need help - burned by Candela GentleYAG!

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I have loved & had great results with the GentleYAG until recently. It seems the only change is the tech who is operating the machine. Ever since the new person came in, I have had some issues with each treatment. The last time, however, was the worst. I was burned 4 times on my jawline.

I never had one issue with the previous tech (used her for over 5 years) & she even treated me during my whole pregnancy at one point! I’m currently pregnant (8 1/2 months), but have not made any changes or introduced anything new to my skin or body. The tech said it was probably a cryogen burn & would go away, but it has been two months & it actually seems more defined & darker! I have tan skin with very dark hair. I tan & scar very easily. The scars I have stay forever & barely fade over 5 years period. I’m mortified to go out in public!

Does anyone have any tips on how to reduce or completely get rid of these burn marks? Also, should I continue with my treatments? Do you think the tech could be to blame? She claims to be using the same settings. Please help! Any tips are GREATLY appreciated!

#2

It should fade, but will take a long, long time. Some of my clients are using products recommended by their dermatologists for such spots. One told me last night that she is using a Obagi routine to lighten up her spots.

Was the cryrogen turned on? Why are you still getting treatments after five years? Is it working? How thick are the hairs? You may really need electrolysis.

#3

You should talk to a dermatologist. They can provide some creams that will speed things up.

But you need to talk to your clinic. Whatever settings your previous tech used were obviously good and they should have them noted somewhere. So you can ask the new tech to use the same ones.

#4

Thanks for your reply! I have seen a dermatologist, but they don’t want to do anything until after my baby is born. I wish the spots weren’t so obvious. People ask me about them all the time even when I have makeup on! It’s extremely embarrassing being on my face. I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone.

She claims to have had the cryogen turned on & with the same settings as the previous tech. I haven’t been going continuously for five years. There were some periods that I wouldn’t go back for a good 4 months so she said it was like starting over. The hairs started over very course, but they are fine now.

#5

Thanks for your input! I have seen a dermatologist & they won’t be able to do anything until after baby’s born. The only thing they said they would do after he’s born is have my put hydroquinone cream 8% on every day. It’s a bleach/lightening cream.

The tech claims to be using the same exact setting as the previous tech. I don’t know how true that is, but that’s what she says.

#6

I would suggest that you use ELURE ( www.elureskin.com ) It is an amazing cream that breaks down pigment WITHOUT HURTING THE SKIN. We have done several trials on it and it works VERY WELL on CRYOGEN burns.

#7

Hi ap222,
I hope you don’t mind another point of view.
I find it very strange that you have been treated during your pregnancy. Maybe this is allowed in the US, but in the UK it is illegal. The reasons are numerous, but one of them is that hormonal changes during pregnancy are known to make some people with genetical predisposition sensitive to UV light resulting in melasma - pigmentary change to the skin on the face in a very speciffic pattern. Not enough is known on the subject, but if connection between hormones during pregnancy and sensitivity to light is proven to exsist, precautions like not using laser during pregnancy are logical. Hormonal changes during pregnancy are also known to activate acne in some mothers.
Usually, when you only have a few burnt spots, the fault lies with the application technique of the operator, but it could be a combination of factors that have led to the burn.
Unfortunatelly, there aren’t that many really effective treatments for pigmentation and as far as I am aware all of them are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding since they pass into your bloodsream and from there through placenta or breastmilk to your baby. One thing you can do is always wear SPF50 in summertime to prevent further aggrivation of your skin.
I wish you good luck and hope your skin improves after you have your little boy and you get help from dermatologist!

#8

Even if you took 4 months off here and there, you shouldn’t need more than 6-8 treatments spaced 2 months apart on any area. When the hair is no longer coarse, laser isn’t working and you’re wasting money.

#9

Geri is right about not using creams during pregnancy. You are almost there so I would wait until your delivery before using any creams. Skin is usually more sensitive during pregnancy. In the U.S. there are no restrictions on treating THE FACE with laser during pregnancy. Policies vary by Clinic. I would also be careful about using 8% Hydroquinone.

#10

I am raving about Rosehip Oil in another thread but perhaps you can try that for now?

I have been recommending it on another forum as well (you’d think I’m getting commission!) and a lady near the end of her pregnancy pm’ed to thank me; she said it had helped fade her pregnancy induced melasma.

I think the link must be somewhat proven. Most birth control pills mention melasma/chloasma as a possible side effect.

#11

Since the Rosehip has vitamin C it would help skin, as skin needs vitamin C and zinc to heal properly and keep a proper balance between collagen and elastin.

