulders and back i had approximately 10 treatments, then i had 5 treatments on my arms and 3 on the chest just for a reduction.
The hair has grown back ridiculously worse i now have hair where i never had it and vellus hair has turned into terminal hair, my upper torso is completely covered in hair when it never was. I am devastated to the point where i can no longer go on it has affected my personal life and my work life in so many ways which i will not go into right now, and im finding it very hard to adjust.
I was treated with the candela gentlelase im not sure on what level but it may have varied between 12 and 16.

I have searched google extenseively and found that is a rare occurence but a real one, and also that study conducted with a double pass technique and application of ice packs on treated area after treatment worked well in somewhat reversing the paradoxical effect.

Alos since february i have been using topical minoxidal and since april finestaride(propecia) to halt male pattern baldness. I am aware of the side effects these drugs may have on body hair, but the increased body growth was noticed well before i started on these medications. I have seen two dermatologists about my condition and one said to stop minoxidal the other said to stop finasteride and there was no way laser could have caused my condition. Im just not sure what to believe but i do now my body and im sure the drugs did not cause this.

I love life, just not mine, i am willing to relocate overseas in order to get my life back, because it seems that laser clinics in sydney are far behind in terms of technology and awareness in comparison to those abroad! Money is not at object!!

Any help or words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated.

Regards Pete

#2

PLEASE HELP!!

I am a 28 year old male of Mediterranean descent & reside in sydney australia.
Up until May this year i was receiving laser hair removal treatments on my upper torso for approximately 2 years. Initially i just wanted to treat sparse hairs on my shoulders and back i had approximately 10 treatments, then i had 5 treatments on my arms and 3 on the chest just for a reduction.
The hair has grown back ridiculously worse i now have hair where i never had it and vellus hair has turned into terminal hair, my upper torso is completely covered in hair when it never was. I am devastated to the point where i can no longer go on it has affected my personal life and my work life in so many ways which i will not go into right now, and im finding it very hard to adjust.
I was treated with the candela gentlelase im not sure on what level but it may have varied between 12 and 16.

I have searched google extenseively and found that is a rare occurence but a real one, and also that study conducted with a double pass technique and application of ice packs on treated area after treatment worked well in somewhat reversing the paradoxical effect.

Alos since february i have been using topical minoxidal and since april finestaride(propecia) to halt male pattern baldness. I am aware of the side effects these drugs may have on body hair, but the increased body growth was noticed well before i started on these medications. I have seen two dermatologists about my condition and one said to stop minoxidal the other said to stop finasteride and there was no way laser could have caused my condition. Im just not sure what to believe but i do now my body and im sure the drugs did not cause this.

I love life, just not mine, i am willing to relocate overseas in order to get my life back, because it seems that laser clinics in sydney are far behind in terms of technology and awareness in comparison to those abroad! Money is not at object!!

Any help or words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated.

Regards Pete

#3

Hi Pete and welcome to the forum. It’s really unfortunate that this happened to you. It actually has less to do with the equipment since you were treated with a good laser, but more with the fact that they treated fine and sparse hair, which shouldn’t be treated due to potentially induced growth (and because laser doesn’t work on that type of hair anyway). Laser only works on coarse hair and many clinics still don’t realize this and will treat anyone for money.

At this point, the hair that is plentiful, but not coarse like underarms or chest hair needs to be removed with electrolysis. That’s the only permanent method that works on fine hair. We actually have an electrologist from Sydney on the forum, so you may want to reach out to her: Christine O’Connell. Check out the electrolysis section of this forum.

Can you find out what spot size was used on the GentleLASE with the 12-16 joules? That makes a huge difference. It’s a great machine if it’s being used properly, i.e. only on dark coarse dense growth and with 16J+ settings on the 18mm spot size (on smaller spot sizes, the joules would have to be a lot higher to compensate).

Can you post any photos of the areas you want to treat?

And yes, you should be aware that you may need touchup treatments since you’re on that medication. Permanent hair removal method like electrolysis can only remove the hair that’s currently there. It can’t prevent your body from developing NEW hair due to that medication.

How old are you btw?

#4

Hi thanks for the quick reply, I’m not sure what spot size was used and I really don’t want to go back into the clinic to find out. I’m not sure that I would be a good candidate for electrolysis as there is so much hair now that needs to be treated, I will look up Christine O’cconell though thanks.
Since stopping laser treatments I have had Most areas waxed as I can’t stand to look at the new hair, I will try to post some photos though asap.
Is there anything else that might work for me? I’ve read about hair inhibitors in particular kalo but I’m not placing my hopes on these products as I am skeptical about them and with good reason.
Oh yeah I’m 28
Thanks again
Pete

#5

Hi, Pete.

