The patch test was done in the same area as my IPL treatment, but I still have some hair. The very coarse hair shedded quickly, but I still have some less coarse hair.

My skin is light and I am in Australia. It's winter here. Besides, I don't expose myself to the sun, and I always wear sunscreen when I am outdoors.

Is it possible that the sunscreen that I was wearing when the technician did the patch test, had as a result this discolouration?

"Light" is relative. Do you know your skin type (explained in the FAQs). Sunscreen should have been removed before treatment, but it doesn't normally cause pigmentation. So the only explanation really is that your skin is too dark for an alexandrite laser, which means you're probably at a type IV, i.e. not that light in terms of laser hair removal specifically.
If you're going to try a true laser, you'll need a Yag or a diode it looks like.

Laser or IPL don't really work on fine hair, especially on the face.

Electrolysis will work on any color and size of hair, though. Skin color is NOT a problem either.

Consider your options carefully, so you don't waste time or money. There is a lot to know about permanent hair removal (electrolysis) and permanent hair reduction (laser).

Combining the two modalities is something to consider.

What worries me about electrolysis is the downtime. With the IPL I was a little bit red for two hours and then I was able to go out. If I do electrolysis how long does it usually take for the skin to be normal again? Can I use makeup after electrolysis? Is there an "Electrolysis FAQs" in this site?

No FaQ's, yet, but I would be happy to respond to your specific question.

Don't know where you live on this planet, but in many areas there actually are electrologists who have come into the age of computerized epilation. I can speak for myself, but I am not rare or some kind of super hot shot electrologist when I say what I'm about to say. I used a Silhouet-Tone VMC epilator with gold probes before I started using the Apilus Platinum a couple months ago. These are two specific brands and models that I know well, so I can say with authority that clients were able to get a treatment on their upper lip and chin, sides and neck for hours at a time and then walk out of my office, minus 600 to 3,000 hairs, depending on the time spent on the table. They were a little pink, but reported back that all side effects were gone within minutes to an hour or two after their appointment. For abused skin prior to electrolysis (due to years of temporary measures), with thick and deep root structures, down time may be hours to a day or two because more energy needs to be delivered to damamge the hair follicles.

Both brands I mentioned enable the electrologist to remove hair fast and with deadly results to the hair follicle while leaving the skin in very acceptable condition. There are other brands that may do the same, but I can only be specific about my experience. If the electrologist does not have the sense or the skill to operate the machinery, then it follows that you may have more side effects. So, that's why we are redundant to the point of being annoying, when we strongly advise you to check out all the local talent IIIFFFFFFFFFFFFF you are fortunate enough to have any electrologists in your home town.

I am in love the Apilus Platinum. Sensation is the real factor in regard with this electrolysis epilator. Skin outcome is also something to rave about as well. The electrologist is only as good as her/his equipment, but keep in mind there are hundreds of skilled electrologists that can make a treatment session wonderful, even if they don't have a certain brand or model epilator.

I do not like makeup to be applied for 24 hours at minimum, but some clients will not listen. They know not to blame me for any negative outcome if they go against my advice. With a skilled electrologist and superior modern tools, you won't need makeup anyway.

IPL may allow you to go out in a couple hours after a treatment looking great, but it is not going to solve your facial hair problems. A good electrologist will solve your problems, but she/he needs the right set up and skills to make this happen for you. Hope you have someone that fits the bill close by. Just keep all this in mind. Go to a Professional Electrologist that doesn't do this as a side show on a limited basis. Even if you have to drive a distance, it is worth the effort if you can not find someone good where you live.

Dee

Thank you so much for your responses! They are really helpful. I thought that after an electrolysis treatment I would have to stay at home for days.

So, I decided to give electrolysis a go. I have nothing to lose really. Can you tell me which type of electrolysis is better for the facial area? I am doing my lip at the moment. I might do sides as well, although I don't have many hair there.

Call around and see what is offered in your area. Thermolysis (flash, microflash, etc types) is the fastest method and would be good on this area. I had it done myself actually as you can read in the link below. It's most important that you find someone experienced with a good computerized epilator (my electrologist had Apilus as well) who will leave your skin perfect.

I made an appointment with a clinic in which apparently electrolysis (thermolysis) is performed by nurses. I heard good comments about this clinic, and I found some feedback in this site as well! Hopefully, they won't disappoint me!

Because the longer the treatment, the cheaper (it's 55$ for 30min and 75$ for 1hour!), if the consultation goes well, I will have an hour treatment. I was browsing some previous posts, and came across some with people that were overtreated. So, I am thinking to ask the electrologist to try to thin the lips (at the moment I don't have many hair on the upper lip anyway) and maybe sides, and if there is still more time, I might do the abdomen. What do you think about that?

I also want to ask if there is something that I can take or do before the treatment to reduce side effects. I read that tea tree oil is good post-treatment, but what about pre-treatment?

Pre-treatmemt, drink enough water for your body size three days before and avoid caffiene for three days.

After treatment, keep it simple and as pure as possible. Witch hazel, aloe vera gel as close to 100% as possible and dabs of tea tree oil at bedtime, if needed, works well. Do not dream up other strategies that you think would be better like antibiotic creams and ointments, vitamin E oil, hand sanitizer or other over the counter gunk.

Overtreatment and ordinary temporary side effects are totally at different ends of the healing spectrum. You will know what overtreatment is if you skin does not return to normal within minutes to a week. Electrologists are in the business of damaging hair follicles so those follicles cannot support the growth of a hair anymore. Expect some degree of inflammation whenever the skin's lovely enviroment is disturbed. The degree to which it is disturbed varies with the size of hair, the condition of the skin, the kind of professional epilator used, the skill of the person using that epilator, aftercare, etc......

Don't freak out if you have normal temporary side effects that last less than a week. Expect it in the beginning. How long this lasts is totally individual. Keep a converstaion going on with your electrologist so she/he can try differnet approaches to lessen certain side effects.

Most price structures fall in the the direction of more money per minute for short appointments, less money per minute for longer appointments, so doing several areas for a longer time makes economic common sense.

Dee

They can probably remove 5-10 hairs per minute. So try to estimate how long that would take. I would go in for a short treatment for your first one to test them out. If you like them, schedule for longer treatments.

For the upper lip, most people don't get treated for over 20 mins or so to avoid overtreatment. Basically, avoid treating the same spot or spots very close together for an extended period of time.