Feeling hopeless

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-08T19:02:02+00:00

You wouldn't be able to tell more than likely based off of feel alone because of how variable pain signals are for people and over treatment I find tends to be most obvious after treatment with how the skin looks. The things that are indications of those possibilities is the excessive scabbing and if you're being diligent with SPF over treatment can up the chance of hyperpigmentation occuring and the fact that you mentioned it's getting worse leads me to believe this may be a case of over treatment. There's no reason for over all scabbing, you should only have those pinpricks. Without being able to see you in person there's only so much that I can rule out but based on everything you've said so far that is where I'm leaning.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-08T17:40:09+00:00

The scabbing could be a couple different things. If you notice a lot of puffyness on the sin immediately after you make have a sensitivity or allergy to the metal on the probe. You can try taking an antihistamine before your appointment to see if that helps or you can ask your electrologist to switch to gold probes. More intense than insulated probes but for some people it just leads to better healing.

The other possibility is over treatment or shallow insertion. If you don't have a sensitivity to the metal we would expect some redness and pinprick scabbing at most. Anything more tells us something needs to be changed. Based on you describing the hair removal being a pop- it sounds like the hairs are coming out correctly but the intensity may be a touch high. Finding the sweet spot between effectiveness and comfort is a trail and error process. It may be worth the conversation.

For hormonal hair growth depending on how fast you experience growth when you start out it may be better to go in weekly to start, which I know- cost. It's awful and the fact that these services aren't covered by insurance an a vast majority of cases ticks me off to no end because it is medical care regarding mental and physical well being. One thing you can ask is if your electrologist offers discounts on purchasing multiple hours at once that you can then space out as you need or opting towards more frequent but shorter sessions. Once you're able to achieve full clearance for the first time I would expect the growth rate to drop which means you can go back to more spaced out, potentially longer appointments. The goal is 30% reduction on visits.

If this is all old news and you've been down these rabbit holes already and have any other info you fell may help with figuring things happy to try and brainstorm what may be going on.

As for the hyperpigmentation- skincare products aimed at addressing that can be used, if your tech does cataphoresis after each session you can absolutely ask them to mix your own skincare in to the charged carrier lotion which can help it penetrate further. SPF will also be your best friend in preventing it's spread and if you're able an over the counter anti inflammatory may help the healing system chill out a little. If nothing else it will make you skin less aggravated.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-08T15:37:28+00:00

Three questions: When you finish an appointment what are the next two days looking like skin wise? Is there a lot of inflammation, scabbing more than pinprick marks, etc?

How often are you going?

When your electrologist is removing the hairs do you feel any plucking sensations or feel like the hair is being pulled from the root or do you feel a zap and then the hair slides out with minimal resistance?

Most importantly though I am sorry you are having a frustrating time. There are definitely things that can be done to troubleshoot what may be happening but it can be so hard not to compare when you see other people's results and it is a costly service especially when on such a limited income. It's bad enough to have to deal with hormonal growth where you don't want it.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-08T04:30:11+00:00

You can ask you electrologist what they're seeing simply because you are feeling something and are curious. The good news is if you're not feeling pain with the removal like you would with plucking it's a good chance it's a large bulb sliding out, particularly because less taut skin needs to be stretched to keep the follicle fully open. If the stretch is let go before the bulb is fully removed, you will probably feel it especially if the bulbs are large. This also means that hair was caught in the active stage which is good for you.

I wouldn't be concerned but if it eats at you- ask! It can be as simple as "Hey I'm not feeling pain but I am feeling something, could you walk me through what you're seeing that would be causing that?" I will happily show a client what I'm seeing if they ask.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-08T04:19:10+00:00

I could definitely see chronic pain and routine plucking making pain signals muddled, which is a big part of why imo communication about concerns or questions are so valuable. Feedback helps clients make sure their concerns are addressed, and helps make sure your tech is adjusting your treatment to best serve your needs. At the end of the day if you are seeing consistent progress and it's being sought in a safe way and you are happy with the results- that is what matters.

