I would really appreciate some advice and experience…
I am having electrolysis treatments on my arms, where the hairs are thick and dark. I have had it before on my face (where the hairs are fine) - and in that area I usually get tiny white dots after treatment, which turn into pinprick brown dots/scabs which fall off after about a week.
Because the hairs on my body are so much thicker and stronger, my electrolygist is using higher levels - which have resulted in larger scabs on my arm (about 1mm across). These are red but the skin between them isn’t irritated, and they don’t hurt.
I know that there are many posts on similar topics, but since most people have electrolysis on their faces, I’m still unclear as to whether or not this is normal. The scabs remain for 2-3 weeks before falling off, and I can’t see any marks remaining (although my skin was already quite messed up from waxing). I showed them to my electrolygist, who seemed unconcerned, and said that the hair couldn’t be killed at a lower heat, and that the scabbing was normal for the levels she was using.
I am happy with her in other respects - do you think I should trust her on this and is it normal to have different reactions on the face and the body? Is it OK that scabs take 2/3 weeks to fall off rather than a few days, as is usually stated on these forums? I often get a handful of hairs which start to grow back even before the scabs have fallen off (I know they were treated originally because they grow through the scabs) - are these a sign of bad treatment or simply hairs which were at the wrong stage to be killed?
and
How long should I wait between treatments - is it OK to treat right after the scabs have fallen off, or should I wait for longer to reduce the risk of scarring?
First off, body work is very different from facial work. So it would be normal to have this different reaction.
Second, I would use Tea Tree Oil overnight on the first, if not for up to three days after treatment. This will reduce, or eliminate the white spots, and scabbing.
Third, you should always check out the other practitioners in your area, to know what is available. If yours is the best, then you can be comfortable with your choice based on research. If someone else is better, you can decide what you want to do with that information. If others are the same, or close, then you know who you can visit if you need some work on a day when you can’t get in with your regular practitioner.
Body scabbing is normal. You will not scar. Scarring is long-term caused by repeated overtreatment. Scarring is very rare, but temporary skin reaction that clears in a couple weeks on the body is normal. Do use the tea tree oil. She’s not being dishonest with you, but maybe she can adjust the intensity and timing if she hasn’t done so already??? to see if the skin reaction can be minimized. You certainly don’t want her undertreating the hair or you will have too much regrowth.
You can also use some aloe vera gel 100% to help with the healing. It may feel a little sticky, but see how it goes for you.
I’m not concerned about this, but it’s good that you told her your concerns so she can try something different to minimize your skin reaction. You can treat the body area once a week if you want to. I frequently do marathon sessions on the arms and all goes well, but I’m using PicoFlash thermolysis. I don’t know what modality your practitioner is using or even how old her epilator is. She has her comfort zone, I’m sure, and you will still get permanent hair removal. If you haven’t sampled other electrologists in your town, then that would be useful. You may come full circle and realized that you had the best to begin with.
With the information you have provided, I would not be worried about scarring.
Thank you so much for your responses - you’ve set my mind at rest!
I have used Tea Tree Oil before, but not for electrolysis, and I found it very strong (giving a tingling feeling on application) and quite oily - would this be OK for electrolysed skin? Is there a particular concentration or preparation that I should be looking for - and should it be used undiluted?
I have only been able to find 99% aloe vera and I do use it, but it makes the skin very tight so I often wonder how much good it’s really doing?
Dee - I will try and find out the details of the modality and type of epilator and get back to you, as it would be useful to see how up-to-date her technology is.
Oh, and one other thing: electrologists are in the business of damaging tissue that causes hair to grow. This action is the same as any injury that one gets when the skins’ environment is disturbed. It’s called the inflammation process. Again, it is temporary and has nothing to do with scarring. If you had described interconnecting scabs and healing that takes weeks and weeks to heal, then we would be advising you to runnn fasssttt!!!