I ´ve got same results as you did while trying to get rid of my low beard. It´s a freaking issue that spending money and time to solve a problem, makes it worse than ever before.

I´m giving a chance to Electrolysis in order to solve the former problem and the side effects laser made.

We do share similar ethnical background (as my nickname says, I´m spaniard), but in essence, that doesn´t mean anything. I´m white and considered white by americans and northern europeans. I only say that because for laser worshippers, is a kind of mantra that mediterranean, middle east or south asian people are more likely to get paradoxical hypertrichosis. It´s also a common belief that bad results are only suitable to obtain by bad practicioners, etc

You have to know that laser, optimally performed on ONLY DARK AND COARSE HAIR AREAS AND THE PROPPER SETTINGS is likely to work. And you have to know too, that even being a good candidate on a good place (dark and coarse hair, white skin, skilled personnel doing their best, etc)you can obtain more hair. Not likely to happen, but there´s always a chance to win lotto.

Do your own research about Electrolysis, get in contact with Christine, have patience to stick to a schedule, etc Electrolysis works, it´s a fact.

Forgive my bad english and hoping to be helpful, The Spaniard.

P.S: I don´t know if you are of italian or greek ancestry and you blame your genetics…You would be right, but at least you had the chance to enjoy actual food at home haha!

#6

Christine has an Apilus Platinum epilator, one of the best pieces of new technology to date. Speed can be attained to move your hair removal along, but I won’t lie to you, it will be a major effort on both parts.

Everybody is a good candidate for electrolysis and it sounds like you have no choice now with the finer hair. This is really too bad, but you know what, the worse part is being told that the laser didn’t do this to you. Maybe you can get these laser specialosts straight so they don’t keep making the same mistake on other hairy people in Sydney. I would tell this business that they have caused you big problems here. You can back it up by showing them the many consumer posts here on hairtell concerning induced laser hair stimulation. People like yourself stumble upon hairtell and tell about their experiences and now we have a whole community belonging to the laser induced hair stimulation club.

Hugs to you and hope you can get it together and do what is best for yourself. Electrolysis will work. THere is nothing else that is permanent, but there are temporary methods that can tidy you over and give you some relief.

#7

Electrolysis is your only option for permanent removal of this hair. It’s going to be an investment of time and money, so you have to decide whether it’s worth it. Nothing else will work, so don’t fall for the advertised gimmicks. I don’t want you to get screwed again.

A good electrologist removes 5-10 hairs per minute. So it’s definitely not out of reach. You can start with the area that bothers you most and go from there.

#8

I think posting photographs would be a good idea. The laser pro’s will be able to give you better advice. I have seen several people have increased facial growth from Rogaine, but body hair was never mentioned. If your hair was fine and sparse to begin with, perhaps laser should never have been recomended. This is a most unfortunate outcome.

#9

I’m from New Zealand, it’s even worse over here! And to top it off, everyone is mostly hairless because of the English or polynesian blood they have. I’m a mixed Italian, a bad combination of white skin and dark hair.

Pretty sure same thing happened on my chin and neck due to the same exact reason…(Laser was done, when it never should have, on the fine sparse hairs)

I feel your pain. I wish you luck!

#10

Hi Christine,
thanks for taking the time out to read and reply to my post.
As you most likely have gathered, this is very difficult for me as i have never felt like this before even before i started with laser treatments because the hair was not so bad. Initially i was only concerned about long coarse black hairs on my shoulders, upper arms and two strips on my back. Instead of treating just these areas the practitioners also treated the immediate areas surrounding, which were hardly visible vellus hairs. These are the hairs which i am now mostly concerned about as they are long dark visible hairs covering my entire torso. The sides of my torso are completely covered in hair and i was also treated all around my neck & this is also an extreme bother.
As for minoxidil i have read posts on other webistes where topical solution used for mpb did induce body hair growth, but i have found no information on finestaride having this negative effect. Finestaride(propecia) decreases dht(dehydrotestosterone) which is the main cause for mpb and a factor in increased body hair growth, in theory if i am lowering my levels than this should be the reverse. As mentioned in previous post the increase in body hair was noticed well before i started on these meds, maybe a year before but i kept getting laser treatments in the hope that it would go away and quite obvioulsy and unfortunately it hasnt, therefore i dont think it is the drugs that have caused this.
Do you really think electrolysis will be a viable solution or method of treatment in ridding me of this problem as the hair is everywhere, long and dark and big areas. All i want is to get a natural look/hair pattern back on my torso. I know its hard for you to judge just by hearing me out but given your experience in the field your honest and professional opinion will be of great value and appreciation. Perhaps if you have a clinic in sydney we can meet face to face and you can assess my situation more thoroughly and give a proper evaluation.
So far i am putting it down to bad technicians but i just dont know.
I will post photos first chance i get but would love to hear back from you beforehand.
I hope this is curable as i dont think i can feel the way i do right now for much longer, i am normally a happy go lucky outgoing personality and this is holding me back from my everyday life and my future plans, career and relationship wise.

