Should I give Electrolysis another try?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

I am at a point where I am growing increasingly frustrated with dealing with the facial hair issue. I am fortunate that I do not have a major issue…but it is not a minor one either!

I started having issues when I was about 16 or so years old, and used bleach and deplitories for the “mustache” area, and this worked well. As I have gotten older, I am now 39, the hair has increased. I did give electrolysis a brief go about 10 years ago, but as I was soon after going through a divorce, I had to stop due to financial issues. Sadly, I had only gone a few months and saw no real results due to this.

Over the past 10 years, I have been plucking hairs out…DAILY. It is so aggravating. My main area of concern is the “mustache” area. I probably pluck 10 or so hairs a day, some days maybe 15. If I let it grow in, I know it would be very noticeable :frowning: I also have probably about 20 or so hairs that randomly come up under my chin. Additionally, over the past few years, I have developed a slight darkening of my upper lip, only in certain areas…almost like a shadow but not. This could be due to dark roots of hair growing in under my fair skin, or damage from plucking I suppose.

So…I have been looking into electrolysis again. I found a place nearby that does it…in fact two places right down the road both do! So, having a moderate problem, how long would I be looking at- a year or so? Also, I am not really wanting to let all the hair grow in (as in grow it for 5 or 6 weeks and then go). I am wondering if I would be able to go 2-3 times a week for 30 minute sessions to deal with this until it gets to be under control? How to deal with hair between treatments if I don’t go every few days? UGH!

Please give me some advice, I am so tired of dealing with this :frowning:

#2

I removed an entire beard (mine!) in about 18 months. In general it takes about this long to work through all the growth cycles. If you look at Josepha’s video, “Electrolysis Myths” located here:

it will tell you it is possible to accomplish this in 3 clearances over 9 months. She has proven this, time after time. I would add that most of the really good professionals would tell you it takes something under 100 hours of electrolysis to do this. If you have less of a facial hair problem than a male removing an entire beard, it could be less than 100 hours but the time frame ( 9 months -2 years) would be about the same. This is to let all the hair cycles pass so the hair can be destroyed.

I would highly recommend stopping plucking. Though it may help in the short term with how you think about yourself, it can make things more difficult for electrolysis and other people are not going to notice the difference from one or two ( or even 20 ) hairs. Sometimes Electrologists use slower methods to work, to overcome distorted hair roots that are the result of plucking and hairs that you pluck cannot be seen to be removed until they grow in again.You want to avoid this.

The darkening on your lip sounds as if it could be hyperpigmentation from plucking. Hyperpigmentation can occur with any form of hair removal, be it laser, electrolysis, waxing or plucking. It can be unsightly, and can last a long time, but it is not scarring it is a normal part of the skins healing process and always fades completely over time. In general most hyperpigmentation fades over a 1-2 year period. It’s not permanent and once you are done causng trama to the skin, it can start to fade. This includes stopping plucking, completely.

Having 2 clinics to choose from within a short distance, is a definite help in the process and i would check to see if there are more in the area. In general I recommend wherever possible to try out several different electrologists ( at least 5)for short sessions before deciding on one who has a good kill rate and whom you are comfortable with. Look for smooth extractions of the hair, you should not feel tugging.Choose someone who hates the hair just as much as you do.

3 1/2 hour sessions a week ( or 2 1 hour sessions a week ), for a year, you would be getting close to the 100 hour mark, and if you were consistent with it would complete your hair removal in about a year. There may be some minor touchups after this.

It may be worth your while to be screened for a hormonal imbalance or PCOS. The growth pattern described, and the time at which the problem began, is somewhat indicative that this COULD be the case but a doctor could tell you for sure ( dont take my advice for it, I’m not an MD!!). If it is the case and the issue is not addressed, it could mean you have some new hairs generated after you have finished that would require touch up sessions, but the hairs that are dead, are dead.They are not coming back. In general medications can overcome a hormonal issue, or you can just go back for occasional maintenance sessions.

