Laserhater, please see the post above that I edited.
Dee
Oh my gosh, I think you might have discovered something! I have to be really careful with earrings, too! Sometimes they really irritate me. I would love to try the gold probes and see if they would work for me. My electrologist still has not called me back regarding the diameter. I am hoping she is out of town or something. I was very nice on the message I left her. It is a fine line to walk of managing your own care and not offending a practitioner so I am always very careful. My face is still tore up. It is so itchy and goose-bumpy looking. I also have the irregular patterned red dots someone was warning about in another post. What should I do? I am keeping it clean with tea tree oil on it, but this time has me really nervous because it looks baaaaad. Could the insulated probes really be that much worse? I have to wear make-up during the day but I only use disposable sponges and an uncontaminated bottle.
It sounds like you are being very meticulous with your skin care, but perhaps an over the counter generic aloe cortisone cream will help with the itching and redness issues.
If your lady is ammenable to the idea of using a gold probe, I just need to know if you need a size 3,4,or 5. The shank is an “F”. She’ll know what that means and hopefully, her epilator will accept ballet probes. I really would be glad to send you a couple for her to try and see if that will minimize your skin side effects.
Dee
Dear Laserhater,
Get a tweezer.
Sterilize it.
Sanitize your skin.
Hold the tweezer against your skin.
Now pluck a hair making sure you remove it entirely.
Make sure you continue to hold the hair with the tweezer.
How deep was that hair under the skin?
That needle needs to go that deep.
I have to remind budding electrologists of this as INSERTION is the most critical factor in administrating electrolysis treatment.
Depth of insertion using thermolysis and an insulated needle should actually minimize scabbing when insertions are done properly.
Therefore, are the insertions not deep enough? Are they too shallow? This is something you need to find out.
Perhaps you can ask your electrologist:
“I was wondering how you know how deep the needle should go”?
Regarding your itchy skin: often, when skin is healing, it does feel itchy. If your skin is not too dry, apply some calamine lotion and see how that feels.
Thanks for the good advice. I have another question, though. I was at the dermatologist today for an unrelated issue and he asked about my face. I told him the details and he prescribed a cream called desonide, a mild corticosteroid. I wanted to clear usage of this with all of my helpers here. It sounds like a good option for a week post treatment. I would not use it immediately after a session, just my usual witch hazel and tea tree oil. Any feedback?
I wish I had better news to report today. I had to cancel my electrology appointment because my skin still looks like hamburger meat a week after treatment. This is the first time that I have been unable to continue treatment. All of the scabs are gone, but there are still dark red and weird patterned dots all over my cheeks. I pray that they will go away. They are tender to touch and are deeper under my skin than the usual post treatment bumps I get. I feel a deep itchy burn constantly under the skin. I went from having teeny sideburns. . . to a beard. . . to a beard with red puffy dots and discoloration. Everyday at work people ask me what is going on. “You used to have such beautiful skin, what caused this?” I feel like I did my research and trusted only top professionals. I don’t understand. I went on a million consultations. I will say that every electrologist I consulted said “Ohhhh, I’m the one people come to after other electrologists have failed to remove hair permanently and damaged skin. Thank goodness you are here and didn’t make the mistake of going somewhere else.” Who are you supposed to trust? I am beginning to get so paranoid. Did I make the right decison? I am so sick of this dominating my thoughts and life. I don’t know if I should switch to a blend practitioner. That would mean a million more consultations because everyone I went to so far is a “plucker.” I would like to stay with my current practitioner but after this disaster don’t know if that is so smart. I am waiting to hear back from her about the gold probes. That might be my answer. I am so depressed and exhausted.
Are you using the prescribed corticosteroid? That would be much better than the calamine lotion.
Please let your skin heal completely. Just give it time to get back to normal. I would also call your practitioner and tell her about your facial marks. It would be good for her to see what you are talking about,if that is possible. In the meantime, while you are healing, would it be possible, and do you have the motivation to get another consult with a SMALL sample treatment? There has got to be someone in the city of Atlanta or in the state of Georgia that can give you an effective treatment. Would it be possible for you to post a quality picture here so we can see what condition your skin is in??
Basically, electrolysis clients should not need a corticosteroid cream after a treatment.