Once again thank you so much for your help already and i am sincerely sorry for the extended post.

Regards Pete

#11

Hi Nevay, i dont mind having hair on my body just not where it doesnt belong, i think i would be happy if it were just my neck. I wont even wear a tshirt on a hot day!! I was prescribed vaniqa also , its expensive stuff, so not really viable for me as i have to treat my entire torso and the stuff stops working after 8 weeks of discontinued use, thats a prety big lifetime expense!!

Wish you luck.

#12

Oh no no I’m a female so having course black hairs on my neck is NOT where it’s supposed to belong!! I wear scarves in the middle of summer to hide the hair sometimes ha ha

#13

Lagirl & dfahey,

thanks for your help, the general consensus seems to be that electrolysis works, my only concern is that it is a very large area of coarse black hair now that needs to be treated. I know it will be be a big expense which i am willing to commit to an extent. I am in touch with Christine now and you can view that thread in this forum as i accidentally posted twice, i sort of go into a bit more detail about my condition.
We shall see what happens, i guess this is my last resort.

Thanks again so much and i will post photos hopefully in the next couple of days.

Regards Pete

#14

Spaniard,

i appreciate your words of wisdom good to know im not the only one out there, seems to be though that my condition is a lot worse than others as it is my entire torso.

You are right i am of greek ancestry, but i do not blame this at all for bad laser and so far im leaning toward bad practitioners.

Thanks for your help.

P.S MUMS FOOD IS AMAZING =)

#15

Pete, It took some time for me to find this post, but I saw another thread saying you had contacted me. The one redeeming feature about laser induced growth, is that it gives up easily. Summer is arriving, so getting you in T shirts is the first priority. I read elsewhere that you are also having some waxing, so when I see you we can plan to find a comfort level for this Summer, and a hair free one next year. We can decide where would be best to start treating, and where would be best to continue waxing, until we get the treated part controlled.I once treated a male on whose upper body, no skin was visible. Chest neck,upper arms had to be shaped to give a natural appearance. There is only one reason for failure, and that is if you do not finish your treatment.No hair survives well performed electrolysis.I shall message you with my contact details.

#16

If any of the hair is now dense and coarse, it can be treated with a good laser at high settings. “Coarse” is relative though. It’d be great to see some photos.

#17

lagirl,
i dont want to do laser again, the last two summers have been hell having to cover up and always be aware of the sun. I couldnt afford to get a tan or any darker, id already been burnt by laser been of mediterranean descent. Im an outdoors person, i work outside at the airport, i exercise and play sport, i LOVE the beach, and im an aspiring landscape & event photographer. Ive had to withdraw myself so much over the last few years, and now its even worse that the hair has grown back extremely worse, its constantly on my mind, and effecting my everyday life. If i lived in a cold country where i constantly had to cover up and there was no possibility of a tan, i would consider giving laser another shot, but it would have to be someone well respected in the industry.

#18

What are the chances of Laser starting new growth or getting worst? Does it happen to like 1 in 10 people? Any help would be apprecaited?

#19

I have never seen statistics on what you are asking, so perhaps this hasn’t been studied. I’m wondering if most clinics know about this. It keeps happening. That is why I encourage people to give feedback to the laser specialists verbally, with pictures and in writing. For Pete, did you sign a contract or read anything with laser induced hair stimulation being a possible side effect? I think people should be warned about this up front before the wand passes over areas prone to this unfortunate side effect.

The speediest electrologist can help you, but if I’m visualizing this correctly, it will be hours and hours of work over 18 months. Leave the finer hairs alone and target in on the most obnoxious hair. If you want to go further than that later, then that is fine. You need relief asap and that is what a good electrologist can do for you - we can precisely treat individual hairs and change the landscape for the better. You can go longer than 18 months, but initially, the goal is getting the long black hairs. Christine will know what to do and the main advantage you have with her is, she can do PICOFLASH THERMOLYSIS, which is quick and swift. She can do double of triple pulsing with one insertion if need be. She has another thermolysis modality called SYNCHRO. Looking forward to good quality pictures.

#20

dfahey,

What is the time frame to treat a certain area for the hair to be completely gone? Say for example i treat the side of my torso from underarm to waist approximately 10cm wide with alot of hair, like chest coverage hair?
I would go in for a whole week if i had to if it required alot of hours.
How many times does a certain area need to be treated for the hair to be gone?
I know it is hard to judge without photos.
Hope this all makes sense…