I wrote once before asking about having my upper lip done and I also mentioned that I have melasma (hormonal skin condition) which is brown patches on lip. I just started using a prescription product called Tri Luma applied only at night, which contains flucinolone acetonide (a corticosteroid), hydroquinone, & tretinion(retin-A).
Can I have electrolysis done while using this product? Do I have to choose stopping product while undergoing electrolysis or can I just skip the night before & night after? have any of the pros out htere had clients using a similar product and doing electrolysis at the same time? Both conditions are very toxic to my self-esteem, I do my best to avoid the public as I feel everyone is staring at my upper lip.
For an upper lip, is it best to go weekly or twice a month? I am currently bleaching the hair, is there a better method to use while going through electrolysis?
Thank-you all in advance, this is a very helpful, non-judgemental community.
So you have to balance out treating the melasma verses treating the hair. If you find a skilled, professional electrologist with up-to-date equipment (quality vison wear, excellent light source (halogen or LED), computerized epilator) then that will help you tremendously. Perhaps using an insulated probe would be better for your skin?
I really don’t see any reason not to have electrolysis while usisng these products, but you would probably want to wait a couple days after an electrolysis treatment,to resume your nightly ritual so the area has a chance get a head start on healing. The act of performing electrolysis can stimulate the pigment cells if you are suscepticle to pigmentation problems, but when the hair is permanently gone it will fade with time and certain medicants, like the one you are using, can speed the process along. What does your doctor say about this? You could ask the same question to her/him and get an opinion.
In the beginning, one may have to go once a week to get to first clearance for an upper lip or any other area. If you want to be conservative because of the melasma,you can go every two weeks.
You can bleach, clip or shave the hair. I’m wondering if you are a fervent bleacher, if the darkening wasn’t caused by bleaching the skin too much???
Thanks dee…your are so helpful. I was just at the derm & she just said not to use it the night before, nothing about after treatment, but she is so busy, I only had a few minutes. I don’t bleach very often & did ask about that, she didn’t feel it was the bleach, but they all have different opinions. I have another melasma spot on my forehead, I think the melasma is caused by sun, hormones (age 51,no period since March) & a thyroid problem (hasimotos). I don’t take any meds for either problem as my thyroid is functioning. Both problems are depressing, but I would really like to start the hair removal process.
Thanks again Dee, I appreciate your helpful information!
Dee…if the dark skin is caused by bleaching…will it go away after electrolysis? My derm said I could bleach, but it does seem to get darker after bleaching, so you made me begin to wonder…I hope it goes away, it’s as bad or worse than the actual hair on my lip.
Most certainly it will fade with time depending on the amount of damage. After the area is left alone to heal, though, meaning no more bleaching and electrolysis program has been completed. That’s why you need a skilled electrologist to make sure that insult is not added to insult. You won’t need to bleach very long, as an good electrologist can clear the area and keep it cleared until there is no hair left to treat!