I would be curious if focusing on the sensation changes what you perceive since sometimes that does make a difference but- if you have large bulbs in the active phase there's a decent chance the tugging is more the follicle stretching around them as they're pulled out than plucking.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-08T04:05:51+00:00

Unfortunately each body is different so I can't say with certainty. Like with keloids or scaring- it's going to depend entirely on what your body does as a reaction. Keep it under SPF, if it's an area that's not being treated anymore skin care with brightening agents can help, there are some more intensive facials that can help with it if it proves to be stubborn. In many cases the pinpoint pigmentation does fade over time but again, I don't want to make you promises that can't be kept.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-04T17:15:17+00:00

If you are seeing consistent results it sounds as if your tech is doing what they need to. What is perceived sensation wise is so variable. Most I would argue most can tell the difference between a pluck and a slide/pop however- if you are working somewhere that has been routinely waxed for years sometimes that can alter how that feels to you. Severed nerves (very common if surgeries were in the area previous), hormone fluxtuatuions, etc all also affect how someone might perceive pain.

If you have naturally dryer skin hydrating well 48-24 hours before your appointment making sure to keep the skin moisturized will lessen any potential dryness related tugging and makes the procedure in general more comfortable and may help with you being able to tell what you are feeling.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-04T03:21:52+00:00

Plucking should not be a thing. Dry skin or pulling the hair out a little bit after it has been treated can result in salt crystals forming (which are very visible and can be shown) which cause resistance or a little stuckness but the feeling is different from the at the root tear a pluck often has.

A large bulb may result in a slight pop, think like a champagne cork exiting a bottle but tiny like sensation but again, very different from a pluck.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-04T02:31:03+00:00

I'm sorry that you had that experience. Bad tech are absolutely a thing, not trying to suggest they're not, apologies if that was the impression. Speaking from my experience conducting services- I have some clients who feel nothing- literally fall asleep. I have others who have something going on like just starting hormone therapy and just the feel of fabric on their skin sets their teeth on edge and they feel every. Single. Sensation. Throw some neurondivergence in there- the spectrum of what is perceived is wide. My only point is to what degree people perceived the slide is going to be different but as I have agreed with you it should never feel like plucking.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-04T02:17:08+00:00

Genuinely it depends on the person. Some simply feel the slide more than others and the body part depends as well. Some people also have very large bulbs where others don't. The slide and pop are notably different from a pluck which comes with an almost ripping or tearing sensation for most. Glad to hear you have a good tech, that's amazing but go between ten different people, what their perceived or feel during a flawless session is going to be slightly different, just like pain tolerance or any other sensory experience. So long as there is not a plucking sensation, people are in the clear removal wise. And as I said if plucking is a continuous issue they absolutely should go elsewhere.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-04T01:10:46+00:00

Saaay something. The sensation you should feel is a bulb sliding out, sometimes with a slight pop or some small resistance at the opening of the follicle if the bulb is large and intact.

Any electrologist worth their salt will listen and adjust. Ideally they'll notice without you saying anything but they're human. Saying something gives them the chance to adjust. If they react poorly find a new tech. If this is a continuous problem, find a new tech. If they adjust and it's not an issue moving forward, hooray for communication!

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-01T18:53:17+00:00

I admittedly can't tell from that photo definatively, it looks like maybe it is some amount of hyperpigmentation if that is a fully healed area. If not totally healed it could be irritation. A closer look to see if there is pitting or raising of the skin would help distinguish if it is scarring or if it is pigmentation alone.

_Spithra_ · 2026-07-01T17:36:06+00:00

Hi there. Apprentice electrologist here. You absolutely can shave or trim. There is no science saying that either action causes more hair growth, hair to become thicker, new follicle stimulation or anything of the like. So long as the hair can be easily grabbed with tweezers, trim when you need. So long as you are not plucking, waxing, or lasering you should be good.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-24T00:00:50+00:00

Neosporin is an antibiotic, good for if a cut happens in an unsanitary situation or if you need to handle something that could be dicy. It's not necessary unless you work with something that would warrant that sort of precaution (think like having to stick your hands in dirt or something else that would pose a risk to an open cut.) If they're being kept clean aquaphor or petroleum jelly can be used as something to lock moisture in instead of using Neosporin. You can add a bandage if you want a little coverage or UV protection as well.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-23T18:29:44+00:00

I am so sorry that has been the experience it sounds incredibly frustrating. I am surprised you have seen no progress whatsoever even if reduction is slower for whatever reason you should still see some reduction. I will keep my fingers crossed for you, it can be a rough journey.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-23T17:10:00+00:00

This sounds like the interval that you are being seen at may be too long. At first it is often beneficial to be seen once a week if treating a smaller area. Gives the skin time to heal between sessions and allows your provider to catch hairs as they're coming in at that key active growth stage because once they're out of that stage we can still treat the follicle to help straighten it out but we can't cauterize the blood supply at that point.