Thermolysis in the right hands is great! The problem is finding the “right hands”. There is a website out there that says thermolysis is a dangerous to the skin and galvanic is the way to go. This is not accurate and if you find a blend operator that knows what he/she is doing then you can be very happy. Same can be said about thermolysis. Any method can leave you looking like hamburger if the practitioner is not careful. I feel as disgusted as you do now, but start creating another plan and open the door again, even if it’s just a little.
Dee
skin shudnt be puffy after a week (so long after a treatment)…i too notice dots (reddish slightly darker dots in my skin…but its not too visible only when i kinda stretch the skin near my cheek/mouth area i see them…m thinking this is hyperpigmentation and maybe thats your case too…however they are not sore to touch or anything for me…
m using a hyperpigmentation cream, so hoping the cream is what making them fade…cause like i said they are not too visible unless i stretch the skin abit…and maybe from using the cream a longer period they be gone for good i.e not visible even when i stretch the skin
i also feel itchiness now and then in my sideburn area too
Ok Everybody, I have an update. Hope you all had a great holiday and didn’t obsess on hair issues! I tried not to! After using the prescribed steroid cream and taking lots of vitamins & water, my skin began to look much better last week. There was still a bit of discoloration though it was not bad. I had a long talk with my electrologist and we determined it was the insulated probes combined with higher settings that did me in. The 2 1/2 week break really did wonders for my skin healing though. I went in yesterday for her to look at the skin and hair growth. We did a quick session with low settings and regular stainless probes and she was able to clear the area of hair. The hair growth was not nearly as bad as either one of us thought it would be, much to my relief. I have not been looking in the mirror much to prevent panic attacks. My skin reaction to yesterday’s treatment is totally normal, no itching or excessive bumpiness or redness. It is very mild and I am following my usual anal retentive skin care regime. My electro. has ordered gold probes for me and we will try them in 2 weeks during my next appt., but I truly believe it was the insulated that was the problem for me. I am so relieved that my skin is looking significantly better and the hair growth is dramatically slowed and reduced. I had a pretty big road block with that last reaction, but ELECTROLYSIS IS WORKING! I am glad that I stuck with my practitioner. I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of the advice here to communicate with your person. A good electro. will work with you and support you and mine did! I am happy things are going so well! I must sound bi-polar because every other post is such a dramatic turn of emotions. I am really looking forward to the time when I am completely done. I will continue to post and update.
thats great laserhater!! i am so glad things are getting better for you. i totally understand the frustration. things will only get better from here. good luck with everything!
and happy new year to all!
Hey Everybody,
I hope someone can help me out with this one. . . I am looking for any documented medical studies that laser can trigger growth. I have the article from Skin & Allergy News by Dr. Ranella J. Hirsch. Does anybody have any other info. or links or physician info.? I know a lot of us have our personal stories, but I am looking for specific studies or info. Please email me personally if you are not comfortable posting here. Thanks!
I had my 9th treatment today on the sideburn area. I was going weekly at first, but this time spaced out about 2 1/2 weeks. The good news is that I didn’t even need all 30 min.! We are also moving out to 3 weeks between appts. now. Aren’t I a little too soon in the process to be seeing results like this? It’s only been 2 1/2 months. Either way I am excited about the hair being gone. My skin is reacting much less now because of the reduced growth. Don’t get me wrong, it still looks red, bumpy and irritated, but less than when I first started this process. I do still have some residual redness and a mild rash-esque appearance due to the insulated probe disaster. Also, if I look up close (which I have not done for months) I can see small holes that I hope will go away! Will they? Does anybody else get these? I’m not talking huge craters, but pinpoint holes. Is there a magic skincare product to help? My practitioner says all of this will heal in time and electrolysis will not cause permanent damage. I would love to have my upper lip done but am waiting to see the results from my sideburns first. I could not handle a permanent red mustache. . . not a good look. The risk of skin damage is not worth hair removal in such a prominent area of the face. The hair on my cheeks was more troublesome.
I for got to mention that my practitioner only uses thermolysis. If I want blend, then I have to find someone else, which is much easier said than done.
It’s a few days after my 10th treatment for the sideburn area. The hairs are getting less and less to treat. I am having a minimal reaction, although still not pretty. I think Rachelle was right that things are only going up from here. I’m still a little worried about long term skin damage, but I am trying not to be too paranoid and just deal with things as they present themselves. After all, I can always get laser resurfacing if I really need it. Joke, Hahahahaha! I will never put a laser near my face again!
