Electrolysis is the most permanent method for hair removal; however, it can also be time consuming and tedious. Therefore, when selecting an electrologist it’s essential that they adhere to all their aftercare instructions.
After treatment, a natural band-aid, known as a scab will appear at the opening of your follicle a day later – this scab may be honey colored or darker in tone.
Redness
Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal treatment that works by damaging the growth center of hair follicles to prevent further hair growth. Electrolysis can be used on facial, neck, underarms, legs and bikini line hair to stop it from sprouting back again; moles may also be treated using this technique with approval from your physician.
After your treatment, it is normal for the skin to be red and swollen immediately following, especially if this is your initial appointment. These symptoms generally subside within an hour or two but may linger. Following our aftercare instructions will help minimize discomfort during recovery while also helping ensure you achieve results you desire.
Your therapist will apply Sterex soothing gel at the conclusion of each treatment session to hydrate the skin and promote fast recovery. We suggest continuing this regimen, at least twice per day after treatments have ended, in order to maintain good skin condition and keep hydration at a maximum level.
If you are experiencing significant redness and swelling after electrolysis sessions or have noticed any skin damage, please let us know immediately. We can assess your situation and adjust treatment if needed or recommend another electrologist – as choosing an electrologist who you trust can prevent further skin damage and permanent scarring.
Scabs will appear following treatments, and it’s essential not to pick at them. Scabs are actually formed from oil from hair follicles killed during your procedure that have hardened into solidified masses of debris; they should shed off naturally within days without leaving marks or scars, however picking at them could cause infection.
Following treatment, your follicles become vulnerable to bacteria. Therefore, it’s essential that the treatment area remain clean and dry and no products that clog pores or are too harsh on delicate skin are used in treatment. You should also always wear sunscreen as sunrays can worsen an infection further.
Swelling
After your first treatment with electrolysis, the skin may appear slightly red and swollen for several hours following electrolysis. This is completely normal and should only last several hours. To minimize discomfort during this time period, avoid fragranced soaps and lotions while applying cool compresses may help reduce swelling. Witch hazel is also an effective astringent available at many drugstores that should be applied immediately following electrolysis sessions.
Some debris can remain in treated follicles after treatment and appear as blackheads. While the body usually pushes them out naturally, sometimes needing help from outside sources such as baby oil or facial cleanser. Applying some baby oil directly or cleansing with regular facial cleanser may help. When this is the case for you, use a cotton ball and gently pop out any stubborn blackheads – multiple treatments are likely necessary before they have completely been eradicated.
Some individuals tend to bruise easily. When an electrode is inserted too deeply into a hair follicle, it may puncture small blood vessels that feed it and create a small bruise that’s often difficult to see. An electrologist should inform their client that bruises are possible during electrolysis sessions, or by accidentally puncturing capillaries during tweezing; or due to dark pigment in their skin tone more likely bruising easily than others.
Electrolysis treatments may cause side effects depending on your skin type and technique used, including redness, scabs, changes to skin color surrounding follicles, loss of pigment at their site of origin and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which will eventually fade once irritation subsides – this may take up to one year in some cases. For noticeable scarring requiring laser treatment such as Fraxel Re:store may help with its appearance whereas punch grafts or additional laser techniques might be required for desired results – for further advice consult with an experienced dermatologist first.
Pustules
Electrolysis often results in redness, swelling and scabbing as part of its healing process, so these side effects should be treated carefully. These reactions typically resolve themselves within days; however, permanent scarring can occur if a person tries to cover up these reactions with incorrect skincare solutions or attempts to hide them through concealment techniques that only worsen them further in time. It’s essential to remember that these side effects are an inevitable part of electrolysis’s process and trying to hide or avoid them may only exacerbate them over time.
Bruising
Although rarely experienced, bruising may occur if needle punctures a hair follicle or when an electrologist touches skin during treatment. Furthermore, certain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or blood thinners may cause this side effect as well.
Swelling After electrolysis, swelling can be expected and should be taken seriously, particularly for sensitive areas like the upper lip or bikini line. Swelling can be minimized by applying cool compresses such as frozen pear or apple during the day and using soothing gel at night; additionally it’s important to drink lots of water throughout the day to remain hydrated and reduce discomfort.
Pustules (pink or red bumps that appear after electrolysis and infection) can be treated with topical antibiotics or oral medication, but it’s important not to scratch these scabs, as this could lead to scarring as well as premature fall-off leading to bleeding beneath the skin and cause scarring in some cases. It is best not to do this.
Chemical Peel
A chemical peel can help address pitted scars after electrolysis by using an acid mixture on injured layers of the skin and using this to dissolve pitted scars. There are at-home options available, though for maximum effectiveness we suggest going directly to a medical spa for this procedure.
Surgery or laser resurfacing may be necessary for pitted scars that do not respond to skincare treatments; for mild-to-moderate pitted scars however, some people may see improvement after just one year without additional treatments being necessary.
Scabs
Electrolysis treatments often cause skin reactions which cause occasional side effects that can have adverse reactions on appearance, including scabbing, pitting, ingrown hairs and blemishes that must be monitored and treated as instructed by your electrologist. All reactions should be seen as necessary parts of healing from electrolysis procedures and should be accepted as such by you and your electrologist.
Scabs are your body’s natural band-aid for protecting injured tissue. Scabs may appear honey colored or darker and will gradually disappear as your hair follicle heals, so they shouldn’t cause alarm; in fact, scabs shouldn’t even indicate improper treatment or infection as long as they remain intact and do not open and expose vulnerable skin to bacteria and germs.
After an electrolysis session, it’s not unusual for some hardened debris to remain in the follicle. These may appear as blackheads and are caused by cauterized hair remnants clinging to the bottom of the follicle; over time these will usually move out naturally or require assistance such as exfoliation to help get them moving out more quickly.
Bruising is an infrequent side effect of electrolysis that occurs when small blood vessels leak their contents into soft tissue beneath the surface, typically as a result of pressure applied by an electrologist’s fingers or due to accidental puncturing of small vessels by probe. Bruising usually appears immediately and most often appears around eyes and chin; witch hazel has proven highly effective at providing immediate astringent action as a treatment option.
Electrolysis technicians may use different approaches or techniques with every client in order to provide the most effective and efficient hair growth cycle-specific therapy. By tailoring treatments specifically to each person’s hair growth cycle, this will decrease both time and number of treatments necessary to clear an area and improve skin appearance. Furthermore, avoiding unnecessary bleaching or aggressive removal between appointments will increase chances of successful outcomes and more quickly return your skin back to its previous state.
