Electrolysis After-Care

1. Following your treatment, do not touch or scratch the area treated! Bacteria are on everything and by touching your skin you are transferring bacteria from doorknobs, etc. to the treated area. This will cause a breakout (whiteheads).
   
2. Do not wash or wear make-up over the treated area for 24 hours. Even washing with soap will cause irritation and possible infection. Translucent powder is permissible.
   
3. Avoid perfume or alcohol-based products. They will dry out your skin. You can wipe the area with witch hazel, if needed.
   
4. Apply Bacitracin, Polysporin, Neosporin or another antibacterial ointment or cream to the treated area the night after your treatment. This will help your skin heal even faster, especially facial areas. Apply with Q-tips or clean hands. If your skin is still irritated on the second day, apply a Hydrocortisone cream (Cortisone, Cortaid, anything with 1% hydrocortisone or hydrocortisone acetate). It is anti-inflammatory and will reduce redness and swelling. Also works on pimples!
   
5. Avoid excessive sweating if having work done below the neck. Sweat can cause bacteria to enter into the open follicles and cause minor infection. Exercise before your electrolysis appointment instead of afterward.
   
6. Avoid the sun for the next 72 hours to avoid the formation of brown pigment spots. Your skin defends against UV rays by producing pigment, which will deflect some of the harmful rays. If your skin is injured or traumatized it can over-produce pigment in those areas. This can result in hyper-pigmentation. ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN.
   
7. Do not swim in a chlorinated pool for the first 48 hours following treatment.
   
8. If small scabs appear, do not scratch them away. This can cause scarring. Allow them to fall off naturally. This is nature¹s way of healing the follicle that we have treated. (the scabs are lymph fluid that has drained out the follicle and dried up) Keeping the area moisturized will often curtail the formation of scabs. If discomfort should occur in closely treated areas apply an Epsom salt compress: Add 1 tsp. Epsom Salt to 1/2 cup warm water, mix and soak up with a washcloth. Lay washcloth over treated area for 10 minutes and repeat until discomfort subsides.
   
9. If you are prevented from coming in as soon as you would like for your next treatment, DO NOT TWEEZE! The offending hair can be clipped off with small scissors, shaved, bleached or you can use a depilatory such as Nair.
   Remember: Some re-growth is to be expected. If you will return when the first re-growth occurs, the roots are shorter and weaker and therefore can be treated more effectively.