My Skin Years After Last Session

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi

I underwent electrolysis from Spring 2013 to January 2015, and suffered from severe redness and hyperpigmentation throughout the process. After the last session, I decided to give it some time to heal, because I had heard that within 18 months or so, my skin would return to its normal pigment. I should preface by saying that I believe my reaction was not normal throughout the process. Rather than small red spots on my skin after each session like most people, my skin was dark red/brown all the way across in the entire general area.

Pictures of my skin currently: The degree of darkness looks very different depending on the lighting

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After waiting and seeing my skin still look like hell, I decided to look into some solutions only this summer. I tried 4% hydroquinone for about 6 weeks over summer (using sunscreen during the day) and saw no improvement. Also, my skin was bright red and HOT whenever the cream was on my skin.

If hydroquinone wasn’t working for me, is there anything else that could? Did I wait too long to address the issue? Is my skin damaged beyond repair?

If you have any solutions, please please share! Thanks.

#2

hyperpigmentation is part of the healing process itself, and therefore there is nothingyou can really put on the skin to “help it along” . You are best leaving it alone. Letting it fade before you resume electrolysis however is silly, because it will just happen again. I’d look at how the electrologist is working though if you are getting that kind of reaction. Inquire as to what they are using for settings, and whether an insulated needle is being used. It’s very possible the excess skin reaction is due to overtreatment or High Frequency short to the epidermis. Try out another electrologist if you can to see if a different technique makes it reduce or become more tolerable.

#3

The pictures aren’t loading so I cannot see them. Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation CAN sometimes be permanent but is treatable. I would see the same doctor who prescribed the hydroquinone and ask about trying Tri-Luma, which combines hydroquinone with Retin-A and an anti-inflammatory drug to treat pigment problems with less irritation. You might also consider glycolic acid peels but use caution and only go to a trained professional as in the wrong hands they can actually make pigment issues worse. Use sun protection daily, and NEVER let anybody near you with a laser or IPL.

#4

I’ve actually stopped using electrolysis and don’t plan to do it anymore. Besides, almost all of the hair is gone at this point, so it’s pointless at this point. Those are all good ideas, unfortunately I lived in a small town, so I didn’t have much choice with who I went with

#5

WeRNotAfraid, I was doing some research and glycolic acid peels came up as well. Is there a good chance it would work, even though hydroquinone didn’t? I understand the scientific process is a bit different: while hydroquinone inhibits production of melanin, glycolic acid peels remove the top layer of skin (to hopefully the type of skin pre-electrolysis?)

#6

I tried reuploading the images. I think it should work now

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#7

In what general location did you have electrolysis? I’ve seen some pretty aggressive video’s of electrolysis being performed in different countries that made me cringe with fear for the skin.

With electrolysis or laser, hyperpigmentation can be a temporary side effect, but always fades. Interfering with the healing process, by using all kinds of remedies not called for, may not be helpful and may actually make things worse. Sun exposure can be another culprit. I don’t know enough about your “particulars” to understand why there is prolonged darkening there. Your next step is to follow doctor’s advice on cosmetic options because you waited a long time to heal and it isn’t working.

Do you have any BEFORE pictures?

#8

I had electrolysis done while going to school in a small midwest town, where there weren’t many options. I managed to stay out of the sun throughout the treatment process but I may have prematurely started going back out in the sun, after my last session. I waited about 6-8 weeks before I started being exposed to the sun again. In hindsight, I guess this wasn’t long enough.

I don’t have any pictures pre-electrolysis unfortunately, I will look around if I do.

I spoke with a dermatologist, and he suggested glycolic acid peels and microdermabrasion, though he didn’t seem optimistic since according to him, the skin has already healed by now, so I’m lacking in optimism as well.

#9

Mystery solved! In talking with DJ355, it appears he has been plucking the area post electrolysis ( I thought those lines looked awful tidy) .

For the benfit of anyone who does not know, hyperpigmentation always resolves within 18 months, because that is when the skin has completed it’s healing process ( usually before that). However, if you continue to cause more hyperpigmentation then it will take just as long to diminish. Plucking, waxing, threading laser, and electrolysis ALL cause hyperpigmentation and so unless you cease all of these things new hyperpigmentation can still develop. Amoung those particularly prone to hyperpigmentation are olive complexioned people, such as you might find in greece, the middle east, and neibouring areas such as pakistan.

