I’ve had my first full clearing of my facial hair and am a somewhat concerned. See the pictures and let me know what you think.
This picture is day 6 post clearing.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/P1010086.JPG
This picture is day 7 post clearing.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/P1010096.JPG
I see mainly first, second and a few third degree scabbing. It looks scary, but you should be fine after all heals. This is not what I would like for my clients and your electrologist, I assume, would rather this not be so scabby. Did you contact her/him? Perhaps you can show your electrologist these pictures, so she can change her strategy.
How long did your first clearance take? Is this what your skin looks like above the jawline?
Another question: can you tell me about your aftercare plan? How are you caring for these scabs?
DO NOT PICK THE SCABS! Please rest your skin and heal before you have another treatment.
The clearing took 16 hours total split between two techs during a one day marathon. I did e-mail them earlier today but haven’t heard back yet. The aftercare I was led to follow was warm shower daily, no soap the first few days. Cover with zinc oxide (provided by electrologist). Blot face with a warm washcloth to remove dried yellow fluid (no picking/scrubbing /rubbing). Ice face with ice packs wrapped in clean paper towels. Stay hydrated. No sun or makeup for 72 hours. No abrasive or alcohol products for two weeks. No neosporin; treat as a sunburn not a wound. No picking, allow skin to heal itself.
Three days ago I started washing my face with neutrogena fresh foaming cleanser (gentle, soap and alcohol free) and switched from the zinc oxide to 99% aloe gel.
My next treatment is scheduled for the end of Feb.
Before pics.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/2011-11-03%20-%2001.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/2011-11-03%20-%2002.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/2011-11-03%20-%2003.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/2011-11-03%20-%2004.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/2011-11-03%20-%2005.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/2011-11-03%20-%2006.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/2011-11-03%20-%2007.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/2011-11-03%20-%2008.jpg
After (day 7)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/P1010102.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/P1010103.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/P1010104.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/P1010110.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/P1010112.JPG
Okay! The second set of pictures were more informative… All in all, I think your practitioners are doing a fabulous job. The neck area can be tricky as far as insertions go and seeing some of this scabs confirms that. Your aftercare instructions are fine and after viewing your total situation, I am not alarmed. It is still appropriate to let your electrologists know about your neck area, so they can make adjustments in their technique.
Pretty nice work! Congratulations on that first clearance!
THANK YOU for the great pictures, too. Come back and share your progress with us. 'Kay?
Thanks for your quick reply. I was starting to get worried.
The work is being done at e3000. I’ll post updates later.
Catherine
I heard the the ladies there are very sweet. So glad for you, Catherine.
Yes, the ladies there are delightful.
May I add that first, full clearances are challenging. A tag team approach is a good strategy. Also, the first several treatments will be your worst as far as skin reaction goes. As the hair spaces out when you go through the hair growth cycles to come, your healing outcome should be much better as you get future clearances. I am sure your very skilled team will know what to do differently regarding your neck area in the future.
I highly recommend Christina Navarette (http://www.beautycenterinc.com/) if you are looking for a local electrologist in Houston
She does good work and uses the apilus platinum, and is cheaper than E3000… only downside is her schedule can be pretty full
IMHO, it doesn’t make sense to keep traveling to E3000 beyond the first or second clearance since the sessions will be much shorter.
Thanks t4ngent. Yes that would be ideal.
Update.
The majority of the scabbing had fallen off by day 10.
Day 17 - hair growth after 17 days
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day17/P1010166.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day17/P1010167.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day17/P1010169.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day17/P1010170.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day17/P1010171.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day17/P1010172.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day17/P1010173.JPG
Day 18 - shaved
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day18/P1010175.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day18/P1010176.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day18/P1010178.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day18/P1010179.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day18/P1010180.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day18/P1010181.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12443073/Day18/P1010182.JPG
On my second clearing I forgot to get before and after pictures but here are pics at day 6 after. And I’ve decided to stay with them for now instead of switching to a local electrologist.
P1010208.JPG
%20%282012-03-05%29/P1010209.JPG
P1010209.JPG
P1010210.JPG
P1010211.JPG
P1010212.JPG
P1010213.JPG
P1010214.JPG
All looks good to me, Catherine. Did you use anything for aftercare for the second clearing? I would encourage you to do a test area with witch hazel, a small coating with tea tree oil and then the 99% aloe vera gelovertopthat for three nights after your third treatment.
My after care was similar as before. I applied zinc oxide starting the first night and for two days and nights then only at night the 3rd day. I also applied ice packs the first night 20 minutes at a time every 40 minutes, 5 times total. Then I applied ice the next day for 20 minutes every 2 hours. I asked about other preparations and was told while other clients have tried the ones you mentioned that they have had the best results with the zinc oxide. I’ll try a test area next time though.
Okay. Let us know how if there is any difference.