Sensitive and Pale Skin

Hair Removal Methods Do-It-Yourself Electrolysis
#1

I bought a used instantron elite several months ago. My boyfriend and I have been practising with it cautiously and rereading the textbooks and workbooks.

The system works great for him. He experienced a very brief swelling and then healed up very well.

I’m not having the same experience. I’m working slowly on one of my legs, and have discovered that while I have a very high pain threshold, my skin is apparently very sensitive. I’ve tried multiple blend combinations and different intensities within the recommended range, but the results are the same. My pores are red and lightly scabbing red.

In my daily life, I don’t ever expose my skin to direct sunlight and am very very pale. When I do get exposed to sun, my skin burns and blisters within three hours of direct exposure. After a bruise heals, the skin remains a darker brown. I haven’t had more than five sunburns in my life. When I’m outside, I wear sunscreen, long sleeves, a wide brimmed hat and a parasol. I don’t believe I have any genetic impairment or condition. My skin is just hypersensitive. (By blood, I am Irish/Norwegian/German/North Italian.)

My machine is a blend and works very well worth good ranges and great consistency.

When I first started experimenting, I did not use an insulated needle. My skin was not happy, so I switched to an insulated F3 needle to match the size of my pores. This helped tremendously, but my skin is still scabbing. I am having a great deal of trouble finding a blend that is effective and does the least amount of damage.

My skin is very soft, not oily, not dry, and not prone to sweating. It heals nicely but slowly without scarring. I have very good circulation, don’t smoke, and am not a diabetic.

I have time on my side and am not in a hurry. I hope to study electrology professionally and get certified, but that’s a few years off and will require a move to an area with a school that offers it.

The pores are red and there is some light scabbing. There is no indication that pitting or scarring will result after watching over a month of healing. But I itch! I’m scratching the treated area in my sleep, and that’s causing more damage than the electrolysis.

I’ve been looking at thinning as opposed to clearing. I’m using aloe and tea tea gel for healing. Should I stop using RF and stick with galvanic?

Is there a rule of thumb with sensitive skin?

Is there a good resource online or a good book that discusses how to work with sensitive skin?

#2

Everyone (and I do mean everyone) thinks they have “sensitive skin.” Your legs are scabbing not from “sensitive skin,” but the physical location of the treatment. Body extremities like arms, hands, legs and feet are not as vascular as the face and will, sometimes scab and on occasion, leave temporary pinpoint hypopigmentation. Everything you describe sounds normal.

#3

I totally agree with FlyingProbe!

I would be interested in seeing pictures of your scabs.

I’m thinking that Aquaphor would be helpful.

#4

Interesting article about “sensitive skin.”

#5

Good article “the flying probe.” Nearly 100% of my female clients say, "Please be careful, I have sensitive skin … and, I SCAR easily … " And, they don’t!

I think “being sensitive” is something “female?” if I may be invidious without intention. Then again, all the crap women slather on their faces just might have something to do with the “sensitive.”

Additionally, in 40+ years of doing electrolysis I have never had a man say they have “sensitive skin.” They don’t insist on putting all sorts of crap on their skin “to help the healing” either. As a result, the skin just heals and doesn’t get “insulted” from all the “helpful products.”

#6

We also hear about scalp hair that needs to be “fed.” (like the hair shaft itself is a living entity) “Sensitive skin” and words like “nourishment” (in reference to the skin) are nothing but marketing buzz words made up by cosmetic companies to sell products. The idea being if a product is made for “sensitive skin” then it must be better and if you are not “feeding” your skin, then you must be starving it, and we can’t have that now, can we?

#7

Excellent point “FlyingProbe!” Then, there is the exfoliation and “disincrustation” myth … as if your skin is a hard filthy crust that has to be rubbed-off and “deep cleansed” all the time.

Actually, all the rubbing and scrubbing and micro-derm etc., does little to “deep clean” the skin … and it mostly removes the very outermost epidermis. These processes are a very well-established institutionalized hoax.

Constant over-stimulation of the skin looks nice from the minor inflammation … but may actually age the skin prematurely (the fibroblasts have a “shelf-life”). Constant “exfoliation” also causes telangiectasia … lovely.

#8

This is an interesting perspective. Now I’m wondering if it explains the attractive look of microdermabrasion on some females. A very fresh and rosy ‘well hydrated’ look.

#9

Oh dear … “BINGO!” (Maybe)

A few years ago, Dr. Perkins (I worked with him) bought a few lasers. We went to a laser seminar that was taught by the dermatologist who invented “laser resurfacing.” Indeed, laser makes the skin look better (real improvement, but also a nice boost from the inflammation of the tissue.) I asked the dermatologist one question.

See, fibroblasts AGE! They only turn-over so many times (all about telomeres). For example the fibroblasts in your butt are “younger” than the ones in your face (aged because they turn-over to repair sun-damage and other causes of inflammation). Eventually, these cells become fewer and fewer, and your face wrinkles (also other reasons) … but your BUTT stays nice and clear! Wrinkled face and smooth butt!

I asked if constant purposely-induced inflammation could eventually become counter-productive (as you “wear-out” the fibroblasts)? After a somewhat puzzled look on his face, he said … “You may be right!”

Even noticed, for example, how a sun-tan plumps-up the skin and makes you look better? It does (inflammation puffs-out the wrinkles)! However, years of sun-tanning results in skin that looks like a prune!

Interesting?

#10

Very interesting thread!

To add to the ‘‘sensitive skin’’ conversation, I believe most of us with pale skin tend to go red quite easily in the sun, hence the notion of believing that our skin is more ‘‘sensitive’’ for other damages done to it (cuts, bruises, electro, etc). Could it also simply be that we visually notice the damage, healing and discolouration a bit more than on darker skin?

Is there some truth to it? I guess we’ll never know until we test it! I don’t think it will happen, but I’d join, lol.