Hi guys,
I had laser performed on my beard area yesterday and this morning I woke up with these pimples. I don’t know what it is due to? This is my 5th session and this hasn’t happened to me before and I was wondering what I should do?
Thanks
Nothing to worry about. White heads are not uncommon from laser and electrolysis treatments. They will go away. You should moisturize and use tea tree oil to dry them up.
Hi Daniel!
Before I offer a remedy let me ask, “what is the ‘pimple’ itself?”
What’s actually going on with the skin? A “moisturizer” and “tea tree oil” are somewhat opposite remedies. Why would you use any “remedy” until you knew what the thing is in the first place?
Indeed, we do know the cause: in this case laser (and yes electrolysis can do this to). But, let’s start with identifying the “lesion” first.
hmm…Well I’m going to take a “stab” at this one, but it certainly shouldnt be construed as advice.
The one time I had serious skin issues with laser was the FIRST time I had laser. I remember it well.The “technician” student was from Europe somewhere and didnt speak word one of english. It was also clear from the the other student supervising her that she wasnt very experienced.
What they did was use a white pencil to write a grid on my face, designed so that the laser did not overlap and treat an area twice. If I recall correctly this was to prevent pustules/red marks.
Well needless to say, this student made a mess of it. The first time I did laser I ended up with big zit/red marks that swelled and lasted well over a month in a lot of cases. I actually took timeline pictures of the healing process every few days at the time. Now it didnt look exactly like this, they were more reddish welts but they definitely filled with puss like these ones have.
When I look at where this is occurring on you, the upper lip, the thought strikes me that this isnt all that unusual. You see the upper lip, just like it is in electrolysis, hurts considerably more than some other areas. So much so, that I often had them do One shot at a time, rather than the repeated laser shots quickly across the lip.The result is, because the technician is trying to deal with your pain levels, they may double treat or have crossover of the laser area. such that some spots get treated more than once in a session, resulting in this skin inflamation. Or at least that’s my theory. And that’s ll it is, a theory based on a complete guess.
Well the good news is, that other than some hyperpigmentation in the areas I got these red zits, it did eventually heal ok.It was just slow to do so.
Seana
Thanks for the response Seana.
The basic question is this: just what is that “Scheiß” in the pimple itself?
Not what caused the pimple, or when it goes away or what to put on it … What is the damned thing itself?
What IS a “pimple?”
Okay … here’s a hint (if you have been searching the net and looked up “What’s a pimple?”).
First off, the lesion Daniel is presenting is NOT the result of an “over-active sebaceous gland.”
Sure, Daniel’s “pimple” looks like the common “zit,” but that’s as far as it goes … it only looks like it.
The cause of Daniel’s “pimple” is entirely different … so, again, what do you think Daniel’s post-treatment “thing” is?
You sound like every high school science teacher I ever had. Well the good ones anyway. Proof you can take -the teacher out of the classroom, but you cant take the teacher out of the teacher.
I’m going to go with white blood cells as the result of trauma (from the laser). Except that’s not quite right is it? because if that’s all it was it would be a scab…not a zit.The white fluid seems more like fluid from infection to me.
Not using any google here, just what’s in my head .I may be slow to respond today, I’m only at my pc intermittently while zapping my on face. There seems to be more hair this week than I’m used to seeing these days.
Seana
Michael, I had the same type of white heads after treatments. Moisturizer and tea tree oil as suggested to me, has alleviated these pustules faster. His upper lip looks dry post treatment (expected.) Yes, he will be fine without treating them. But most people are not interested to prove a point to themselves that our bodies can remedy these things without doing anything about them. We just want these post-treatment manifestations to go away faster especially on the face. And this new member here is more concerned whether he has damaged skin than understanding physiology of these formations. My intentions were to calm him down and reassure him that this is normal and is not a result of laser burn.
Okay, imagine that the laser has zapped out the hair … that’s GOOD. Then, two events can cause what Seana is talking about (“gold star” there kiddo … he he he).
Either there is dead matter left in the follicle (from the hair), or a bit of (your own) resident bacteria got into the open spot. In any case, the body flooded the tiny wound gap with “white blood cells” that quickly dispatched the naughty stuff. The white cells died too, and that’s why the pimple has a sort-of yellow appearance.
The epidermis RAPIDLY grew over the dead space and therefore the accumulation of dead material, dead bacteria, and dead white cells could not flush out properly (as it usually does).
So, what now?
If you leave the pimple alone it will go away. However, the NEW white cells entering the wound site are going to have to gobble up all the old dead stuff … causing a bit of a delay. Remember, your “pimple,” in this case, is only a tiny “garbage dump” and it’s best to get rid of it.
I recommend using a clear warm (water) compress to gently “pop the pimple” and remove the junk. Press around on the area. Will you get some bleeding? Yes, you will. However, the body LOVES fresh blood. It’s the blood that carries all the healing factors and will get going on the real healing ASAP. (You might develop a tiny scab … but that’s not a problem at all!)
After flushing out the debris, then you may apply your tea tree or other medication that will knock down the resident bacteria. This “getting rid of the dead stuff” process is “debridement;” a word that should be in the normal electrologist’s vocabulary: Maybe “micro-debridement” would be a more accurate term?
Fenix, I’m neither trying to “prove a point” nor recommending that these “pimple-like” lesions be left untreated. You were assuming my intentions.
