Once electrolysis treatments begin, your skin may develop what appear to be scabs; these are actually coagulated oils forming around treated hair follicles and should not be touched or picked at. Staying on track with your scheduled treatments can help minimize scabbing.
Apply Sterex soothing cream available at your clinic immediately following your electrolysis session for fast recovery. It will encourage rapid healing.
Redness
Electrolysis treatments typically result in some mild reddening of the skin during or immediately following, usually subsiding within several hours to two days post treatment. This sign that your body is healing newly opened follicles also indicates that the procedure was completed successfully.
Keep the area clean after each treatment session to prevent irritation, using witch hazel, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or gentle soap for cleansing the area. Apply numbing cream prior to starting treatments as a preventive measure.
Swelling of the skin is also part of this process and caused by expanding blood vessels providing increased bloodflow to an affected area. This step is an integral component of electrolysis procedure.
Moisturizing the treated area will help to minimize swelling and hasten its recovery time. Your aftercare kit includes soothing cream for this purpose; additional supplies may also be purchased in clinic.
Pitting of the skin after electrolysis is common due to scar tissue that forms in the space left by destroyed follicles and will take up to one year for this wounded collagen to mature into smooth tissues.
After your electrolysis appointment, it is incredibly important that you avoid sun exposure to prevent abnormal pigmentation. Electrolysis-treated skin can become extremely sensitive to sunlight and result in painful sunburns.
If you must venture outside in the sun, make sure you wear an SPF 30+ sunscreen. Furthermore, excessive sweating post appointment should be avoided in order to limit bacteria entering open follicles and leading to infection.
Small scabs will form on treated areas as part of the healing process, protecting from infection. It is important not to pick at these or remove them as doing so may result in scarring. If scabs appear sooner rather than later it would be best to seek medical advice early – this will ensure we capture hairs in their optimal growth stages and lead to more efficient treatments.
Swelling
Swelling may occur immediately following electrolysis and may last from several hours up to two days depending on your skin. This is caused by blood rushing to the area where hair follicles were opened up; once normal blood flow returns to normal, swelling should subside. For optimal healing results we offer Melfol Calm Balm free of charge in our clinic.
Aftercare hygiene after electrolysis is essential to keeping skin clean and preventing bacteria from invading open follicles during their healing process. You must avoid direct sunlight as treated skin is particularly sensitive. Excessive sweating after electrolysis should also be avoided as it could lead to an infection.
After electrolysis, hair follicles reach their weakest point during anagen phase (growth phase), taking some time for them to return to a healthier state. Therefore, it is crucial that treated areas are left undisturbed until all follicles have recovered their health. Shaving or waxing of treated areas before this has happened will further impair their return.
Scabs may occur after electrolysis treatment on dry skin areas. Scabs serve as the body’s natural band-aid to shield it from bacteria while it heals; it is important not to pick at or remove these scabs as this may lead to infection & prolong the healing process; leaving them alone will ensure they disappear without leaving visible scarring behind.
If you have any concerns or inquiries about how your skin responded to treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out! Your electrologist is happy to guide you through the healing process; with patience and good aftercare you’re sure to achieve permanent hair removal goals! It is also important to note that no single session can guarantee 100% success; each individual’s growth cycle differs, thus necessitating regular appointments so we can treat each follicle when its optimal time for growth arises.
Pustules
Pustules (bumps) may form at the opening of hair follicles as part of the natural healing process and do not pose permanent damage unless they become infected. A small amount of topical ointment like Neosporin(R) or homeopathic product can help keep moisture levels consistent in order to avoid infection, especially helpful after heavy activity immediately following electrolysis treatments when it may be difficult for clients to keep dry areas without moisture escaping through sweat-soaked clothing. It is advised not to pick at these scabs as this could create scars – instead, use an electric foil razor between treatments.
Brusing from electrolysis is rare but may occur occasionally due to pressure from the electrode against your skin and any leakage of blood vessels beneath. It typically appears in purple hue and should clear up within two weeks; witch hazel can also help reduce its appearance.
Electrolysis may result in ingrown hairs, usually due to remnants of hair root sheaths, an excess build-up of dead cells or improper pre/post treatment hygiene. Most ingrowns typically fade once their scabs heal and the new growth comes in; selecting an experienced electrologist who follows recommended aftercare practices will significantly lower this risk.
Some clients may experience a herpes outbreak around an open follicle following treatment, usually without issue; however, repeated episodes could indicate herpes virus infection; antiviral creams could potentially prevent this in the future.
Scabs
After an electrolysis session, it is quite normal to experience some degree of scabbing as nature tries to heal the newly opened up follicle openings. Scabs may appear honey colored or darker and will protect healing skin underneath them. Do not pick at these scabs, as picking may lead to scarring – eventually they will fall off themselves on their own once new skin has formed underneath.
Scabbing can be seen as an indication that hair is being successfully extracted from its follicle. If the scab becomes itchy, applying an analgesic topical may help. Furthermore, it would be wise to refrain from shaving in that area until your scabs have completely formed; shaving can cause micro-cuts that allow bacteria to enter into your follicles causing further infection.
Once a scab has formed it is best to avoid soaps or moisturizers that contain wax fillers; use instead a mild unscented lotion with an analgesic for faster skin healing. Furthermore, be sure to wash gently with tepid water only and keep skin clean through washing with an alcohol or anti-bacterial cotton ball saturated in alcohol or anti-bacterial agent.
Electrolysis treatments typically pose no serious risks when conducted correctly and by trained hands, however it is not unusual to experience redness, swelling, blisters or scabbing immediately following an electrolysis session due to factors like client skin sensitivity, the quality of equipment used, strength of current and coarseness of hair being treated. If this occurs it should typically resolve itself within days; otherwise it’s wise to contact your electrologist either over the phone or personally for additional instructions – they can often be made over email if required.
