I had a consult for electrolysis today. I’ve had electrolysis done in the past, about 15 years ago. The kind I had done then was just regular electrolysis where they just stick the probe in and pull the hair out. Today the lady uses the blend method where I hold a thing in my hand while she’s doing it.
Anyway, she did a handful of hairs at the consult appt. and it didn’t really hurt just felt weird. She did a few on the side of my face and a few on my upper lip. The area was a little red (like a sunburn) when I left. That’s similar to what I experienced in the past. It’s been about 5 hours now and I noticed small red circles where she did the hairs today. They are not raised or hurt, just red. That side of my face feels warm to me too. Not warm to the touch, just a warm feeling. Is this normal for this blend method? She said she uses stainless steel probes and sometimes people are allergic to stainless steel. I mentioned if I wear earrings that are not gold my ears get irritated and she said that was an allergic reaction to the stainless steel earrings. Do you think I am having a reaction to the steel probe and that’s why the area is red? She said she can order gold probes but I would have to pay for them.
Mhmm, a steel probe costs me about 50 ct, and a gold probe between 60 ct and 1 EUR.
Especially when i did DYI blend in my face my impression was that the healing was slighly better when i used gold probes. But the difference was smaller than You described. I do not think i have a nickel allergy (but many others :()
I never had red circles, just larger or smaller local inflammation spots - similar to what i would also effect from a slight local allergic reaction.
BTW: a warm feeling indicates that Your body does somehow work to heal the wound caused by the epilation. Well known to me especially if i am getting thick hair treated in my face (there is still a whole bunch of them… annoying)
I had the consult on tuesday and today is saturday. I still have the small red circles. They’re not super noticable but she only did a few. I’m a little worried if she does a whole area and I’m going to have red circles for a week. Anyone know what this is caused from and how long it will take to go away?
Pin point scabbing is a possible reaction. Don’t pick at them. They are temporary and nature’s band-aid.
Use moisturizers and wash with gentle cleansers.
These pin-point scabs do not necessarily form as a result of a metal allergy nor is it a sure sign of over-treatment.
However, if you want gold probes, pay extra for them or just find another electrologist who uses them as part of their general therapy. You might even like insulated probes. My suggestion is - seek out an electrologist who has all types of probes on hand as part of their hair removal arsenal.
What aftercare did your electrologist recommend?
Most electrologists will tell about about the possibility of pin-point scabs. They will also present you with a list of, “Electrolysis Aftercare Do’s and Don’ts”
Don’t work yourself into a tizzy over the red pin point scabbing, Just make sure not to pick at them. They heal and fall off by themselves. It might take longer for you to heal. Not everyone has the same reaction.
Thanks Arlene, but they are not scabs. It’s hard to explain but they kind of look like flat pimples. They are smooth and almost perfectly round. They are just red circles.
Your skin is going through a natural process of healing. A week is nothing to get worried about. This will fade. You will be fine. We call these temporary side effects. We are affecting tissue that causes hair growth. Would you rather have small, red, flat dots for a little while or hair? Again, time is needed for the healing process. You will be fine.