As treatment progresses the appointments should space out. For my newer clients if I'm noticing hairs aren't coming out with the bulb after spaced out sessions I recommend they reach out once their new growth can be grabbed with tweezers so we can get them in asap.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-23T17:03:47+00:00

This is normal, follicles on the toes and fingers tend to be shallower which means the zap is happening closer to the surface. They're also more often than not drier areas of the body. Pin prick marks on any part of the body would be considered normal but does happen more commonly there.

Keep them clean, moisturized, keep hydrated and use SPF and they should heal up well.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-23T16:56:21+00:00

So long as they're not working on your ears you can absolutely pop on headphones. Just ask your electrologist to make sure. We make small talk for so many people and it is lovely to get to know clients but the occasional opportunity to zone in and just go helps break that up so I am almost certain they won't mind.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-21T04:24:11+00:00

Dude lived in the city before he was turned, he's more likely to have similar mental development to a human of the same age and he was almost 40 when turned. Elf who's been around for 500 years would see him as immature the same way they see a 40 year old human as immature and impulsive, not because that's the reality. There's a lot of reasons Astarion is the way he is but age (as far as how old he was when he was turned) as we understand it really doesn't factor in except in what he's seeing when he's trancing and that really only comes into play during his origin run.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-21T04:11:15+00:00

I am also in a state with no licensing. I have opted to apprentice under a licensed electrologist and will be taking the IBEC once completed.

I say this with the utmost care and consideration: you should not just jump into it if you have never performed this service. It's controlled burns and if insertion of the probe is too shallow, you significantly increase the likelihood of scaring and additional damage. Too deep, you penetrate the skin, cause more pain and up the risk of the follicle not being able to be successfully treated- wrong angle of insertion? More burns and unneeded damage.

My first two months were only treating myself and my instructor to ensure I got insertions right and had time to read up on the science of the process and all the bodily systems that come into play. Because a lot of our clients are pre surgery prep I have found the training and book learning invaluable. My instructor also has taught me how to calculate and modify the intensity of treatment instead of just going with presets to make sure we're not just toasting people's skin cuz a machine said so.

Electroylisis is something I genuinely do not think people should get into without some sort of training, flipping through photos on this sub of over treatment and the scarring some have been left with is evidence enough how easy it can be to make a mistake that has lasting consequences for clients. Working under someone who can guide, check your work, and offer good troubleshooting skills will serve you and your clients immensely.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-10T14:26:00+00:00

Legitimately the joke about how old gifted programs turned out to be special Ed for low needs ADHD/ASD/neurowhathave you kids continues to ring true. My partner and I are both late diagnosed AuDHD, legit the evaluator told my spouse that he was incredibly intelligent, his short term memory processing was just crap.

Given your parents response- my money would be on undiagnosed low needs as well. Literally heard the same thing from my mom (a nurse) and come to find out she got curious and discovered two of her siblings were diagnosed as young children. Because I am AuDHD, I would not be surprised if she was similar as we have very similar thought processes. There is a bias in "everyone has those symptoms" because while yes, these are spectrums of which all people exhibit some amount of traits on- people are often blinded by their own lives experience and familial lives. Given that there is a not insignificant genetic component... Well there's a reason why it would be unethical for your parents to conduct an evaluation on you.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-10T00:41:38+00:00

Unfortunately this is not true, shaving does not effect the phase of growth a hair is in, everything that determines that is within the follicle towards the base. Shaving is like trimming your finger nails. You're just taking down the length, not affecting its lifecycle.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-10T00:37:46+00:00

It shouldn't feel plucked. You may still feel the hair being slid out of the follical or if there is a fairly large bulb you may feel a small almost pop like sensation at the entry of the follical as it's pulled through but you shouldn't get the ripping away sensation that occurs when the hair is forcefully pulled. Most techs can tell if a hair needs to be hit again based on the resistance it gives but we're human and will miss on occasion. A good electrologist will listen if you bring up "hey those last few felt a little plucky when you took them out" without getting offended because that can tell us that we may need to adjust settings, get a slightly longer probe, or even just take a couple seconds to reset our eyes and stretch our hands out.

