i started my first electrolysis treatments last week (thermolysis)–i’ve had 6 treatments total so far. i’m having my chin and lip treated–2 spots that ive tweezed for a couple years. the hair on my lip is still pretty fine, but the hair on my chin had become pretty coarse. just about all of the hair has been removed now, but i have been left with very noticable red marks on my chin–they’re not raised, so it makes me think its scarring. i dont know what to do! should i keep getting electrolysis or should i stop because my skin isnt reacting well to it? does anyone know if this is a temporary reaction and if it will fade soon? after my treatments, i’ll have a few small red bumps, and they’d always go down within an hour or so, but i’ve been noticing that these dark purplish-red spots seem to be getting worse and worse with each treatment and they’re not going away!
please help!
Hi Brika,
First of all - you started last week and have had 6 treatments? That is too much. A treatment every day? On the same area that is toooooo much.
The appropriate treatment schedule would be once a week - even if you were tweezing daily.
Redness and swelling are appropriate reactions to treatment, but purplish is not. It is hard to determine what might be wrong here, without seeing your skin, but I believe that you might be experiencing overtreatment.
Usually, if a person is tweezing a lot, their skin can handle a lot of treatment, so I am concerned with the reaction - but it still goes back to 6 treatments in one week. Too much.
So, let me ask you a couple of questions. 1. Do you feel anything when the electrologist inserts the probe? 2. What does it feel like when the hair comes out? - Does it feel like when you tweezed, or does it slide out easily?
Scarring is a rare thing in electrology - even if poor techniques are used. Back off on the treatments. Shave between treatments, but leave a days growth when you go back. Use witch hazel to soothe the skin.
Talk to your electrologist about your concerns. People seem to be afraid to ask questions about their concerns. If the electrologist becomes upset about your concerns, then you might not want to return to them, and find another practitioner.
Do return and let us know how this turns out.
Best to you!
i’m sorry, i didnt explain myself well–i’ve been having electrolysis for 2 weeks, and 6 treatments total. my hair grows fast and all the hairs are not on the same schedule, and as soon as they pop up, i want them gone. i cant bear to bring a razor to my face and i dont want to pluck because i’ve been told that i’m not supposed to do that after starting electrolysis. so that’s why ive had so many treatments–to try to clear everything as soon as it popped up.
i dont think i feel anything when she inserts the probe, i’ll have to pay more attention, i think it’s the zap that i sometimes feel a little bit. when she does my chin it really doesnt hurt much–its my lip that hurt a little bit more, but i still could bear it–but my lip doesnt have any of these markings. also, my chin has had more electrolysis treatments on it than my lip. when the hair comes out, it sometimes feels like it slides out, other times it feels a litle like she has to pull it a little bit. like i had mentioned before, the hairs in my chin are deeply rooted and thick, so i thought this might be normal in the beginning.
my last treatment was on saturday, and my next one is scheduled for tuesday, but i am definitely going to tell her about my concerns and try to back off on treatments now.
i think barbara is right. you’re having too many treatments on the same area and irritating your skin. you shouldn’t have the same area done more than once a week, skin needs time to heal. that takes about a week. you shoudl clip or shave hairs in between treatments, but slow them down to once a week. also, are you using proper aftercare? what are you doing to help the skin heal?
I’m also in agreement. Three treatments per week is too much for the same areas. I will only see a client once a week for any same area. Your skin needs time to heal.
Dee
I agree that your treatments have been too frequent. Your skin needs time to heal, especially when the hairs that have been removed are tough and coarse. You will have to clip the hairs between treatments.
Tell your electrologist that you want to schedule once a week. If she refuses to do this then I would consult with a different electrologist. Please let us know how your treatments progress for you.
Lisa
I just can’t help but wonder what our member “Viewer” thinks about this. Since we all give such bad advise here, I am surprised that she has not come in to save us all from misinformation.
I’m also in agreement. Three treatments per week is too much for the same areas. I will only see a client once a week for any same area. Your skin needs time to heal.
What about on large areas? You still can’t go more than once a week? I don’t understand why.
Hi Chuck.
Large areas on the body are okay to revisit more than once a week. We’re referring to the upper lip, specifically, as well as other facial areas.
Dee
If the treatments are reduced will the purplish scarring go away or is this permanent damage?
also is lotion containg Vit E & Aloe Vera ok for after treatment?or do u need to use corticosteroid creams?
Wow,James didn’t know you’d miss me on my vacation. I almost missed this one as I don’t have time to read everything. Didn’t think I needed to post,but since you inadvertantly solicited my opinion–I agree with what is said. Sometimes I post this but didn’t think I needed to as it has been repeated.
What I disagree with is advising clients to choose a professional by equiptment or supplies or the client not communicating with the person who is treating them.
I think that Joanie (need to hear more here–must be very busy) Barbara, and Arlene also give top notch advice.
And some people have really great things to talk about until they talk about technology as a trademark is not technology. Electrology and laser aren’t limited by technology (or lack there of) they are limited by the body’s ability to take it. It is called overtreatment. Oh that is the topic of this thread.
