Hello. I had thermolysis electrolysis on my upper lip 4 months ago which led to discolored uneven skin texture, ongoing tingling, hypo and hyperpigmentation open pores and a few wrinkles. My lip feels dry and uncomfortable and I’m embarrassed to be seen in public. I’m covered with fine lines and discoloration. I think I was overrated. I’m wondering if anyone could recommend a skin care procedure or something that might help me though I’ve heard electrolysis damage is pretty much impossible to treat. Any suggestions are really appreciated.
Over treated *
Show some photos but time heals all of the electrolysis tissue trauma I have seen.
Not mine - shown in some of my oldest posts… These have improved over the years, but they are permanent.
Anyway: the healing process actually takes a lot longer than 4 months, rather something of the order of 1 1/2 years. So, if there are permanent lesions, it might be too early to do anything about them, especially heavy stuff like needling, fractional lasering (both act upon the skin in a similar way than well done electrolysis), deep peelings or even CO2-laser-ablation. All that stuff has been proposed to me.
All these methods have their risks. All these methods share a common thought, just less ore more radical: initiate a new wound healing and skin regeneration process. So it is quite obvious why it might be better to wair for the ongoing healing process to settle down.
@ OP
I am a Type IV-V skin tone. I have what may be permanent PIH. It’s been 5 months so far. The spots are very awful looking and ruin my arms so much so that I avoid wearing t shirts.
I can’t even imagine getting this done on the face. Although I have read and seen other people with similar skin tones getting good results (ofc from Josefa though).
Hopefully yours (and mine!) heals up.
Thanks for all the responses. I went to a skin care specialist today who recommended I get a facial to sloff off all the dead skin and then try using a lightner for the pigmented skin. I’m hoping this will help improve things a little bit. I have pictures but am unsure of how to upload them on here… It says the image is too big.
Nip this in the bud. To upload photos switch to full reply screen button to the right of the submit button. Look at post options and click on file manager to attach the photo. Either the or upload it to Flickr or photobucket and link it in your post.
Okay thank you I’m going to try that as soon as I get some time.
Also, by nip this in the bud are you referring to the facial or to the scarring? Sorry I have a hard time determining text sometimes lol. I just don’t want to do anything that might cause more damage.
No. It was more about getting the ball rolling on finding out what happened. Posts like these usually snowball into mass speculation and hysteria by new users. Without anything visual none of the professionals on here can really help you.
Please note that i am writing mainly as the victim of a massive overtreatment by facial electrolysis i was before i became an electrologist myself.
To both. Did You read what all those skin care specialists suggested to me? Did You check independent sources for effects to be expected and possible side effects? Without having seen Your pictures - there is a not so small probability that these treatments either lead to no visible improvement or even make it worse. For a lifetime.
My impression is that the majority of the skin care specialists at least here in Germany first of all are interested to raise their own income: many of them also suggested laser treatments for the removal of blonde and even the massive white (!) regrowth of my facial hair, when I searched for help with my scars.
Beate, did you find that your hyper-pigmentation faded in time?
I had only little hyperpigmentation which faded out.
One of my clients came to me with severe hyperpigmentation, apparently from previuos attempts to do electrolysis. Even that faded away but it took really long, not in “just a few months”.
Yes Beate, I agree with your statement on estheticians.
I will add that, at least here, estheticians try very hard to improve skin cases and believe in what they’re doing. (I love estheticians.) However, too many of them are VICTIMS themselves of fraud that is perpetrated by even well-established corporations. The esthetician’s genuine desire to help people gives them the predisposition to “believe in miracles.” I could “write a book” … maybe I will!
Historians termed the period between 1900 and 1922 the “Golden Age of Quackery” (in medicine). Today, we could call our era the “Diamond Age of Quackery” … at least in the beauty industry. Circumventing most FDA regulations, companies produce literally unbelievable products that unsuspecting and good-hearted estheticians “scoop up.” Estheticians eventually discover they were deceived. (I’m going to stop here … this post WILL get to be book size.)