Hope this information helps a few people currently posting :slight_smile:

Seana

#10

I had one client, a young white woman who developed hyperpigmentation after using an over the counter medication on a cold sore in the lower corner of her mouth. Months later, she had hyperpig and went to a dermatologist, who ordered a prescription. I don’t know what it was, but it didn’t help. I saw her last week for a touch up on her chin and the hyperpig is still there after a little over two years. It is not as bad, but it is still there.

Seana made some good points. All I can say is 99.9% of hyperpig resolves on its own in 3 weeks??? to 18 months??? I scraped my ankle in the summer of 2016 getting off my exercise bike. The pedal hit my ankle as it was still moving and I had a 3 inch cut. I still exhibit signs of the skin healing - a brown line that is much better than it was 6 months ago, but it is still there.

#11

If I cease plucking and wear sunscreen each time I go out now, given that my skin has already healed from electrolysis, will that be enough for the hyperpigmentation to fade?

I’m a little doubtful, what should I do to speed up the process?

#12

I don’t know. You can always try.

Over the counter remedies are usually not strong enough. Another professional opinion was suggested before. Are you amenable to that idea?

#13

I’m definitely willing to give other cosmetic stuff a try.

Generally, which are more effective- glycolic acid peels or topical creams? And most definitely, I will avoid the over-the-counter ones, because I don’t seem to have much luck with them!

#14

I developed some weird itchy dark spots on my back in 2014. I went to a dermatologist and was given a preliminary diagnosis of macular amyloidosis, becker’s nevus, and PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation). After a biopsy, it was determined to be PIH.

The dermatologist then prescribed a mixture of tretinoin, hydroquinone and a steroid cream. After 6 months of applying it twice a day, I still didn’t have any improvement.

After that didn’t work, he wanted to prescribe another cream (I don’t remember the name right now), that was extremely expensive. I opted not to pay that much given the failure of the previous topical treatments…

He then recommended ruby laser treatment and did a test patch of 3 different settings. A few weeks later, you could clearly identify the three test areas and we went with the setting that provided the best result. 3 treatments and $1500 later, I still see those 3 distinct test patches, but it doesn’t look like my pigmentation faded any.

Taking my knowledge of PIH as an electrologist, I decided to do what I should have done to begin with and just let it heal itself. It’ll be a year since my last treatment soon and the PIH is still there. The main reason why I even considered treatment in the first place, is the itching can become unbearable at times, but the failed treatment has probably aggravated the situation more. The itching is still there and perhaps I should see another dermatologist, but I have an ugly scar now from the punch used to take the biopsy.

TLDR - consider just leaving it alone and letting it heal rather than trying to force it to heal or else you might prolong the problem.

#15

Skin can be a real challenge. Dee Dee agree’s with EE! If you are “gotta do something type of guy”, then do what you think will make you feel better, but know that Mother Nature is smarter than all of us, if you are patient.

So, the area treated has nor hair growth?

#16

My head exploded …

Hummm … the term is “Post INFLAMMATORY hyperpigmentation.” That means the pigmentation is caused when your skin is inflamed!

Tweezing out hairs, getting laser treatments, using various peels and creams, ALL … hold on to your butt … CAUSE INFLAMMATION!

Dude, you are working against yourself BIG TIME! I have 40-years of watching PIH from electrolysis totally go away. YOU ARE MAKING IT WORSE!

Really, I can’t recommend anything … I “give up!” Oh, FIRE your dermatologist!

#17

[size:23pt][color:#CC0000]KABOOM! [/color][/size]

#18

I’ll just leave this here:

I love how what I’ve said consistently, is only now sinking in . YES…PLEASE…leave it alone.

Seana

#19

Dee Dee and Seana … you made me laugh.

To the original dude … maybe this might answer a couple questions for you? check it out …

#20

Yes, the area treated has pretty much no hair grownth left, just thin hairs that I’ll just trim rather than pluck, thanks to everyone’s advice.

I’m fine with taking a no action approach, but my worry now is that the 2.5 years of sun exposure that I prematurely I got. How is that going to affect/impair the disappearance of PIH?