Electrolysis and skin damage

be very careful if you do this as to who you allow to practice on you.
check all credentials, insurance, reputation, experience etc.
there are so many cowboys/girls and the risks are enormous.
could you try other less invasive, risky methods first.
research fully. once done, it can be hard to recover.
and the face is so public, so integral to self-image, if anything goes wrong.

What about laser, the top of the range solution rather than electrolysis?
If cost is putting you off you can have the area waxed, sugared
or epilated. You can have the hairs bleached, use depilatory cream or even shave though I wouldn't recommend the last two.

My mum had this done over 40 years ago. I think hers was chin and upper lip. She seemed pleased enough with the results.

When I was seventeen, I had a few sessions of electrolysis, but the beauticians suggested waxing was better, as it was such a large area. It was thought at the time, the hair would eventually stop growing, and in the meantime, I had rid of all of them for around two months. They did stop growing mostly, when I was late twenties or so.

Then I bought an epilator which works the same as waxing, but for odd bits of growth here and there. I used to get the odd hair on my face, but the epilator saw them off.

My daughters now have laser removal kits at home, and are very pleased with the results.

I never reacted to any form of hair removal. Maybe on the day, but soon went. One of my daughters has to be careful, as her skin is more sensitive. Certainly no wrinkles.

Hope that helps.

My DD put hair removal cream on her legs for the first time and 10 seconds later they were both bright red and felt burning. She rinsed it off straight away and took an antihistamine pill. Took 3 days to feel normal again. It was a well known brand and was the sensitive type. They don't agree with everyone but I have never had a problem.

I have been having this treatment done for some time now. Not a quick solution but it does work and not cheap either. But my local college have a training school and much cheaper there and very professional about it all and very caring. Session at local beauty salon for 10 mins is £12 and at the college £7 for as long as you need. Obviously the college take longer as training. Not really ever had any reaction, you tend to get a few spots in the area after but don't want a hairy chin so will carry on!

I had electrolysis on my upper lip about 25 years ago. I didn't have any bad reaction at the time.

However, I now have some very small fine white lines on my upper lip. I don't smoke and they aren't wrinkles. I can only think that they are small scars from the electrolysis.

I wouldn't dye the hairs on your upper lip as, in my opinion, it makes them even more noticeable. The dye makes them look 'blonde' rather than transparent IYSWIM

I have tried an epilator on my legs and it was very painful.

Laser treatment is supposed to work well on dark hair but this was not available when I had my electrolysis

I also react badly to depilatory creams. I wax my top lip and use a lighter on my neck where I get fine hairs.

I'd have laser removal if I could afford it.

Laser does not work on white hairs…….

I got small white dots where the hairs had been this many years ago . The person doing it said I did not neen any more treatments but I think so was worried about the dots.

I have been having electrolysis for many years and have no adverse reaction or any extra lines.

Ilovecheese

I have been having electrolysis for many years and have no adverse reaction or any extra lines.

How many sessions do you need??

Gagajo A lighter ?? ??

Consider perhaps the most basic version of Philips Lumea - Intense pulsed light (IPL)?
Although costly, it’s still more convenient for me than booking appointments, driving to a salon regularly and taking up my time - I can treat at home, at my own convenience as many times as I want. Quite happy with the result too.

I have very strong dark facial hair and have been having electrolysis off and on for 40 years.

Fine hair can be killed by one application of electrolysis but stronger hairs grow back, but more weakly until they too are killed off. However we have thousands of fine hairs on our faces and these can get longer and courser as we get older.

When I started electrolysis at 40, I was having 10 minutes treatment a week for the first two years, mainly to clear my upperlife and chin and mouth area. Then gradually as more hairs were destroyed I needed to go less and less frequently and for the last 15 years it has been only 2 or 3 times a year and it is for hairs across the lower half of my face from ear to ear. My moustache has been gone for decades.

As far as scarring, I have none. Neither have I got any wrinkling or premature aging/damage to my skin. I am fortunate to be aging well, and all the electrolysis I have had has had no effect on my face at all, apart from stopping me from becoming one of those old ladies you used to see with beards.

Thank you, I am quite unsure about it so thought it might be a good idea to learn more from those who've had it. Totally agree on finding someone highly skilled the internet seems awash with bad results!
I have bleached for years as I'm naturally pale and dark haired it's just that they are getting thicker and darker and a few chin hairs have now appeared - the joy of getting older I suppose!

Debbie77n

Thank you, I am quite unsure about it so thought it might be a good idea to learn more from those who've had it. Totally agree on finding someone highly skilled the internet seems awash with bad results!
I have bleached for years as I'm naturally pale and dark haired it's just that they are getting thicker and darker and a few chin hairs have now appeared - the joy of getting older I suppose!