I don’t think a client needs to think they are not getting the best treatment because of brand. I like the probes with disposable caps because of sterilization conviniece. That doesn’t make ballet any worse or better. In fact I thought that Mantaray, the guy who was at med school (he isn’t an MD but he went there) was from decto until he recommended ballet over pro-tech. Isn’t that too much for the client to concern themselves with? And speaking of Joanie and probes, go back and read her post about gold and the skinning effect.
How many of the 12,000 members are porn sites etc? Wow, I didn’t consider myself a member until you called me one. Thank you?
Any way I am booked solid for the next two weeks (six days), and there is a lot happening in my personal life. So keep encouraging skill over tools, touching personal stories (brings tears to my eyes and softens my crust). And stop calling me and others like me bad electrologists. I almost forgot spare us the late night TV.
There is a really funny episode of King of the Hill where Hank has to take care of a cat for his old military unit. He takes it to a Vet, (as in animal doctor) and that Vet insists on running test after test after test before he will sign a paper saying that the cat is in good health so Hank can get credit for having properly cared for the cat. The doctor won’t sign the paper until the end of the show when Hank finds out that he has a machine in his office that is ONE GENERATION BACK from the most advanced machine of its type, and threatens to tell his other customers that he has not thought enough of them to upgrade.
People like you misunderstand what has come of a discussion that came out from the question of how skill in this trade effects good treatment. The point of the equipment was that computerized epilators have a lower learning curve, and even presets, so that there is less chance of bad treatment, as a person has extra crutches to rely on with computerized machines. Later, as they get better at it, they can do things on the computerized machines that simply can’t be done on the analogue machines. It is still about skill. It just so happens that a skilled practitioner working with a superior machine can get more comfortable results, and remove more hairs per hour.
These are the facts that have lead some to decide that they want to accept nothing less than finding a well skilled electrologist with the top of the line equipment, good speed, and the lowest post treatment skin irritation. It is really no different from selecting the car mechanic with a lift over the car mechanic with jack stands and a rolling creeper. One can get the job done faster and with less need to disturb other systems in the car.
If this has never been clear enough for you or anyone else, I hope it is now.
It has also been said that the flip side of these newer machines is that when misused, they can do much more damage, as the client can be perfectly comfortable while the improper treatment destroys their skin. We really have discussed that.
In the end, the official advise of this site is, and has always been; “Go and get consultations and sample treatments from everyone you can find to see in your area before you pick one to be your electrologist. The differences will astound you.”
After all, in some cases, the best person in town is a new grad with outdated equipment purchased used after completing classes. Someplace else, the best person for the job will be a 20 year veteran who does continuing education and replaces and upgrades equipment regularly. In some cases, the best option is to go someplace else requiring a long drive, or even a plane ride.
Sorry if the increased scrutiny and longer question and answer sessions have made you and others uncomfortable. One would think that your consultations and sample treatments would speak for themselves.
Hi Chuck,
It is OK to have several treatments on a large area in a single week, as long as any one area does not become over treated. This can happen anywhere on the body, but it is much more serious on the face as that is the first area that people notice about a person.
One of the problems with overworking the facial area is that the collagen layer is thinner there than on other areas like the torso. Overworking the face will result in damage to the collagen layer resulting in deep pitting and scaring. Not a good thing. This condition can be repaired by any competant dermatologist, but it does take time and costs a lot of money. Better to have less done at a time and prevent the damage in the first place.
Other areas to be careful of are the legs along the shinbone as the area does not get a lot of blood circulation and heals more slowly. This area has a greater chance of infection if overworked. The toes can also present problems as the skin in that area also has a lower blood supply, thick callus, and a different moisture gradient than most areas of the skin. It can sometimes be difficult to establish the proper power setting for the toes, which can lead to over treatment.
However you intend to proceed, it is very important to take good care of you skin during treatment. Eat a healthy diet, rich in natural vitamins like “C” and “A” which promote healthy blood vessels, which means good circulation and healing. Also, it is a good idea to make sure that you are getting adequate protein as the body will need these substances to effectively heal in the minimum amount of time. Besides a proper diet, proper sanitation and general cleanliness can not be over stressed, just do not overdo it in the freashly treated areas!
The final thing, and then I’ll shut up, is to stay properly hydrated if you are having a lot of work done in a short time frame. The better hydrated you stay through the course of treatment, the lower the power requirements are for proper treatment of the follicles and epilation. This means a lot less damage to the follicle areas and surrounding skin - which means better and quicker healing.
All the best,
Joanie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Speaking of quick healing, smokers don’t heal as quickly, or as well, and the smoking leads to hydration problems, and increased sensation during treatment (also known as pain).
Another thing I really hate to deal with is someone who has recently had too much enjoyment of alcoholic beverages.
This really takes the moisture out of the skin and requires power settings that defy all rational logic to get the hairs to come out properly. I’ve noticed that someone recouping from a blow-out type party takes at least 3 days to get anywhere near normal for hydration and sensitivity.
Not fun to deal with! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Isn’t it strange how people just ignore us on stuff like this?
After making an appointment 3 months ahead of time with me and receiving my instructions on pre-treatment preparation, I once had a smoking client show up at my office straight from a plane ride from Paris, where the weekend had been spent in the club scene and way more than alcohol was consumed. Guess who was thought to be the unreasonable person when I refused to treat under these ridiculous conditions.