Hi all-- Although I read the guidelines on finding an practictioner and searched the site for Chicago electrolysis , I can’t seen to find anyone in my Chicago area. I need someone really talented as I likely have some combination of new, age-related growth and some chin regrowth from 3 laser treatments in 2003. (It’s worth mentioning that as my beard has grown before and after the lasering, other areas have gotten hairier as well: toes, thighs, etc.) I have been seeing my latest electrologist for about 8 years but she does not have adequate magnification and I supect that something with the technique is off. Or maybe it’s just me.
My history: Age is 39, female, strong ideopathic growth (I have been tested multiple times for hormones and cysts, so PCOS is not a factor). I’ve got HEAVY male pattern growth on the ‘beard’ area. I had puberty onset of growth on upper lip, expansion to sideburns and cheeks in 20s, new growth on all areas and expansion of hair to chin and neck in my 30s.
I have had professional electrolysis in CA and IL at various times from age 13-39 to remove upper lip. UPPPER LIP HAIR WAS SUCESSFULLY REMOVED from intensive treatements from 13-20 with many follow-up treatments over the years for new growth that were performed every month or every few months. My chin area starting requiring once weekly treatments in about 2001, so I got fed up and decided to try laser. It seemed the growth was retarded for about 4 months followed bey serious regrowth (I am olive skinned, not the best profile for lasers).
Now I need to have electrolysis a couple times a week at least, and I am wondering if my practictioner is maybe not the best. I get my hormones checked every few years.
What should I do? Try to find a better electrologist? I have been going to a lady in Skokie, IL primarily because she is cheap. She uses an Apilus junior but does not speak much English. We do blend. There is no sponge, just a metal rod that I hold. I know electrolysis works because I had good results with my upper lip which took about 10 years and requires moderate maintenance. Maybe my electrologist is OK, maybe becuase of the lasers I need to devote another 15 years to this.
Any ideas, any referrals if I should keep at it?
Suzanne Anderer is in Frankport. Give her a call and tell her about your experience. She is a board certified electrologist and also a wonderful teacher and she might be able to guide you in the right direction. 815 469-0050
Although I personally like blend, I think it is impractical for most people, too slow.
As I mention often, google Dr. Geoffrey Redmond and start reading his books - which are written for the lay person. It helps you self advocate when seeking medical assistance in an accurate diagnosis. Get copies of your most recent blood tests to see what you were tested for as you might not have gotten all of the tests Redmond recommends.
I am just wondering if your periods are regular or if you have ever had a stretch of time when your menstrual cycle stopped or lasted for more than a week. Have you at any time had unusual patterns of menstruation?
Please keep in touch and let us know how you are progressing.
If your hair is actually dense and coarse, on your face or elsewhere, you can get results with laser. However, you would need someone who knows what they’re doing, using proper laser (yes, even for your skin type. as long as the hair is dense and coarse), and at least 6-8 properly spaced treatments.
10 years for just the upper lip is pretty outrageous. It sounds like you may not have done electrolysis at the best intervals on all areas, and that some of the electrologists you have used weren’t that skilled. Also, I agree with Arlene that blend is just too slow if you have a lot of hair to remove, and you seem to.
I strongly suggest you concentrate on the area and check out several electrologists (run a search here to find additional recommendations from past posters) who use the thermolysis method, especially the flash kind. If you’re not leaving the appointment with the area completely cleared of hair, you will be going forever as you suspect. You really need to concentrate on the best fastest strategy for this, i.e. use thermolysis to clear the area in as many frequent long treatments as possible n the beginning, and then come in AS SOON AS you see new hairs pop up so they can be killed when they’re still weak. If you wait a a month or more as you mentioned you did in the above post, the hairs won’t be in anagen phase anymore and the treatments won’t be nearly as effective. This way, an area shouldn’t take longer than 12 months or so after your first clearance.
Have you gone to different endocrinologist? Who usually tests you for hormonal issues? These are very hard to detect and we often have women here say that they’ve been tested plenty, and then go to one knowledgeable person who tells them otherwise. My feeling is that you should research who the best endocrinologist is in Chicago and pay him/her a visit. It won’t hurt, but could help. If you are really experiencing these many issues, something must be causing it.
I have seen hundreds of clients with the same description, and I still believe that they have Syndrome X without the polycystic ovaries. Hormones and cysts are not the only part of this disorder. A Dr. Aziz used to speak at AEA conventions - he might a good start - he can refer you to someone near you and if you can locate him!
Thanks for the helpful replies! I will try thermolysis. I was doing something else for a little while with my current electrologist–I don’t know if it was thermolysis. However, I had had lots of scarring. it’s not terrible and it is under my chin, but blend is a bit easier on my skin. I’ll be looking into peels soon.
My hairs are extremely coarse and black. I would do laser, but I really do fear regrowth if that’s contributing to my current situation. The original 3 treatments I had were with a dermatologist who is really held in high esteem.
Maybe the thermolysis setting needs to be higher or a longer time for my very course hairs–what do you think?
I saw an endrocrinologist at the University of Chicago which is a very reputable place for that. I went for my hair and was told it was likely ideopathic (Azkenazy on father’s side).
I was worked up twice by my primary (who is very sentive to PCOS and even Sydrome X) and another few times by two gynecologists. The gyne is open to using spirolactone, but becuase my mother died of cancer, I am reluctant. I do have a large waist circumsference and high cholesterol, but I went on a low fat/ high exercise diet with the prompting of my doctor and therby took 40 points off my cholesterol with significant improvement in the ‘good’ cholesterol. I will ask for copies of those labs. I am always thirsty because of some antidepressants I take, but i made sure to be tested for diabetes. So…hard to say. I am hoping diet and exercise can help with whatever it is they are findig so hard to measure. It is a possibility I have really sensitive androgen receptors, too.
I live too far away to go to Oak Park (it is very nice there) or Frankfort, but I will call to see if the CPE you mention knows someone.
I do think 10 years is excessive, I do think some of that growth was new in follicles that had not had the hair before. I am seriously hairy…I’ve reached the point where I’d just like to shave, but I just feel I have a forest black stumps hanging out on my face.