No, this is not so. I can not remain silent while you think your skin could not withstand the electrolysis treatments without being marked forever. There are ways to reduce the damage necessary to destroy the hair, so that hyperpigmentation is minimized as much as possible. However, you should allow time for the skin to do its job and the inevitable damage (although minimal) to be repaired.
I am hoping to see a dermatologist soon. The last place I checked was booked until August unfortunately.
I’ll definitely focus on seeing one when I can though.
Since this is an Internet forum, it shouldn’t be a problem that I’m asking redundant questions. You guys are my only source of info. I plan on seeing a Derm but I don’t think they’ll know the inner workings of electrolysis like you guys do.
I’m clearly worried but I’m not hurting you by asking questions that are posed to the forum and not to anyone specifically.
BTW - I’m not asking my electrologist these questions because this is about her technique and I do not want to criticize her since I’m not a professional and this could all very well be PIH (and I’m just being too self-conscious). Plus, she’s really nice! I don’t want to ruin our rapport.
I think the answer I was getting from everyone here (Josefa included) - was that what I have is PIH.
But what I was asking if there was a situation where it could be permanent - because then I would point out if that situation fit what happened when I had the session-in-question (that caused all of this). Like improper insertion/ tugging at the hairs / too much energy / etc.?
So the purpose of these questions is whether I should continue. Based on your remarks, you make it seem like I’m not cut out for this. I’ve had several LHR and PIH before tons of times - they all went away (except for 2-3 spots which is really my own fault for getting LHR done with a LightSheer 11+ years ago). I want to get rid of this hair - clearly that’s obvious.
Don’t you think it’s normal for a customer to be skeptical? I am a Fitzpatrick V and have permanent hyperpigmentation from LHR - and while LHR is not electrolysis, my frame of mind is that of being worried.
@josefa
I don’t want you to remain silent. I was hoping to hear from you.
I do “get it” … really.
But please consider that all of us zapperettes (“zapperini” in my case), can only give you information based on our academic readings and our personal experiences. I don’t think any of us have ever seen a situation wherein anything from electrolysis causes “permanent hyperpigmentation.” And, I suppose that’s the beauty of it.
I wouldn’t even want to get into the issues you postulate, such as “improper insertions, tugging at the hairs, too much energy, etc.,” because there is no bona fide direct cause/effect … well yes, overtreatment can cause increased PIH. All of this “fiddle faddle” could give you even more consternation about the treatment (since you would then be evaluating every insertion the electrologist makes?) Now, that would be just “groovy!”
Yesterday, I finished-up radiation for my big fat disgusting skin cancer (face). The oncologist looked at the lovely burned-out lesion and remarked that he’d “never seen a reaction quite like mine … hummmm, interesting.” So, there you have it.
He also said, “I’m now 95% cured of the cancer.” Of course, I could focus on the 5% of the thing coming back. I chose to focus on the 95% … and I’m going to Disneyland next week! Really!
Sorry that you “wanted Josefa” and you only got ME! Tee hee … Indeed, she would be much “softer” in her answer, but you are going to get the same response from her. If you want electrolysis, you are going to have to assume some risk, albeit miniscule.
Josefa also knows how to show the fangs from time to time… especially when a person is not getting the treatment for which she has paid.
I suspect that the hyperpigmentation is not improving because the follicle has not been disabled, the regrowth of a previously treated hair, attached to an unfinished process of healing, results in a worsening appearance.
Although to be fair, good quality photos always reflect a worse appearance than reality… except when the target captured by the camera is the inside a room.
Thanks for the response, Michael, Josefa.
Actually, in those spots (and I got some new ones around my bicep) - my electrologist had to free up some hairs that were pinned down underneath the skin.
The hair had grown back I guess but it was stuck in the skin. This gave it a bumping dark appearance.
I’m just using an exfoliating scrub at the moment. I think I’ll stop treatments after my next session to do the 2-month-wait test. Then reassess.
That’s a good plan! BRAVO!
“Ingrown hairs” from electrolysis … oh brother! Yep, these will (as Jossie says) cause prolonged PIH (keeps the skin inflamed).
One of my recurring mantras is, “a soft treatment can yield hard (negative/permanent) results.”
Get in and kill the follicle the FIRST TIME.
“Saving the skin” from electrolysis (and not dispatching the follicle outright) is an insane idea and causes more skin damage. The most serious result is “pebbling,” and this only happens by treating the same follicle over and over. There is no “breaking down process,” just substandard work.
I’m going to update the status of my hyperpigmentation for awhile.
Here is the current state of things, at a little over 3 months:
Some notes:
My electrologist retreated some of the same hyperpigmented spots to loosen up some hairs that seemed to be stuck under the surface. As a result, the dark splotches seem bigger.
There are several spots on my bicep now too. About 2 months ago, my electrologist treated some hairs there.
The two pink spots are a rash. I am a researcher at my school and am allergic to the mice there.
I think the picture makes it look slightly worse than it is. It’s still unseemly though.
In the end, all the hair regrew…
I’m going to stop treatments for awhile, and hope things return to normal.
