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I have just finished clearing my facial hair for the first time and am using witch hazel and aloe vera. The aloe vera gel however, which is organic and 100% aloe vera, feels very uncomfortable when I apply it. It dries up and forms a crust. Can you be allergic to aloe vera? What other products can be used for aftercare?

Aloe vera doesn't actually treat the skin as per many scientific studies. If anything it just helps soothe the redness. You could easily go without it. An anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen will be more helpful.

Welcome to Susan's Place. Oh yes you can be allergic to Aloe Vera. It's initial use was in medicine treating burns but latter it became a common consumer product. A sales man for our company bought a can of shave cream with it in it and used it for the first time at a big show we were doing. He couldn't shave for the remainder of the show and several days after that because of the reaction he had. As he had a thick dark beard, he looked rather scruffy by the time he made it back to the office.

For now it may be best if you stick to witch hazel and if you swell, consider an ice pack. Keep your skin clean (no makeup) until it has had time to recover from the treatment.

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Quote from: suhani on January 27, 2018, 04:20:25 PM
Can you be allergic to aloe vera? What other products can be used for aftercare?

You can be allergic to any plant based product. The residue that dries up may be the gel and not necessarily the aloe vera.

While oral non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs help, I prefer to apply 1% Hydrocortisone Creme to the red areas right after electrolysis. Usually, the redness is gone a few hours later.

Since the skin is damaged, shouldn't some products for anti-scarring be used as well, since witch hazel is only an astringent. The skin is very dry after electrolysis, do you apply moisturizer or some sort of non-comedogenic oils?

I have found that ice immediately after electrolysis followed by layering on baking soda paste, really helped. The paste is just baking soda and water. This is the same process as one would use when dealing with a bee sting. I leave the baking soda paste on for about 30 min. It will dry but it seems to really working.

I use which hazel

My electrologist gives me a compress of iced witch hazel immediately following the procedure and applies "Sterex Apres" a cream that soothes and protects the treated areas.  Also ice packs help reduce any residual puffiness and redness.  Here's a link to the Sterex cream: 

https://www.prestigeelec.com/shop/sterex-aftercare-products/sterex-apres-cosmetic-creme