Seana

#3

Thank you SO MUCH for your reply. I have read it over a few times now. You give me hope… I have spent the past month researching the electrologists available in my area. I had really wanted to see one in particular, but they fail to return my calls which I take as a bad sign. I found another electrologist today, and upon asking some questions of the front desk staff, they said she would be happy to call and chat with me. She called within the hour and answered all of my questions, and I am going to see her tomorrow for a 30 minute session. I have managed to not pluck the very dark thick hairs for 7 days (which is an eternity for me, really…) and I have been shaving the areas of finer hair that I would typically pluck for about 2 weeks now.

Do you think that I will be able to get results still even though I have not let the hairs grow for a longer time? I am hoping that having two sessions a week will be helpful. I am dreadfully scared of what my upper lip would look like if all the hair grew in at once…

So nervous for tomorrow…

#4

Thank you!

#5

Dont despair on the ones that dont call back right away. Quite a few electrologists are so booked they cant take on anyone new, they just dont have any slots available.Most should get back to you eventually.

If a hair is not visible to be removed,there will still be hairs left to remove and it’s just killed the next time. You are always making progress, it’s always worth it.

Seana

#6

I am finding that most centers here that advertise electrolysis actually encourage laser. I am definitely NOT wanting laser. I will see if my calls are returned from this other electrologist, all the while seeing how things go tomorrow.

I know there is no way of really knowing this most likely, but do you think that I will see improvement perhaps after a few months? At least a lessening? I am not by any means expecting an overnight improvement!

#7

You will, but people are their own worst critics. My suggestion is to take several close up photos of the area before you start, then you have them to refer to and can see first hand how much progress has been made from that reference point. I recommend such photos for anyone doing electrolysis, whether or not they are questioning progress.

Seana

#8

The session on Tuesday went well! I love the electrologist, and she is very friendly, knowledgeable and has many great reviews.

We went ahead and did 20 minutes on the upper lip/chin area. I only had about 8 hairs to remove from the chin at the time I went. Most of the work was done on my upper lip.

Overall, I am impressed. I did have some issues I did not have before when I did electrolysis…a few areas on my chin had bumps (not red, just flesh colored) almost such as from a small bug bite. These have gone down over the past few days. On my upper lip, there were 3 spots that turned red/bumpy and one of those did get a small white pustule. I have left them be and they are pretty much gone as of today. I am thinking she may have used too much “energy” there, and will ask about it tomorrow when I go back.

I am looking forward to going in tomorrow and getting some more work done! She has agreed for me to come in 2 times a week, 3 if needed. She said she believes it will take 3 months before I really see a major change, but that I will notice changes before that as well. She did ask me to let the hairs grow a bit longer, so I am working on that too. A positive was that most of the hairs were active at the time I went! I am looking forward to more treatments and hopefully success!

Do you have a suggestion on after-care- witch hazel or aloe?

#9

Oh and on a really odd, funny note…the hairs I thought were so noticeable, and dark…that I always used to pluck before they got out of hand- well, while letting them grow I have noted that many of them are blonde, thick hairs…maybe not so noticeable as I once thought…

#10

I do a little mixed aftercare. If I’m doing blend and it’s an agressive treatment, I typically will use teatree oil(pure) on the area immediately after, but then just soap and water on the days after. For thermolysis I will use cooled pure aloe gel right after. By and large though these are “comfort” steps. Nothing at all, and keeping the area washed in the days after, has proven to be just as effective an approach if not more so.

#11

The skin reaction you had after your treatment is quite acceptable and I would give her feedback, but not in a worried tone. She sounds excellent.

I really like tea tree oil with cold aloe vera gel applied right over the tea tree oil. Not all skin types or circumstances require tea tree oil, but tea tree oil reduces the chances of seeing white pustules (which are no big deal because they disappear after a warm shower anyway). The cold aloe is so very soothing to the skin and helps calm the melanocytes, which can cause hyperpigmentation. I see wonderful results in my women of color, especially my middle eastern women.