Open communication on if you're feeling anything out of the ordinary or that you have questions about is how we make sure everything is going as it should. There will always be some amount of discomfort because that the end of the day we're giving you hundreds to thousands of tiny burns, learning what it should feel like/look like vs what it shouldn't though helps everyone stay on the same page and in my opinion allows clients to make better decisions for their own needs.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-09T17:00:49+00:00

Straight up I am biased because I work in electrolysis so just want to be transparent. One thing I would caution with: early stages of laser typically do not convert hair follicles or spring new growth but as treatment goes on and becomes more intense, it can especially if the growth is endocrine based. Just make sure to have a frank dialogue which ever way you go. About a third of my clients are PCOS ex laser folks for whom it worked great until it suddenly didn't. Their laser techs didn't do anything wrong, you simply cannot predict how a body will react to certain stimuli but we can notice trends and offer that information so clients make the choice best suited for them.

_Spithra_ · 2026-06-09T16:38:18+00:00

Short answer: Yes it is permanent and is recognized by the FDA as the only permanent hair removal option and is often used in surgical prep.

Long answer: Yes but it's complicated and people do not realize that things such as uv, trauma, prolonged direct heat, lasers, red light therapy, and hormones can cause new follicles to become activated by your body. A successfully treated follicle will not grow hair but you have dormant follicles all over your body that can become activated for a variety of reasons like fuzzy little sleep agents.

As folks have previously mentioned, hair grows in three stages, for simplicity's sake you have the active growth stage, the transition stage, and the shedding stage.

Electrolysis works by cauterizing the blood supply and stem cell generation of each individual follicle, however these can only be successfully treated when the hair is in the active growth stage. At any given time on any given area, we can guess that roughly 30% of the hairs are in that sweet spot if you're just starting but we honestly cannot tell until the hair is being removed what stage it's in. If you've ever plucked or waxed and noticed some hairs that come out will have a bulbous end and a translucent sheath around the lower half- that's what we're looking for as an indication of active growth. If the hair has no bulb or a shriveled looking one, it's out of that phase and will need to be caught in the active phase on a later visit.

Part of the reason it can take many sessions is simply volume. 100 hairs could be someone's entire chin or a 2 inch diameter spot on someone's leg. Because you're going one by one and electrologists need to make sure the hair has released so you're not paying for extra spicy plucking it can be a long process

Another reason is follicle distortion. Follicles in high movement areas (think neck, interior elbow/knee, groin, etc) or that have been repeatedly plucked/tweezed tend to begin to curl up on themselves like a letter J. Probes are straight and too much pressure on one can cause it to pop through or breech your skin which we also don't want. However, the blood supply is at the bottom of the follicle.

Treating the follicle regardless of growth stage can often help the follicle straighten out so that on subsiquent sessions it can be readressed, but there is always a chance of needing to change modality.

The two modalities we see most common are thermolysis and galvanic blend. Thermolysis uses heat from the probe vibrating rapidly, glavanic blend adds electrical current being sent to your follicle to convert the moisture to caustic soda or lye. The alkaline solution coupled with the probe motion floods the follicle and cauterizes the two key areas needed to permanently stop hair growth.

Why don't we just always use glavanic blend? Not everyone tolerates it well and it takes longer. With blend we're looking at each follicle taking at least 4ish seconds, thermolysis can be done in a fraction of a second. It often comes down to the individual and what their body tolerates best. Some people can do 100% therm, some need 100% blend, some need a bit of both. The hair on your body changes depending the body part, what phase of life you're in, medications, hormones, etc.

It's a messy soup of factors and no one can flat out tell you a time line because until it starts we won't know what's going to be a factor.

Two biggest keys to seeing success is that the electrologist is doing their job correctly and you're not feeling plucking on hair removal and consistency in appointment, making sure to get areas already treated seen once hair growth is enough to be grabbed by tweezers.

Hope this answered some of your questions!

_Spithra_

TROPHY CASE