Winter dryness!

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi everyone. I have started electrolysis every other week since this June (months ago!). It is now starting to get very cold (in the 30s) and very dry environmentally where I live. I typically get mild dry skin during the winter… but for whatever reason - maybe it’s because of electrolysis+winter combined - I am getting a TON of flakey skin and dry this winter. Yikes!

Just FYI-- as far as electrolysis sessions go, I use aloe afterwards and just clean it at night with simple face wash for sensitive skin. But in this thread, I am NOT asking what to do after/before electrolysis treatments. .

I’m asking… what can I use in between my treatments (like 4 days after and onwards before the next session) that is gentle enough (not greasy or irritating) but moisturizes the skin well?

As a side note, I haven’t exfoliated my skin yet - been trying not to do that because I’ve heard that I shouldn’t be doing this during electrolysis… But I will try gently exfoliating just ONCE because I have severely dry flaking skin.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions of moisturizers for electrolysis clients like me!

#2

100% jojoba oil or Aquaphor

#3

Beyond 3-4 days past treatment unless you are having an outbreak or excessive skin reaction, you should be fine. The objective is to prevent the fresh wound/pores from being contaminated.

I personally like virgin coconut oil. I use it for all kinds of things.

Seana

#4

Yeah, I like coconut oil and pure rosehip oil, too.

But if your skin is really dry, I’ve found that coconut oil can actually irritate it a bit. My advice is to put a good humidifier in your bedroom and use that in combination with the oils/moisturizers.

Good luck!

#5

Oh and rosehip oil is less likely to make you break out, if you’re prone to break outs!

#6

I really must get some rose hip oil and check it out!

I can say that from experiencing virgin coconut oil for many different uses, the stuff is a miracle food and remedy for many things. This winter dryness is a killer on my skin, especially my hands because I wash them so frequently. The coconut oil heals what is ailing me quickly and it smells great. I use it to fry an egg, too. It is probably the most versatile product I have on my shelf.

I could rave more, but will only say, “GET SOME AND TRY IT!”. I plan to incorporate it into my aftercare for my clients and observe what happens? Coconut oil is a solid white substance, but the minute you put a chunk in your hand, it melts quickly and rubs on nicely. It is perfect and inexpensive.

#7

Sorry to beat a dead horse, so to speak, but I’ve hit a wall and I’m really frustrated.

I am still getting dry/itching skin almost every day now. It may not be related to electrolysis but I’m not sure what to be doing. The dermatologists said it is most likely dry skin. Ok but I’ve had dry skin before and this is 1000x worse…

Since I started electrolysis in June/july I have been only using SIMPLE brand facewash and using Cetaphil moisturizer. I didn’t have any skin issues until the winter came. I tried swapping out moisturizers and trying different things but nothing is working.

What happens, with or without moisturizer on (light and heavier, both do this) my face after washing starts to flake badly and feel tight, and then within a few hours of washing it—starts to get veryyyy oily and itchy!!! I try so many different moisturizers but nothing helps- it gets oilly and flakey at the lightest touch (not so much red, so it’s not rosacea or whatever, and no patches so it doesn’t look like eczema).

BEFORE I started electrolysis, what I used on my face for YEARS without issue is Philosophy brand gentle exfoliating microbead facewash, and cetaphil 15spf oil-free moisturizer. I haven’t been able to use this facewash because I was advised NOT to use anything aggravting/exfoliating for my skin during the electrolysis period. THUSLY I haven’t been exfoliating/using the normal facewash and only using the natural SIMPLE brand facewash. I’m not sure what next to try… it’s getting really aggravating. I’ve even tried adding in vitamins, fish oil, avoiding foods, etc (I have a very healthy diet). I’m hoping someone here can advise me what to do or try…

I’d love to go back to using my microbead gentle daily exfoliating facewash but… I’m kind of scared to with electrolysis still on going, especially skin my face is acting up SO BAD lately. I’ve had so many break outs in the last month (again, no other changes - stress, hormones, diet are all the same as they’ve been for a while). Within 4-5 hours I have excess oil swimming on my face IT’S NUTS!

What is going on?? How is there so much oil?

Not sure if this is related or not but I’ve recently been diagnosed with brand new Blepharitis (not sure if anyone is familiar with this) - it’s inflammation of eyelids and is leading to oilly, dandruff-y eyelids and eye problems. Now, the skin on face is oilly all over and flakey… very weird…

Is electrolysis permanently damaging my skin (excess dryness)? The effects are all over my face and not just in the areas treated.

Could this dehydration of my skin/excess flaking possibly be related to being unable to exfoliate? :confused:

What should I be washing my face with? Any facewash recommendations? I have to wash 2x a day because of the oil it’s just too much. Tried to wash with just water, nope, it just lead to more breakouts.

INTERESTINGLY enough my problematic skin returns to NORMAL (no oil, no dryness, no flaking) on the treatment spots right after an electrolysis treatment. WHAT!? I am stumped as to why…

Any help/advice or info or facewash recommendations are appreciated, thank you…

#8

Hi Avito

It sounds like you have a combination skin. You have both dry and oily skin. The surface dryness is causing the itching, and flakiness, and the combination of oil production and dryness is causing clogged pores.
Exfoliation is the solution, however you don’t want to do it while the skin is healing after a electrolysis treatment. I would suggest you don’t exfoliate until a few days before your next treatment. Then after you are treated, wait about a week or 10 days before you use your scrubs and polishes. Also a Glycolic toner or mask can help… I like the glycolic toner from proactive and the face mask from Dr Sebagh. I want to reiterate, to only use these type products before your treatments, not after.

Hope this message helps. :grin:

#9

I will try this. Do I use the toner after or before exfoliating? Thanks. And how often should I exfoliate, every day-? How often using the toner?

Though I still am concerned… If the itching is from dry skin, how come when I put moisturizer on the dry/peeling areas, within a couple hours it starts to itch all over again? And if I so much as lightly touch my skin it flakes up instantly (yuck!). I’m at a loss. Am I suppose to be reapplying moisturizer multiple times a day??