Hi everyone! Back in September I began electrolysis treatments on my upper lip. I stopped in January. I had ~ 9 treatments and they were mostly 2 - 3 weeks apart. Most of them were for 30-60min. I started to develop pigmentation on my lip. It now looks like a dark shadow. I am not sure if this is hyper-pigmentation and will fade or will I have this for the rest of my life? I am extremely depressed. This has affected my life significantly. I sit in my room all day and can’t interact with my family anymore, because I don’t want anyone to notice. I feel as though since I stopped treatments, the pigmentation has decreased somewhat. But some days it looks better than others. I have tried cover-up, but it doesn’t do much to help. Sometimes it looks worse. I have olive-brown skin. I am prone to hyper pigmentation. But my fear is this discolouration above my lip will never go away. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Or has anyone had a client that this has happened too? Is there anything I can do to diminish the appearance? My electrologist said it will fade in ~6 months or more. It has been 2 months post-treatment. Any help would be appreciated. 
Can you submit a quality picture? Did you take a before picture in September?
Aside from that, anything you do that disturbs the peaceful world of the skin below will probably result in hyperpigmentation. It is just the way it is, especially if you are a person of color.
So, you have to weigh some things here. Do you want the hair permanently gone? If you do, then you may have put up with the annoyance of a temporary side effect that fades with time. Your Electrologist is correct. I understand that this is a concern of many people, but I am getting exasperated repeating this information. Did you happen to see this recent thread?
There is a sticky on the electrolysis forum that explains hyperpigmentation. It was just written by Mike Bono a couple days ago. Look for the thread with the word “Pearls” and don’t fret so much that you can hardly function. It will go away.
Well Dee, here’s your LIKE!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66437553/like.jpg
I saw this post last night, but avoided answering it because the same information would have come better from one of the pro’s, and you proved me right.
To the OP:
Although you havent posted a picture,the evidence you have presented that even in the two months since you stopped electrolysis, it has faded somewhat in that time. You have proven your electrologist correct! hyperpigmentation DOES occur especially in folks with off white or olive skin. And it can take a year and a half to completely fade away. But what’s worse to live with for live, the hair for life, causing you the same discomfort, or some hyperpigmentation for 6-18 months?It WILL go away, it just might take a while. Continue your treatment, it will be worth it. And thank your electrologist for giving you such a good answer!
Seana
Thanks, Seana. I love that very girly pink LIKE!
Hyperpigmentation seems to be an ongoing concern here in Hairtell. Temporary hair removal methods cause more hyperpigmentation than electrolysis, in my opinion. Whatever the cause, it fades with time.
what causes the pigmentation I am considering starting on the corners of my upper lip after having chin and around my nipples treated for last 6 months. If it the sun light I wear a factor 20 in both my moisturizer and foundation? will this well reduce the pigmentation if I move onto these area’s at present I use hair removal cream once a months and sometimes bleach If I don’t get time and suffer no pigmentation.
Unfortunately none of the pictures I have tried taking work out. I also have ingrown hairs - small little bumps. I know that electrolysis can help those, but I don’t want to damage my skin any further. I am going to see my doctor. I really regret this decision.
Dee91,
I would suggest that you have a look at these pictures - see the damage caused by previous plucking and how well the skin healed afterwards.
Pigmentation does fade but it’s not an overnight process. I am also prone to pigmentation in some areas. I had some skin issues with my lower legs due to cold winter weather and in the process of trying to hurry the healing along, I did more damage than good and caused more pigmentation. Left well alone, the skin and pigmentation healed completely after approx 18 months. Bear in mind that the skin on my legs heal more slowly.
For me personally, facial pigmentation fades faster - usually within 3 months. If you want to try something, you may find rosehip seed oil or camellia oil helpful.
http://www.boots.com/en/Trilogy-Certified-Organic-Rosehip-Oil-45ml_1425953/ this is my night time moisturizer this may help going with what Mh1212 states if you have this in the USA.
Electrolysis is a low risk procedure, that may stir up TEMPORARY SKIN MANIFESTATIONS, as I like to term it, but what procedure that disturbs the skins peaceful environment doesn’t ?
Mother Nature has the remedy, but maybe seeing a doctor can be helpful.
Without a quality picture to see, it is difficult to understand your concern.
Hi everyone. I need some advice please. The pigmentation on my upper lip is still there. I don’t know how much it has faded since my last post^. I am wondering, there is also ingrown hairs over my ENTIRE upper lip. Many of them are very small and I can only see them when I am under a bright lamp with a hand held mirror. I also have to stretch my skin somewhat. I know these aren’t skin imperfections from before, because over the past few weeks, I have seen hair growth from many of these bumps. Some of the hair is still dark, others are white. I can see the hair stuck under the bumps as well. The question I have is, since I have these and they seem slightly inflamed (the bumps/skin), would this prevent my upper lip from healing and returning to its normal colour?? I also feel these bumps are giving my skin an orange peel look. I really need help please! 
Again I wish I could post a picture, but nothing shows up that clearly.
I go back to desiring to see a quality picture. Do you have a friend that could take a picture on macro and then edit it by enlarging?
From what you describe, I’m wondering if you were under treated. If the hairs were partially treated, they may be too weak to push up from the healing skin.
Have you very gently exfoliated the area to release the trapped hairs?
The hyperpig will fade, I’m sure. It can take several months. So will the bumps. Don’t overly concentrate on your skin. Orange peel skin is very natural and genetically determined for many people. Some women have skin where you can’t see a pore in sight and others are riddled with these tiny to big holes in their face.
I don’t know what is true in your case, but I do know that people make themselves miserable by overthinking their skin imperfections. I do understand your concerns. I don’t take this lightly, but I can’t see your concern, so I must constrain myself.
Unfortunately, I haven’t talked to anyone about this. I am really ashamed. I hope that is the case as opposed to being over treated. The sessions were almost always 45-1hr long. I had mentioned to her that my skin was sensitive and she said she was on the/close to lowest setting. Often, I could also feel the hairs coming out/being pulled out. I have been exfoliating the past couple of weeks, with a very gentle exfoliator, and have seen hair “growth”. I hadn’t see any the previous 2.5 months. I have seen more this past week and the hair is coming from those pimple-like bumps. Yes, I know I shouldn’t focus so much on this, as it is really affecting me mentally, but it so difficult not to. I am afraid of the worst.
Thank you for the response!
Okay, I understand.
You may have been under treated if you are seeing hair as you described. You will heal.
Can you experience electrolysis with another practitioner?