Oops sorry this was meant to be a reply to wellbeck! Still getting the hang of this bear with! Thanks everyone for all your replies too

Esspee

What about laser, the top of the range solution rather than electrolysis?
If cost is putting you off you can have the area waxed, sugared
or epilated. You can have the hairs bleached, use depilatory cream or even shave though I wouldn't recommend the last two.

Thanks Esspee, I'm a bit scared to try laser as I read something that said it could stimulate more hair on the face which would just be my luck! I have bleached for years but agree it doesn't look amazing! Now they are getting darker/thicker it's not cutting it really. Waxing I haven't tried though only threading once it twice.

DiscoDancer1975

My mum had this done over 40 years ago. I think hers was chin and upper lip. She seemed pleased enough with the results.

When I was seventeen, I had a few sessions of electrolysis, but the beauticians suggested waxing was better, as it was such a large area. It was thought at the time, the hair would eventually stop growing, and in the meantime, I had rid of all of them for around two months. They did stop growing mostly, when I was late twenties or so.

Then I bought an epilator which works the same as waxing, but for odd bits of growth here and there. I used to get the odd hair on my face, but the epilator saw them off.

My daughters now have laser removal kits at home, and are very pleased with the results.

I never reacted to any form of hair removal. Maybe on the day, but soon went. One of my daughters has to be careful, as her skin is more sensitive. Certainly no wrinkles.

Hope that helps.

Ah that's interesting about your mum, was her skin ok with it too?
That's really good yours stopped growing! I think mine is going the other way tbh. I've always had a bit of a moustache as I'm dark haired but now there are some dark chin hairs joining the club!
Do your daughter's use any particular lasers? I got a secret skin IPL which has worked well for my legs but doesn't seem to have any effect on my face annoyingly.
That's super helpful to hear about your skin reactions too - thanks for sharing!

sazz1

My DD put hair removal cream on her legs for the first time and 10 seconds later they were both bright red and felt burning. She rinsed it off straight away and took an antihistamine pill. Took 3 days to feel normal again. It was a well known brand and was the sensitive type. They don't agree with everyone but I have never had a problem.

Omg I hope your daughter is ok! Sounds awful! I've never actually used depilatories so this is good to know. So strange how it can affect people differently!

mrsgreenfingers56

I have been having this treatment done for some time now. Not a quick solution but it does work and not cheap either. But my local college have a training school and much cheaper there and very professional about it all and very caring. Session at local beauty salon for 10 mins is £12 and at the college £7 for as long as you need. Obviously the college take longer as training. Not really ever had any reaction, you tend to get a few spots in the area after but don't want a hairy chin so will carry on!

How are you finding it so far? Is it just your chin you are having treated? Are you seeing results with it so far? Sorry lots of questions! Hope it's going well

PinkCosmos

I had electrolysis on my upper lip about 25 years ago. I didn't have any bad reaction at the time.

However, I now have some very small fine white lines on my upper lip. I don't smoke and they aren't wrinkles. I can only think that they are small scars from the electrolysis.

I wouldn't dye the hairs on your upper lip as, in my opinion, it makes them even more noticeable. The dye makes them look 'blonde' rather than transparent IYSWIM

I have tried an epilator on my legs and it was very painful.

Laser treatment is supposed to work well on dark hair but this was not available when I had my electrolysis

Ah that's really interesting to hear. Do you mind if I ask a few questions about the electrolysis you had? Did you have to hold a bar at all (from what I read blend or galvanic require you hold a bar). Are the white lines noticeable at all? And is it just recently they've appeared? Thank you for sharing this is really helpful, I haven't heard of this happening. Did you have many sessions and did it remove all the hair in the end?
I agree on bleach it's definitely not helping the problem at the moment! Haven't tried epilation actually does sound a bit painful!

GagaJo

I also react badly to depilatory creams. I wax my top lip and use a lighter on my neck where I get fine hairs.

I'd have laser removal if I could afford it.

Ah thanks for sharing this, how often do you wax if you don't mind me asking - it's one I've never tried!

Floradora9

I got small white dots where the hairs had been this many years ago . The person doing it said I did not neen any more treatments but I think so was worried about the dots.

Do you mind me asking how many treatments you had and how long ago it was? Have the dots stayed? Did you hold a bar at all when you were treated and did it clear the hair ok? Sorry for a million questions there! Thank you for sharing!

Debbie77n, I suppose if I did it religiously, I'd do it every 5 weeks. But on average I do hope t every 2 months or so. I do my top lip this way and use a lighter on my chin/neck.

Yes, AreWeThereYet. They do it in middle Eastern countries. Swiftly run a lighter across the skin. It singes and burns off the hair to skin level. Do it fast and it's totally painless. I can't do my top lip this way because the angle is wrong.