Good God. This reeks of overtreatment. Why don’t you just leave your face alone and let it heal. Maybe a little tender, maybe minor temporary swelling.
No lazer doesnot cause deep terminal hair it causes vellus hair.
The electrologists have all given you good advice.
Insulated Probes
Fact they do not need to be turned higher they concentrate the current at the tip.
Fact I tried some insulated probes and watched the insulation receed. ie deposit itself under the clients skin causing IRRITATION AND BUMPS. I do not use them.
Fact: Gold is the superior cunductor. it will feel hotter and distribute the current more evenly across the surface.
It is time for a new electrologist. Don’t give up on us I am so greatful for what my electrologist did for me.
The blend isn’t the best choice for facial hair on a female unless it truely is deep.
If I was your electologist and you confronted me with needle size I would dismiss you as a client.
I am more concerned about your hot humid climate being a factor. and throw that cleanser you meant to recommend away. Yeah I heard all natural no preservatives blah blah blah lies before. If it doesn’t have some form of preservative you are smearing rotting decaying product all over your face.
Lazer treated hair can take 3 years to return it is called healing the injury.
purhaps I should change my name from learner to teacher/diligant researcher.
Can you take this brutal honesty?
Yes, I can take brutal honesty. That is why I’m here. Vellus vs. Terminal. . . call it what you want, it was darker, longer and in places I never had it before the laser. Reeks of overtreatment? I’m going 30 min. every 2-2 1/2 weeks! I thought the more you worked up front, the more you accomplish and the sooner you will be done. What exactly are you saying? I am so far into the process that I don’t want to stop my progress. I also don’t want to tear my skin up, though. I am definitely grateful to the electrologists who post here, esp. James & Dee. Their advice has been excellent, but I never got the message from them that I am overtreating. Am I just hearing what I want to? It sounds like except for the insulated probes incident things are pretty normal. Do you disagree? Also, finding another electrologist is not that easy. I went on many consultations and she is the only “non-plucker.” Please keep the brutal honesty coming. By the way, where are you located?
Here’s a pat on the back to you laserhater for being able to take “brutal honesty” here on hairtell, because at times it definitely can get brutal. We all can get sucked in that ring here and now.
I’m guessing that you are an electrologist,learner? Your profile doesn’t tell us a lot of information. If you are a licensed electrologist, you must know that this is a very hard process for people that have had negative laser or electrolysis experiences in the past. These clients have to learn to trust all over again and they spend a lot of their energy finding out how to do that. Step by step, they need reassurance and feedback on what is happening to them. I believe laserhater has grown and is now aware of what constitutes good treatment verses bad treatment outcome only because she asks for advice and then reports back very consistently.
She appears to be stretching out her sessions so healing is taking place and from what I have read in her last several posts, she feels she is progressing. She sounds conscientious about her after care. I believe her electrologsit is using gold probes now. Right, laserhater? She is working and communicating with her present electrologist and vice versa. Though I’m far away and can’t see her, there is nothing in her updated posts that send red flags up.
You offered some good advice, too, but don’t you feel that she has progressed from those first posts when she sounded so distressed and panicky? That sounds like progress to me.
Dee
The brutal honest comment wasn’t directed at laserhater. It was directed at the other electrologiest.
The brutal honesty is about not using insulated probes.
It doesn’t mater if you treat a person for 5 minutes if the heat is too high and the insert too close together it is over treatment. Okay LH I read the electrologist logs closer then yours Glad you are seeing improvements.
Hey … Keep us posted on your progress. I am using electrolysis now as I have really fine hair, and I am very negative that any laser will work on them. I have had 2 30 min. treatments already on the sides of my face. I did not have any big issues with the healing of the skin – within couple of hours the scabs are gone and in 2 days the red dots are gone. I will be going weekly for next 2 weeks and then not for 2 weeks - and then weekly. Do I need to follow a schedule here?
The schedule is individual to your needs and hormonal situation. Ask your electrologist.
I’m confused. You say within a couple of hours the scabs are formed and gone? A couple of hours from treatment? I don’t even form scabs until 1-2 days after treatment and they are gone in 4-5 days. My reactions were a lot worse the first couple of weeks. They get better everytime. That schedule sounds good to me. It just depends on how quickly your hairs are growing in. For me, I went weekly at first and then spaced it out from there. The goal is to get ahead of new growth. I am so glad you are not getting laser on your face! It sounds like everything is going well for you, so you keep us posted, too.