By Rita Reckas
Registered Electrologist
© 1996 Rita Reckas & Transgender Forum
Swelling is probably the most common after-effect of a typical treatment and this can usually dealt with by applying cold packs. The main thing is to keep the skin clean and to avoid irritating it further by using harsh soaps or cosmetics too soon after your appointment. In most people the irritations and other noticeable effects will disappear in from a few hours to a day or two.
You may find that using witch hazel or 3 percent hydrogen peroxide helps keep the skin in good shape after a treatment. Another alternative is to use calamine lotion.
A day or so after your treatment you may use alpha hydroxy or glycolic acids if you like. These products are exfoliants and some doctors believe they can help help reduce the appearance of wrinkling and other skin imperfections. In our case, they may also help speed the healing process.
As the skin heals and returns to its normal condition, pores that once contained hair should close and leave you with smoother skin. If this is not the case, you may be getting overtreated and experiencing some scarring.
Electrolysis done correctly should never leave scars, but unfortunately, there are clinicians who do not take the kind of care they should. Make sure you get references before using any electrologist.
Even the best electrologists sometimes overtreat an area. This usually happens when they are working in areas with extremely dense hair growth. Overtreated skin may take longer to heal, particularly if there is blistering. Don't confuse this with swelling, some of which is normal.
Blistering should not happen routinely, but should not cause any long term problems so long as this is doesn't occur repeatedly. If you find that your electrologist is routinely overtreating your hair and you are blistering often, find another person. In the occasional case however, the best care is to simply wait about four weeks before having treatment again.