Electrolysis Hair removal between eyebrows

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
1

Hi, I had four 15 min treatments, each two weeks apart, during the treatments the electrolysist worked on between my eyebrows and on my upper lip, I had slight redness for a few hours, used aloe for a few days and had no problems. I have recently moved and needed to find a new clinic, I found one with a school attached which also had great reviews, I went for a consultation and was very happy with the place, I went for 15mins treatment a week after the consultation on same areas again but this time after the treatment my eyebrow area was very raw and red like acne, I continued to use the aloe, i rang the clinic and they said to put savlon on it until it healed.

It took about 5 days before scabs started to appear and about 11 days for the scabs to start flaking off…I went back two weeks later and was told that it was normal and just how my skin in that area healed, but i didnt have the problem with my first four treatments? I was told to exfoliate, given a moisturising mask and told it should look normal in a few weeks. She worked on my lip on this 2nd appointment and I said i would wait till the eyebrow area had fully healed before considering it again, the lip area has healed fine with no scarring or marks but it is nearly four weeks now since the eyebrow treatment and I have about 12 very noticable red scars which are hard to even cover with makeup.

I have exfoliated with an elemis pomegranite exfoliation cream twice a week and use a antioxident rich moisturiser and also have increased vitamin c and e in diet. I dont know what else i could/should be doing. Does this sound normal? Its really getting me down now, Im sorry but i dont have a camera so cant supply pics…I know its probably impossible to give proper opinion. The girl who did the work was lovely and I am very happy with the upper lip area work she did but wondering why I didnt have these marks after four treatments on the area with another therapist? And also worried these might be permanent scars or am I just overreacting?

2

Most of us will “jump in” and say that crusts (scabs) should not be a “normal” part of facial treatments. And, they are correct.

A skilled therapist can most certainly remove upper lip and eyebrow hairs without any crust formation. Crusting should not happen.

The post-treatment red marks you see are not scars, but “angiogenesis” that can be seen through the VERY thin healed epidermis. Because of the crust formation, the epidermis had to burrow under, or “cleft” into, the crust and thus formed a very thin epithelial layer. Sometimes this layer is only a few cells thick, and the cells are flat; not round; rendering the protective layer even thinner.

The crust fell off and you are now able to see the millions of healing capillaries, through the thin epidermis, in the underlying dermis. These red marks absolutely will go away. (You probably also have very white skin?)

A crust is an actual barrier to the healing epidermis. For this reason burn victims, who have lost the epidermis, are not allowed to “dry” and form crusts. Instead the skin is kept extremely moist and crusting is removed (debridement). The healing epidermis is then able to utilize oxygen directly from the air, or hyperbaric chamber.

Most likely, you will be just fine. I don’t think permanent scars are likely. Although post-treatment applications to reduce the chance of infection are important, if you suspect crust formation use something as oily as possible: something with petroleum-like Polysporin. Emu oil is a near miracle in eliminating crust formation. Australians use this as a matter of course.

What is happening here is that the greasy substance occludes the wound and does not allow the crust to form (also washing with soap & water helps eliminate crust — serum — buildup).

The information I gave you is what my plastic surgeon has recommended for the post treatment difficulties you have described. Any yes, Dee, we know that some people may be allergic to polysporin: thanks for correcting me. Still, in 35 years I have never seen such a reaction. With Vitamin E oil, however, YES!

I have a drawing of this epidermis “burrowing” if you would like me to post it. Seriously, even though I’m not a “believer” the healing skin is actually a miracle to behold.

3

Actually, dear Michael, I said Neosporin, not Polysporin. It is the neomycin part of the Neosporin that can cause some skin reaction. Indeed, yes, with Vitamin E oil, too. Can cause a skin rash. Excellent post, by the way, my colleague.

For curious minds:
Neosporin side skin side effects

4

Thanks so much for the informative reply Michael, You’ve put my mind at ease. Yes it would be great to see the drawing if I could. And yes I am definately very white! celtic skinned,medium brown hair, with blue eyes and would sunburn very easily. With regard to further treatment in this area do you think I should avoid this or will it be ok to try again when the skin has healed more? Is exfoliation on the area a good idea too or should i not mess around with that? Thanks again for your help, Im going to google emu oil now and see if i can get my hands on some.

5

Happy I could help. Here’s a drawing of the process called “epithelization.” It’s a drawing from my book. Following is the caption that goes with the drawing (in book).

“Basal cells form a wedge or “tongue” that tunnels under the nonviable crust. Enzymes are produced at the leading edge of the wedge that allow the advancing cells to dissolve through the dermis and crust. (Crusts usually form with body-technic. Face-technic on the body rarely produces crusts. Using face-technic, crust should never appear on the face.)”

Emu Oil: I’m not a big fan of using non-pharmaceuticals, but emu oil is amazing I must admit. It’s an ancient discovery from “down under” and I’m sure there is a ton of information about this on the internet. Australian aboriginal people used emu fat for burns. A grower in Australia told me the molecule is very small and more “penetrating,” the properties are anti-microbial and “promote healing” (never really sure what that means.) Seriously, those birds are as close to a dinosaur as I’ve ever seen … frightening little raptors really. They taste terrible … like shoe leather!

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I didn’t say this in the book, but from the source material it said that the advancing cells “leap frog” over each other. (The writer was amused by this discovery.) They “flatten out” so they can quickly close the wound. From only these few cells, the entire epidermis is reconstructed (from the basal cells): every layer. In some cases, the “completed” epidermis is thinner. (Probably not the case with such a tiny electrolysis wound.)

The epidermis is actually able to grow in wet environment and use oxygen directly from the air (does not require underlying capillaries). It’s amazing to think that the epidermis can grow so quickly … faster than the dermis. The dermis heals entirely differently: almost like a totally different entity.

7

I don’t think you need exfoliation (it’s just what estheticians always recommend). I don’t know why you would do this? I would wait until you are satisfied the area is perfect … and maybe find a “softer” technician. You shouldn’t be getting scabs in that area and it’s not big issue to have them NOT form.

8

Wow…thanks again Michael…very informative stuff. Definately going to leave the hair alone and concentrate on skin healing for now, Iv just ordered 50ml of emu oil from an Australian website…I dont think il be brave enough to taste the real thing anytime soon though :slight_smile:

9

Just a question for the technicians if you don’t mind since you mentioned make-up. Is it alright to use make-up on the area between eyebrows after treatment(if there’s redness and such) or any other way to camouflage with products?

10

I advise against this, but no one listens to me anyway. Clients seem to do fine. Whatever you use, make sure the makeup is clean and make sure you apply it with clean hands or applicators.

A big, big help to prevent scabbing comes through probe selection. If insertions are placed perfectly inside the follicle and one is using a Laurier Insulated Bulbous Probe, with correct timing and intensity, this would solve the problem of scabbing handily. I can get other probe types to do the same with no scabbing, but I really like the feel of the Laurier IBP for this delicate area, especially.