I truly believe that when a patient has a solid understanding of what’s going on (the physiology), that the self-treatment will go better. I’m seldom satisfied when I’m told: “Don’t worry about it; it will go away. Just put this ‘stuff’ on it.” Usually when I hear that … that’s when I start “worrying about it.”
Besides, what this kid discovered here might help him with future situations like this one? Knowledge is power!
When clients understand what’s going on with their skin, it’s very satisfying and makes our recommendations more reasonable.
With my own clients, I have them wipe the cleaned-up area (or wash or shower) using Hibiclens. Almost anything you use afterward will be fine because, after all, the indisputable “clean-up system” is your own body: your immune system.
Hi everyone. Thank you for your swift and informative replies. Much appreciated.
I followed the advice of gently removing these white spots after having had a warm shower and they came out very easily. I still have not shaved my face as I do not want to further irritate the treated area. I will see how the skin heals over the next couple of days.
Also, the laser performed on me was the LightSheer Diode yet I keep coming across threads which recommend the nd:YAG laser for the beard area as this one penetrates deeper and is therefore more effective on the male beard? Could someone please give me some advice or guidance?
I hope to be posting my results in the next coming months 
Thank you.
The most effective method of removing a male beard, involved one hair at a time, a needle, and a little electricity
I have met ONE (1) person ( and that not even in person) who was able to have reasonable success with laser for beard removal out of thousands. I have met many who have had success with electrolysis.You do the math
Seana
Oh, that’s great Daniel. My prediction is that these bothersome lesions will be visibly gone in the morning. Yep, THAT fast.
Once you clear-out the rubbish and allow fresh blood to flow into the area, it’s a “done deal.”
Let us know what it looks like tomorrow. Don’t be afraid of gentle washing (in the shower too).
Hey Daniel … where did you go? How about a quick report on those “pimpulooze?”
Daniel … the follow-up piece (assuming that all went well).
This writing might be helpful to those interested in the subject. Those not interested? Well, they aren’t being forced to read it … and yes, it’s long.
When you (Daniel) washed and gently extracted the “junk” you did, in fact, break the epidermis (that had grown over the tiny wound and was holding in the junk). This “breaking the epidermis” usually horrifies people; but it’s no big deal! People are horrified, because they have been taught to never break the skin barrier! (Yes, a good idea.)
However, in your case, the skin was already “broken” right down into the dermis. And besides, breaking the epidermis wouldn’t give you an infection, because you already had an infection of sorts! Besides, fresh blood in the area is your best protection against infection. The junk was keeping the fresh blood-goodies out of where it was needed.
The epidermis, that was covering this tiny “debris dump,” was micro-thin … only one cell or so thick. Furthermore the epidermis itself does NOT form scar tissue, EVER. Instead, the epidermis always grows back perfectly. It grows back like a lizard’s tail … completely and exactly the same, and FAST. Breaking the epidermis is inconsequential.
Think about this unsightly “deposit of gunk” as a foreign body stuck in your skin. It’s kind-of like a wood splinter that gets jammed in your skin … and the body reacts the same against it. Sure, you can leave a splinter in your skin, because it will eventually be broken down or expelled. However, a much better option is to physically remove the splinter (if you can, safely). And, that’s precisely what you did when you gently “scrubbed out” the pocket of pus and dead material.
How much benefit would you achieve by only applying a lotion over a splinter that’s stuck in your skin? Well, not much. And that’s my point: get the “junk” out first, and then apply your lotions if you prefer. Tea Tree is fine and nearly everybody uses and recommends it.
Should you extract real zits … the active sebaceous types? Most experts warn civilians against doing it, because if you screw-it-up and break the follicle wall (civilians usually do), you kick-off another (worse) infection.
And, that’s why we have skilled ESTHETICIANS! So-called “extractions” are the esthetician’s bread & butter, and they do a magnificent job of cleaning out blackheads and advanced pimples called white heads. They know which ones to extract, and which ones to leave alone. Beyond products and medications, an esthetician’s cleaning can do miracles for a skin with blackheads, whiteheads and acne. (We have some fine ones here on Hairtell!)
(I have purposely belabored this “pimple issue,” because it comes up all the time on Hairtell. I hope this explanation and thread can be utilized as a future reference. I also know that there are those who believe you must NEVER-ever-NEVER pop a pimple. And, no amount of reason or explanation will change their mind. The idea is permanently etched on their grey-matter, like a sacred belief. And, that’s okay too … I suppose. The pimples always go away.)
Hi there!
Sorry for the delay in the message. Michael, as you stated, the lesions were visibly gone by the following morning. I still have not shaved since the laser was performed. Do you believe that by shaving it will aid in the hairs coming out? I’m trying to not irritate the skin, although it does look extremely better and almost completely healed.
Thank you for your thoroughly detailed explanation. I have already had visibly good results in just 5 sessions
Daniel
Thanks for the response; I think this conversation was helpful to other people (my intention was to be very thorough this time).
I personally cannot give you any suggestions about “shaving after laser treatments.” I don’t do laser and have little real-world experience with the modality.
However, there are a couple people here that have had good results following laser (for the beard too … if I remember correctly). Maybe our own Brenton or Fenix can offer some suggestions for you?
(A guess is that after the area has healed and not sensitive, that shaving would encourage the “dead hair stumps” to exit the follicle. The idea makes sense?)