Josefa, you were right.
I saw my electrologist recently. They went through and had to tweeze a bunch of hairs in many of the spots in my most recent picture.
When I say tweeze - there was no tugging.These hairs slipped out like nothing.
The hyperpigmentation is still visible (looks disfiguring) but I think taking out the ‘ingrown (dead) hairs’ helped. Hoping this will resolve in time…
I do not know what happened. Of course, your skin will improve, but all those ingrown hairs …
My impression is that those hairs were badly treated. The fact that they have offered no resistance, does not mean they are dead. When ingrown hairs have remained some time trapped under the skin, the links that keep the root attached to the anchorage zone disappear, and when the hair is being released, makes it easily, as in shedding phase.
This is a case of arm with a skin similar to yours.
April 2012. Before
April 2014. After:
The above photos are the forearm. The photo below is the upper arm, treated in recent months. As you can see, there are still signs of hyperpigmentation, but no ingrown hairs.
A little side note: These arms had some laser sessions before being treated with Electrolysis.
Thanks Josefa.
Yes, I think my electrologist’s technique is not consistent. My left arm has barely any hyperpigmentation.
My right arm has it all over.
I am going to call my electrologist soon and tell them I am taking a break for the summer.
Where this is something within reasonable limits, I would not worry about hyperpigmentation which always disappears. What is unfortunate and sad that you go through this unpleasant side effect in exchange for a % kill rate so limited. 
Don’t worry about the pigmentation. It will go…mine has just about disappeared on back but arms completely gone and i heal very slow turned out I was deficient in vitamins I’m now taking daily vitamin supplement. The skin on arm is thin so more prone…but my arm looked exactly like that when I started treatments…Things that I found helped reduce pigmentation…needle used…pOwer and correct technique and that depends on the person preforming your electrolysis. Believe it or not some people get treated and have no pigmentation at all its very strange but true. I’ll post my pics I have an old thread where you can see my results for upper arms.
Hello Geeeza01, long time no hear from you!
Are you still seeing Follizap? if so give him a big hug from me please. 
Hello Josefa X How are you? I sent you a email a while back but had no reply so i guessed you were very busy which I have seen first hand so understandably so. for anyone reading Josefa and Follizap were my electrolgists. I’m very happy with the results. Not heard from Follizap for a while but now you mentioned it I just text him to see what’s new
You’re right, I should be more dedicated to answer my emails. Working for 12 hours a day is not an excuse. Last Wednesday, I started the day with a girl from Ireland, for an hour. Then I worked with a woman from Holland, for 5 ½ hours (actual hours). And again with the girl of Ireland for another 2,5 hours. Total actual work, 9 hours. Total time away from home, 12 hours. And so are most of my days. Please do not pity me, I’ll do it for both. 
Although I did not answer your emails, I always read them, and I am very happy to receive them. 
Note here on my emails … I realize I accidentally deleted about 15 emails. So, sorry if somebody didn’t get a response.
I’m not all that good with “texting” and emails, and don’t seem to ever “book” anybody unless I hear a real human voice on the phone! I “fiddle” (chit chat) with emails, but when I hear a real live person, then I know they’re serious about getting zapped (in my mind anyway).
Don’t kill yourself Jossie!
When my male clients are finished-up, they get a membership in the “Brotherhood of the Hair.” My completed women get a membership to the “Sisterhood of the Moustache.” It’s “cuz” we FOCUS! On minutia … compulsively!
As an operator, I get annoyed with the OCD types. I read LDLD’s protracted missives and want to say, “Dude, give it up already; it’s fine, you will be fine, your zapper did a good job, ‘forget about it’.” I suspiciously read that another Hairtell regular alleges having “interviewed 30 electrologists and still can’t fine ‘the right one’!” THIRTY?
Then, of course, I have to remind myself “I’m one too.” Like they say, “If you spot it, you got it!” It’s like this …
Picture it: I’m painting a room. I’m sanding the walls to absolute perfection and it’s the middle of the night. My nephew comes up behind me and says, “Uncle Cletus, you need counseling!”
See, I was using a flashlight and my surgical telescopes (in the dark) to sand the walls to flawlessness. NUTS! (I’ve been known to use Q-tips to clean the baseboards in my office.)
And, that’s what so many of us “hair obsessed” people do. Oh my, the many women that see a tiny pimple, a “no-see-‘em” scar and kids ready too “off” themselves because of unwanted hairs.
I get annoyed, but have to remember that I do it too! It takes one to know one? Now, where did I put that flashlight?
It’s okay Josefa you don’t answer to me and being busy is a reason especially when I have seen what you do and how you do it…But once booking is open again lol let me know…I hear it is a long list! Your husband is a patient man. Your lucky your business is more or less family orientated and they can understand better.
soon everyone fromaround the world will have visited you god willing.
I hope I’ll be fine, but do you really think it was good of my electrologist to use high energy, and stay in the follicle longer than ‘average’ in an area that is sensitive? I believe Josefa said this area was ‘high risk’ and that precautions must be taken.
My electrologist took no precautions. They treated the area as if it were any other area on my arms.