Temporary skin manifestations are just that - TEMPORARY. Don’t worry about a few bumps or white pustules. You are getting permanent hair removal and we have to affect the hair growing tissue, with the energy coming off the probe. There are some situations where clients are over treated and that is the time to have a conversation with your practitioner so she or he can change the recipe.

#12

Actually this is an excellent time to show, what a normal skin reaction looks like! Hell ya, lets show some work!

This photograph was taken one month after I started DIY electrolysis. I recieved the memory card for my machine oct 8 and this was taken 13 nov 2013.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66437553/Untitled%20Folder/IMG412.jpg

This was taken feb 4:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66437553/Untitled%20Folder/IMG_1240.JPG

this walso taken feb 4 2014:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66437553/Untitled%20Folder/IMG_1250.JPG

The above was all via blend treatment. Agressive blend treatment. I have pictures of before I started the process, there is only one way to describe them, a full beard.

There’s considerable scabbing. These fall off after a couple of days. The scope of the area treated in a single sitting becomes obvious from the inflamed area. This is a GOOD reaction there is nothing at all to be concerned about here. There is no seeping yellow pus. All healed perfectly.

If you zoom in on the chin, you will note several pores that look like emerging hairs, or blackheads. These are tombstones, and are baby hairs that are killed before they even get a start. You can remove them carefully with tweezers, but should come out on their own.

This next image, I took just now. It pictures an arm that my associate did a small test area on me two days ago. If you are looking at that larger scab, dont! I’m 99% posative that is from a pitbull I rescued over christmas my arms are quite scratched up from. The smaller scabs have shown up just today, and are the area worked in. These are completely normal on body work. They will not cause any hyperpigmentation, they will not regrow. This represents a PERFECT treatment as far as a thermolysis treatment on the body.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66437553/Untitled%20Folder/arm1.jpg

The final photo here is the same face, sept 3 2014 nearly a year after starting electrolysis.No Scarring! IT all comes out perfectly. Dont sweat skin reactions. It all comes out nicely in the end!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66437553/Untitled%20Folder/IMG_1563.JPG

#13

Great Work … keep it up and keep “telling your excellent story.” And remember, “Fortune favors the BRAVE!” … I like it!

#14

I went today for my third appointment…this one was 30 minutes, my first two where 20 minutes each. I am really loving the electrologist. She is so professional, and helpful, and reassuring me always.

I have not had any major skin issues since that first session. I mentioned to her the problems I had encountered and she used tend skin before and after the procedure and that seems to have helped greatly. I am also using aloe gel immediately after getting home and utilizing witch hazel as well.

I continue to be fortunate (I think) in that the majority of the hairs are in the active phase, and the electrologist is pleased with that. Today, she told me that I should be pleased with myself for leaving the area alone, and allowing it to grow and not tweeze, etc. as it must be difficult. And it IS difficult not to tweeze, but I have made the committment. I just pray for the day I will see even a slight improvement. She has told me my case is nowhere near the worst she has seen which encourages me somewhat.

At this point I have 1 hour and 10 minutes of time done…many years ago, I could only go for 15 minutes at a time…so in 3 treatments I have accomplished what would have taken me about 5 weeks to do last time.

Luv2zap, your pictures are AMAZING. Wow.

#15

I’m glad you like them! I only wish I had taken more.

#16

An update…so the electrolysis was not going so well for my skin. Even using a lower setting, my skin is just very sensitive to it still. After the electrologist expressed her concerns that my skin could have damage and/or the hair would not be treated as effectively with lower settings, she suggested laser and electrolysis mix.

I went ahead and I decided to go with laser for the dark hairs only. I am doing that with my entire upper lip and two areas on my chin. I am paranoid as I have heard heard horror stories on this stimulating hair growth, so I made sure to insist that I will not have any vellous/fine haired areas lasered (side of face, full chin, etc.). Apparently, my electrologist has not had any clients have this issue of darker hairs/more hair growth after laser, but I do NOT want to be her first. I have read rave reviews on her laser as well as electrolysis sucesses and I trust her.

