Skin texture after electrolysis

[kaye]

Whats your skin care routine like?

Moisturise as well as cleanse and use toner everyday. Exfoliate a few times a week.

My new derma roller arrived and I have rose hip oil coming. First though I'm going to try a skin peel (50% glycolic acid) which I think will help a bit.

[Donna Elvira]

As planned, on Thursday I did the Croton chemical peel: chin, upper lip and forehead and can only say I'm very glad I knew what to expect. Since yesterday my lower face is as swollen as it was after my lower face FFS, I have pieces of skin peeling off all over the place and considerable oozing of serum creating an orange coloured crust when it dries. Not pretty at all.  However, there is little pain and I was able to drive home yesterday (~ 450 kms) without any problem.
Knowing this was coming I have no appointments with anyone for the next 2 weeks and if all goes as I've been told, by then I should have the worst behind me.
Not a procedure for the fainthearted though as you really look pretty gruesome for the first few days after the treatment. I also think that anyone planning to do this should schedule the procedure in the winter as you are supposed to avoid any significant exposure to the sun for about 6 months afterwards.
In my case, the purpose of this treatment is to remove all the uneveness and roughness of my skin on the upper lip and chin (due to electrolyis and chin surgery). While I was at it, I decided to do the forehead too, just to eliminate the last traces of the very heavy brow furrows I had prior to FFS.  I'll let you all know if it was worth it a few weeks from now. 

[Mary81]

I have some scarring and texture changes from electrolysis on my upper lip and chin, where there hair was the thickest.My family and friends say they don't even really notice it, but I do and it really ramps up my dysphoria.  I have days where it is hard to get my mind off of it and I feel like crying.  I have been trying fraxel resurfacing to smooth out this skin. I have had three secession of the recommend 5-7, but have yet to notice any real improvement. I suppose I will continue until all 7 secession are done and if there still is no improvement I may try chemical peels, like the croton oil peel Donna E mentioned.

Donna E: Please do keep us informed about your progress. I am very curious. I will see Dr Bart in a few weeks for a separate procedure, but I had planned to ask him about this.
 

[CrysC]

Well it's not the same pain as a tattoo especially in the face. I got my tattoo after few months of eletrolysis and I could have sleep on the chair. When doing facial electrolysis I can't even think of sleeping on the chair, but the skin is getting used to it.

Tip to reduce the pain is to avoid doing the same zone 2 times in a row ( when you let your skin rest enought it hurt less ), if you hit this zone another time the next week you'll experience greater pain.

You can help reduce the pain if in addition to taking Advil if you use Bactine on the area first.  Bactine has 2.5% Lidocaine which will help numb your skin a little.  After I found out about it I told the electrologist.  They tried it and they now make it available to patients for laser and electrolysis.  Just passing that tip along in case it can help you other ladies. 

[LizMarie]

More reason why I go to E3000. Lidocaine injections, total numbness in the face, and I can literally sleep through a session on the entire face (and have!).

As I noted earlier, yes, I am seeing the roughness on areas continually treated by electrolysis. My technician told me that will clear by itself but can take 2 years to do so, or a facial peel will almost always clear it quickly.

[ImagineKate]

I'm noticing a bit of roughness. Something I can cover with makeup but I do plan to get it peeled once I'm done.

Witch Hazel and bacitracin are what is recommended for care.

I wish I could do E3K. But taking 3-5 weeks off? I don't have that luxury this year. I want to go to Yeson and maybe take the kids down to see their grandma. That said, had I known about E3K last year (and decided to come out last year) I'd have chosen that route instead.

[Donna Elvira]

Donna E: Please do keep us informed about your progress. I am very curious. I will see Dr Bart in a few weeks for a separate procedure, but I had planned to ask him about this.

Today I'm just 9 days post-peel and all the swelling has already disappeared. So has all the dead skin and crust leaving me with beautifully smooth... and very red, skin in the areas treated.
Happily, the good news does not stop there. Much to my surprise, a little green concealer is enough to make me pretty  presentable meaning I was already out and about today, well ahead of schedule..
Today the weather was terrible with no light all day. Tomorrow is supposed to be clear and sunny and if so  I'll try to post a couple of photos, both the horror photos and how I am now.

[LizMarie]

That's great news. Donna! Thanks for the feedback!

[Donna Elvira]

As promised, here is a pictorial history of my chemical peel. I think you will understand why I said it wasn't for the fainthearted and I was very glad I didn't have to interact with many people on the evening and the first days after the intervention.
However, I was forewarned: " Somewhere between two and seven days, you'll probably wonder if it was all worth it" , "Depending on the state of the peel, you may be considerably swollen and generally unrecognizable".  Dr Bart Van de Ven




Here is the situation today, with and without concealer but otherwise w/o any makeup on my skin.




NOTA: Please DO NOT copy-paste these photos into other posts.

[K Style Addiction]

Now I'm scared about getting electrolysis

[Donna Elvira]

Now I'm scared about getting electrolysis

Donna,
If it's the pictures that have you scared, they're not after electrolysis which can be bad too if you do long sessions. Not that bad though..    They were taken after a chemical  (Croton) peel.

[LizMarie]

Honestly, Donna, from what I've heard otherwise, you seem to be recovering very rapidly. Every single case I've heard about has also resulted in very marked improvements in skin texture and overall complexion too. Keep us posted?

And thank you! Thank you so much for sharing this information!

[Mary81]

Hi DonnaE,
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Your recovery looks quite encouraging. Can I ask if you had only texture changes from electrolysis, or did you also have any scaring?
Thank you again and good luck with the healing process!
Mary