However, there is then the Skeptical Esthetician … and they are growing in number. Like a good physician, they are not so fast to “jump on the bandwagon” and use new unsubstanciated products and techniques on clients. This group is also more educated and therefore more demanding of seeing clinical proof.
But beware here too … a LOT of “clinical proof” is total bunk: the “researchers” were paid-off and the papers were written to satisfy FDA requirements … and defraud the esthetician and client.
I know how this works “first hand.” I’m sorry to admit that I know a couple physicians that are “FDA paper-writing experts.” They are paid well (typically $30,000 for a study), and know exactly what to write to achieve FDA clearance. Who cares if they actually did any clinical testing?
One of the “dudes” did a clinical study for “Botox” (actually a legitimate drug). I was one of the “test subjects.” I didn’t pay much attention, and let him inject the stuff in my glabella. Later, I read the ingredients and was horrified; so I stopped after one injection. Later, I read his “study” and there I was … ME after a “full year’s study,” all written up like it really happened! It didn’t!
If you ever have the time and inclination, attend one of the big “Cosmetic Industry” convention/extravaganzas. Get ready to walk into a virtual Disneyland of “beauty therapy.” Indeed, there are legitimate products being showcased … but WOW the amazing silliness and downright fraud (millions spent on the displays). It’s FANTASTIC! I go every year, just to drive myself crazy! And, I AM!
What do you suggest I do? If you don’t mind sharing pictures of your scars I’d really like to see them. Id like to send you a picture of mine also, do you have an email? I don’t have much time to set up a photo bucket account to upload photos here.
Also, I saw a dermatologist recently who prescribed me tretinoin. 0.025 do you think his would help?
(Yes, tretinoin is excellent) … now …
(I’ll regret this.)
LDLD, hyperpigmentation does not “fade away.” It’s part of your immune/healing response and will diminish as the healing finishes up. (I think I wrote about this in great length in another thread?)
However, if this PIH is driving you crazy, you might find a physician who will do a series of steroid injections or oral medication (actually, corticosteroid hormones). Once the inflammation/healing is pretty much “stopped cold” by the steroids, the PIH will cease to be manufactured and the spots will then “fade away.”
Still, you probably won’t find a physician to do this. There are side-effect that probably outweigh the benefits. Still, if the PIH is “ruining your social life, etc.,” well that’s something to consider. I’ve done the “Medrol” (oral 'steroid) for specific conditions. It sort of made me aggressive and edgy, but it worked. (I went to the gym a lot too.) It didn’t kill me!
My neighbor just got a steroid injection for a hip problem. The next day or so, he told me he felt like fighting with somebody! The hip got better. Hormones are “interesting.”
So, there it is.
Michael, when I say ‘fade’, I am speaking as a laymen. Not as a molecular biologist or something.
What else would a ‘physician’ be able to tell me about this PIH and what possible treatments could they advise?
It is hyper-pigmentation. There are options. Topicals, lasers, peels, etc etc etc
I don’t want to run into more complications trying to get rid of this PIH. I am trying out Retin-A and hydroquinone. Beyond that, its just time.
And it is not that it’s ruining my ‘social life’ (don’t be glib) - its disturbing for me to look at my arm and see all those marks.
This isn’t a joke.
Not trying to be “glib” … I was trying to be “politically correct,” not hurt your feelings … and not get hammered for being “mean.”
(I don’t suppose I’ll ever get this right … too much “New York” still in me?)
I have no suggestions for you, other than those that have already been offered.
Anyway, here’s what I’m doing for this large post-surgery scar on my face from the cancer removed a couple months ago. I already know what it’s going to look like in a year or so (won’t be able to see it!). SO, my solution is … I don’t look at it! I’m not telling you anything here … just what I DO!
Sometimes you have to live with how you look. It’s not such a difficult thing.