I am continuing electrolysis on the blonde hairs on upper lip and chin. I also have 5 or so dark hairs that are very fine that appear on the area an inch of so below my lower lip, and this area will also not be touched by laser, only electrolysis there. I can only go to electrolysis every two to three weeks though my skin can just not handle it.

So far, I am already seeing results from 1 laser treatment and 4 electrolysis treatments. I know that this is because the hair grows in cycles though, so am expecting this to change with time…

#17

It is possible that another electrologist using different equipment/ or with more experience could result in less irritation to your skin. In my experience, very few people have skin irritations that last longer than a week. Have you ever been treated by a different practitioner?

#18

This is not my first experience with electrolysis, I had my first sessions about 10 years ago. Money was tight, and I was only able to go 15 minutes every week or two. I did have issues with bumps resulting from the electrolysis, but they are not as severe as the issues I am having currently.

There are two electrolygist in my area. One has not returned repeated calls. The one I am going to works in an office supervised by a doctor. She is an aesthetican (spelling?). She comes highly recommended, and is really helpful. She said she does not want to see my skin be permanently damaged.

At my first appointment, the redness lasted quite a while, it was a 20 minute session…I had one or two bumps that resolved within 10 days. My second session was within the same week…also 20 minutes…redness did not last, but more bumps appeared and lingered. They did fade before my session the next week, but you could still see the slight scars.

My third session was 30 minutes. My skin reacted HORRIBLY to it. Redness, several bumps, irritation, etc. I saw her a few days later, and she was concerned with this. I immediately stopped the sessions and went back to her about 2 weeks later, at which point the irritation was finally under control, but still slight scarring. She told me then that she was not comfortable doing so much electrolysis on my skin due to the reactions I am having. She is using a low setting and she said any lower would take longer for effectiveness.

At that point, she recommended laser. I did the first laser treatment that day. I insisted she only touch the upper lip and two spots on the chin, due to my concern over laser hair stimulation. My skin within a week was almost completely clear (so this was about 3 weeks after the bad session). To date, I do still have some slight scarring pin point marks from that session though they are fading fast.

I did an electrolysis session this past week, for 20 minutes, on the thicker blonde hairs on the upper lip and about 5 on the chin. I reacted again, with bumps that are painful, almost like ingrown hairs, at certain spots she inserted the probe. However at almost a week past the session, I seem to be healing faster than the last issue. She said she only wants to do the sessions every 2- 3 weeks due to my sensitivity. She says she has never had an issue like this before.

I would try someone else, but there is no one else to try. And, I seem to be having success with her so far, aside from the bumps. At the time of electrolysis, I have no real pain to speak of aside from sensitive spots under the nose. My skin just goes beserk and I do not know what to do :frowning:

I am scheduled for my second laser treatment in about 10 days. I am trying to decide if I should go through with it.

#19

You don’t go from bumps and redness to SCARS! What’s with the "scars?’ You don’t form scars in one to two weeks. You are not getting scars! And, you don’t "heal faster’ either … the skin heals at its own pace, predetermined by nature.

Take a few moments and research how the skin heals in actual scientific terms. If you continue with the "sensitive skin’ scenario, your electrologist will continue to use less-and-less current and you’ll be back to actual tweezing. And, it will go on for years.

I have at least 150 hours (probably more) producing four short videos on how the skin heals (research, drawings, filmed, scripted and edited and learning the software). I don’t know if you have watched these, but take the time to educate yourself on the subject. Electrolysis is a full-skin-depth BURN … controlled, but still a burn.

Here’s the key "line’ from my Part One video: "Nearly ALL the after-effects we see from electrology are completely normal … "Emphasis on "ALL’ and "NORMAL!’

#20

Michael, I’m afraid you are going to need a 5th video to explain that a week is not enough for the dead space in the treated follicle to completely fill in!