Should You Worry About Electrolysis Scarring?
Electrolysis scarring is not a genuine risk. People mistake post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation for electrolysis scarring. PIH is a temporary and common side effect of electrolysis treatment, especially on brown and black skin. Hair growth inflames the skin so hyperpigmentation presents before electrolysis anyway.
Electrolysis Scarring Is Not A Risk
The skin has the ability to heal completely after a bad electrolysis treatment. It is impossible to scar the skin in one electrolysis treatment. It takes months or years of repeated trauma.
When I was a client of electrolysis I had what I thought was scarring above and between my eyebrows. I suspected I had a terrible electrologist so I was happy for an excuse to stop seeing her. Looking back I don’t know what caused the marks on my skin. Perhaps it was a bad insertion or a surface burn. In any case, my skin healed completely within a few months.
The image below is my magnified big toe. I performed electrolysis on my toes years ago with a microscope with 16X magnification.
The surgical microscope has a fixed working distance. I had to prop my foot and bend over my toe to focus properly. It was a difficult position to hold and I cleared my big toe in one session so I wouldn’t have to do it again. I cleared 30-40 hairs in a small area with thin skin so I had some irritation. My insertions weren’t perfect because the position was so awkward.
I overtreated my skin on purpose because I knew my skin would heal. My toes blistered in the treated area. It was summer so my toes were further irritated by walking in sandals. I didn’t take any special precautions yet my skin healed completely after aggressive electrolysis treatment. As you can see there is no difference between the skin on my big toe and the other toes.
In conclusion, electrolysis scarring is most likely to occur after repeated trauma to the skin. Look for an electrologist who can kill the hair in one shot.
Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation Following Electrolysis Or Laser