#12

There is no law in the Uk that forbids laser treatment during pregnancy. It all depends on your insurance company - if of course the clinic has insurance. Now that the CQC has deregulated us, we have no-one telling us what we can or cant do, except for a few London Boroughs who have themselves organised enough to licence us.

Not a good idea though of course, but no law

#13

Hi, I’m having a similar reaction from a Gentlelase so I thought I’d post on the same thread.

I’ve had laser done on my whole arms four weeks ago and my thighs and bikini area 3 weeks ago. It was the 7th session for my arms (my 1st with an Alexandrite, previous ones were Diode) and the first for my bikini area. Since last week, I’ve noticed a few dark spots on my bikini area and hipbone. It didn’t bother me much, I thought they would probably fade after a few weeks. And I thought maybe some spots were due to ingrown hair.

Yesterday, I noticed that I have a few of this similar spots on my upper arms too, but only on a small portion of my left upper arm. They are not that dark (I can still wear sleeveless tops), but they’re there. My thighs have a row of these spots too, although they are much lighter. My skin is a bit darker in the groin/hip area and that’s where the noticeable spots are.

I didn’t think that this could possibly be Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, but it seems like it is? I just googled and apparently PIH appears weeks after the procedure. Just when I thought I was safe. And wow, most of the stuff online say this thing can actually last for years?

The strange thing for me is that I didn’t really experience itchiness or discomfort. The spots were just suddenly there. And not even immediately after the procedure.

The machine used on me was Candela Gentlelase. Settings were 14J,18MM for the whole arms and 16J/18MM for the thighs and bikini (although when I really couldn’t handle it any more, I asked for the settings to be lowered to 14J. But that was only for like the last 10 clicks). I really pushed for these settings because I want the treatment to be as effective as possible. I’ve never had any reaction on the arms on my previous Diode treatments. I’m a Skin Type III (light-skinned Asian).

Does this mean I should discontinue my Alexandrite treatments? Or treat with lower joules (which will be like discontinuing treatments as well, right)? But I treated such a large surface area and these burns showed up only on small parts. I don’t know if I should discontinue. However, if I continue, the rest of my arms and thighs can possibly be covered with these spots on my succeeding sessions. Should I risk it?

Also, I read about cryo burns just now. This is a whole new knowledge for me. This is a particularly interesting study. Prior to my treatment, I really read up on Alexandrite and Gentlelase settings, but I didn’t bother with the DCD setting. It never occurred to me that hyperpigmentation can be caused by that thing which was put there to protect your skin. Aside from the built-in cryo spray, the clinic I went to also had a zimmer cooling thing that was blowing cool air all throughout my treatment. It was such a relief to have, but now I’m wondering if that caused these burns? But it really just felt like targeted air-conditioning, it’s hard to imagine it doing any damage.

For those who have experienced cryo burns, can this be resolved by simply lowering the DCD setting as the study suggests?

#14

What are the sizes of the spots ??? Can you post some pictures.
If the slider window was dirty and the tech did not notice, you could get marks. DCD is important but if the Cryo was blowing, perhaps they lowered the DCD and that may have been the culprit.

#15

I agree, pictures would be helpful. We can’t comment intelligently without them.

Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, if it occurs, usually develops a few days to a week or so after treatment. As the name implies, the first response is severe edema and erythema (redness), which usually turns into hyperpigmentation as it subsides. This almost always resolves on its own accord, but sometimes may benefit from intervention (bleaching).

Can’t comment on the cryogen or cooling system without knowing the specific parameters. In any case, a couple things in your case are concerning:

  1. The treatment of your upper arms. Most people do not have coarse, dark hair in this region. It is also very susceptible to induced growth. Please check out the FAQ.
  2. Persons of Asian descent are more prone to hyperpigmentation post laser. The reason is that skin cells in such individuals are more dense, compact and numerous, meaning that they have underlying pigment. That poses a problem, because light-toned Asian individuals are still actually types IV and higher (even if they appear light, like you), and thus not amenable to good alex settings.

Be sure to apprise the clinic of your reaction. Re should you continue treatments? If the hyperpigmentation–assuming that’s what you have–completely resolves by your next treatment, I’d say you’re ok. Otherwise, your skin is simply not amenable to this laser (at least with good settings), and you should head for Nd:YAG.

PS: It’s actually more helpful if you post in your original thread. That way, we can track your specific treatments better, etc. :wink:

#16

thanks for replying. Upon your suggestion, I started a new thread and posted a bunch of pictures. Hope you can help me out there :slight_smile: