I found your site recently and just want to tell you how fantastic I think it is. It is really informative and I feel alot of relief reading about others experiences (I’m not the only one suffering from unwanted hair).
I have recently started to get electrolysis on my fingers (thermolysis)however after each treatment (I have had 3) I my fingers are red and swollen and after approx 3 days I get scabs which take up to two weeks to go. I have also noticed that I am getting ingrown hairs (I can see them under the skin)and my skin is now irregular and bumpy. I try to release these by exfoliating the area or lifting the top bit of skin with a sterile needle to remove the skin over the hair. If I manage to release them the hair growing back is sharp and black and I am wondering why that is if it is new hair growing in or if the hair has broken during treatment? Is the hair not being treated properly?
Is there any way to avoid scabbing? Any other method for example. I was considering finding someone who does galvanic or blend and hoping not to get this reaction as I lock myself away for up to 10 days afterwards and only get treatment when I am on holiday (am a student - returning to study in two weeks!). Is it normal to have this sort of reaction?
Also, it is nearly one month since my last treatment and I have very noticeable red dots all over fingers (is this normal)? Is this pigmentation and is there anything that I can do to lighten these marks? I am considering using a concealer, is this ok?
Thanks for your kind words. The people who originally put this site together did so because they could not find one like it. This was strange considering statistically speaking, 9 out of 10 people have some hair, somewhere, they wish they could get rid of.
As for your question, I like galvanic and blend for the area you are having worked on if I can’t get great thermolysis work done on it. Even I sometimes use blend or galvanic in this area on certain clients.
Since this is body work, you will always get some temporary side effects like scabbing, or red dots for a while, but the lumpy, bumpy texture can be avoided or minimized with use of galvanic or blend.
Thank you very much for your reply. Just wondering if you (or anyone else can give me any info or advise on the following…
If I manage to release “black dots under little bumps” the hair released is back is sharp and black and I am wondering why that is if it is new hair growing in or if the hair has broken during treatment? Is the hair not being treated properly? I would have thought with a new hair growing in it would not have been coarse and sharp.
Also, for the red dots that are still visible (4 weeks after treatment) can I use concealer to try and make them less visible?
Finally, I have started to use witch hazel, aloe vera gel and have just bought tea tree oil which I will use for the first time tonight…will these products still be beneficial for skin healing since the scabbing has gone? Should tea tree oil be applied to the whole area?
Those products will be useful and it is okay to wear concealer until the marks fade away.
These are expected temporary side effects for this area. Hair getting trapped can be from improper treatment energy, too shallow of an insertion or the hair breaking off as in the follicle. Tell your electrologist so she can take a different approach.if she only does thermolysis, she may want to use an insulated probe, since those hairs are not very deep. I had red dots for a while after toe and finger work and all is fine and beautiful years later. It didn’t take years to resolve, but what I’m trying to get across is the temporary side effects were worth getting this outcome.
Thank you very much for your reply Dee, you have put my mind at ease. I feel like I can carry on now with confidence that my issues will resolve in time. Best wishes
Sure! I am going to buy a product containing the Kojic acid, and Licorice extract that is advised on this site for fading red dots and hyperpigmentation. Just wondering if you could tell me whether the rest of the ingredients in the gel would cause any problems. I have another treatment (with a different electrologist - although with thermolysis again) on Monday and once the skin is healed (ie; scabs gone) I plan to use this gel to try and reduce the red dots…just a bit concerned about the other ingredients. I would appreciate your feedback as to if it is ok. This is what they say…
NeoStrata Fading Gel 40g - For the discolouration of the skin
An effective gel formulated with 10% AHA/PHA together with 5% skin lightening agents to assist in diminishing the appearance of discolouration of the skin. It enhances exfoliation and effectively helps reduce pigment irregularities
Contains a natural fading complex consisting of Kojic acid, Citric acid, Lactic acid, Bearberry leaves, Mulberry root extract and Licorice extract to prevent melanin synthesis in the newly formed skin. Assists in diminishing pigment irregularities such as sun spots, dark spots, uneven skin tone, age spots, freckles and blemish mark. Dermatologist and allergy tested
Active Ingredient
10%AHA / PHA 5% Lightening Agents (bit worried about these ones!)
…what do you think…would you recommend this for my “red dots and hyperpigmentation”?
I look forward to hearing back from you and will definately keep you posted on my progress
Since you are one person I now know who has had electrolysis on their fingers…how many clearances did it take until you were hair free in this area? I have previously done nothing to the area (no shaving, trimming or waxing)and have no hormonal problems that I know of.
I have had 3 clearances already and will be having my fourth in a couple of days (over 3 months)…the hair has reduced considerably however my fourth treatment will be the last one I can have for a while…as you would know, you cant hide your fingers and I am back to study in a few weeks so the hair that appears after that will be left untouched for a while! I estimate that it will be at least 3 months until I can clear the area again…
I hope you don’t mind me posting more questions…I appreciate your time and advise immensely. Thanks again.
Oh, I’m glad to answer your questions. Thanks for the appreciation.
It has been so long ago since I had my digits done and I knew nothing about electrolysis at the time, so I can’t accurately say how many clearances it took. I can tell you that I don’t recall dwelling in that area very much. She must have blasted those follicles very well.
I, however, have finished and conquered many toes and fingers on my own clients. I can’t give you an exact number of clearances needed because every person presents with a different amount of hair, in different stages of growth, and some hairs are thick and some are thin or medium. All I can offer you is this advice, when you see hair, get it! Within a year, there will be very little hair to get…or maybe, no hair to get.
If you have to stop electrolysis for awhile, then clip or shave to disguise the hair until you can resume. Bleachng may help if you don’t want a stubbly feel.
Dont know if you saw this post above the last but if you can give me your opinion that would be great. I plan to use this in an attempt to fade the red marks after my next treatment (once the scabs have healed of course). Below is the “blurb” for the product…
NeoStrata Fading Gel 40g - For the discolouration of the skin
An effective gel formulated with 10% AHA/PHA together with 5% skin lightening agents to assist in diminishing the appearance of discolouration of the skin. It enhances exfoliation and effectively helps reduce pigment irregularities
Contains a natural fading complex consisting of Kojic acid, Citric acid, Lactic acid, Bearberry leaves, Mulberry root extract and Licorice extract to prevent melanin synthesis in the newly formed skin. Assists in diminishing pigment irregularities such as sun spots, dark spots, uneven skin tone, age spots, freckles and blemish mark. Dermatologist and allergy tested
Active Ingredient
10%AHA / PHA 5% Lightening Agents (bit worried about these ones!)
…what do you think…would you recommend this for my “red dots and hyperpigmentation” after thermolysis?
I look forward to hearing back from you and will definately keep you posted on my progress. I feel blessed to be able to have your professional opinion…
Well…I like the ingredients, especially the kojic acid and licorice root extract part. It would be fine to use, but if you wanted to save the money, you might be surprised at how soon this will subside on it’s own. I say this without advantage of seeing any pictures, but that’s how things usually end up with electrolsysis. You could do an experiment and use this gel on eight digits and not the other two and see which works best. We can call it “THE SUPER GEL VERSES MOTHER NATURE” experiment.
If it is an OTC (over the counter) product there is absolutely no data required by FDA for all OTC products. You pays your nickel and takes your chances. That is why they get away with strange products. Remember the stuff invented by a school teacher because she did not want to get a cold from the kids? NO MORE. The same for the product that was for something in the head. They never told you what it was for but pointed to the head. That is gone too. There was a product that increased bust size that was supposed to be " “NO DRUGS” “ALL NATURAL”. No more. The same for St. John’s Wort. A pill to enhance men, Glucosamine and Condroitin will be next. ALL FAKES. No pill taken by mouth can lubricate the joints. When it gets to the stomach it is digested and it is no longer an active drug. Same for many products.
Who makes this stuff? Is it available in stores or only from mail order? How did you find out about it? How much is it and for what size package?
If it is OTC (over the counter sale) there is no data needed to market it. FDA has no control over all OTC perodeucts. You pays your nickel and tales your chances. Let us know if it works. Good Luck
determined, I have the same problem . I’m removing hair from my stomach. I get red dots on the area, It’s really frustrating to look down and see, all these dots. But Im very determined, and know that hopefully by next year I will be hair free !!!
Ladies, this will all pass, minus the hair. Electrologists should be given feedback and then make an attempt to decrease temporary side effects that will lessen the degree of skin reaction. Remember, we are in the business of damaging tissue that helps hair to grow. We need to strike a balance and damage the tissue underneath the skin while leaving the upper part of the skin with little hint that a war on unwanted hair is taking place.
Roma18, hang in there…I am sure it will all be worth it in the end. Have you tried any topical substances to reduce the redness? (aside from aloevera, witch hazel and tea tree oil)?
Lefty2g, The NeoStrata is a 40g tube gel produced by NeoStrata Company, a medically based dermatological company founded by the doctors who discovered alpha hydroxy acid technology. It is available OTC and by mail order.
I will get some and try it and let you know how I get on…
