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What Are Wrinkles from Electrolysis Called?
Dear Dr. Bhupinder Kaur,
I am the person who had an electrolysis mishap in April of 2008. Since the incident I found out the hard way what happens when I go out into sunlight. The first summer began with deep scabs and ended with a scar that looked like a mustache and wrinkles around my mouth with some pitting. There is also pitting around my brows, one of which turned into a wrinkle above one brow. The wrinkles began as pits at the corners of my mouth and turned into
wrinkles within a two week time frame between the fourth and fifth month. Because of the suddenness of the wrinkling, the placemnet of it (being where the electrolysis treatment was done) and the timing of it (during the healing process), I can't bring myself to believe that this could be caused by aging (which I thought happens gradually and in the form of crows feet and brackets before anything else). It was suggested to me that the cause could be from having thin skin and pursing my lips (repeated mechanical movement), but that wouldn't explain the crease above my brow where the electrolysist concentrated most of her work. It also doesn't explain why these wrinkles weren't present before the electrolysis treatment. I was also told by one doctor that the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation that I have is actually melasma. When I told him that I am past my reproductive years, he said that because I am half East Indian that I would be prone to it.
Having to deal with people who insult my intelligence in this way has been extremely upsetting because the treatment that I choose to have for my symptoms would depend on what the symptom is actually caused by. I have read the terms "sunken scar," "pitting," "tissue damage," "collagen loss," "fibrous tissue attaching to underlying muscle..." My difficulty in getting a straight answer from these doctors, who have in so far as yet recommended sun block and over the counter hydroquinone, has prevented me from getting treatment for this weird wrinkling.
What is this wrinkling? Is it collagen loss? Is it fibrous tissue that replaced collagen that has attached itself to underlying muscle? What could cause pitting and what could cause pitting to turn into wrinkles? Can you give me a medical description of what happened to my skin? I'm frustrated and tired of dealing with people who, in fear of a court case, will not give me a straight answer or recommend a treatment for this symptom.
Aside from needing some explanation for the wrinkles, I have been doing very poorly with the pigmentation aspect of the scar. I discovered that sunblock does not protect 100%. Therefore I have been coping by living a very restricted life,wearing a vision obstructing hat (the only one that would shade the lower part of my face),
and putting sun block on every two hours. I have not always had the chance to put sun block on,on time.
I can't drive because of the sun coming through the window. I'd have trouble explaining to a new love prospect that I can't take a sunny vacation or take a walk or sit in the front seat of the car with them or even sit on the train or bus let alone wait for the train or bus, without the fear of the indignity of having my face turn into a joke. The knee jerk reaction of seeing a lady with a mustache is to laugh. My profession is such that I have to be taken seriously and involves presenting. Therefore I have put my career on hold in favour of a menial labour job. The wrinkles around my mouth make me look older which also stands in the way of my career since I don't have enough experience to compensate for my age in the eyes of potential employers. Both careerwise and relationshipwise, I don't see how to move forward short of changing my career (which I can't afford financially) and giving up on love. The nature of this scarring being that it darkens with sunlight exposure, is such that I have to choose between my dignity or doing the things I need and want to do. So far choosing my dignity has won out but not without huge sacrifice. Please don't suggest a psychologist.They can't change human nature, besides which they are the ones who are always doing surveys on the impact of good looks. What I need is an honest medical opinion and advice to help me move forward.
I am hoping that if I can fade the pigmentation enough over the winter that next summer it won't come back with sunlight. Do you think this is possible, or will I always be prone to the return of this pigmentation?
So far you have been a huge relief in your caring, honesty and respectfulness towards me in this ordeal. The other two doctors I have seen do not seem to recognize the monumental impact the nature of this scar can have on a woman's life. Professionals in the beauty industry have seemed particulary hypocritical to me. I am still on a waiting list for a general practicioner and therefore haven't been able to see more than two experts. Therefore any explanation that you have about the wrinkling and whether you think I can ever be rid of the risk of the return of the pigmentation with sun light, would be appreciated. Sorry about the length of this and thank you for your advice and support.
I am the person who had an electrolysis mishap in April of 2008. Since the incident I found out the hard way what happens when I go out into sunlight. The first summer began with deep scabs and ended with a scar that looked like a mustache and wrinkles around my mouth with some pitting. There is also pitting around my brows, one of which turned into a wrinkle above one brow. The wrinkles began as pits at the corners of my mouth and turned into
wrinkles within a two week time frame between the fourth and fifth month. Because of the suddenness of the wrinkling, the placemnet of it (being where the electrolysis treatment was done) and the timing of it (during the healing process), I can't bring myself to believe that this could be caused by aging (which I thought happens gradually and in the form of crows feet and brackets before anything else). It was suggested to me that the cause could be from having thin skin and pursing my lips (repeated mechanical movement), but that wouldn't explain the crease above my brow where the electrolysist concentrated most of her work. It also doesn't explain why these wrinkles weren't present before the electrolysis treatment. I was also told by one doctor that the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation that I have is actually melasma. When I told him that I am past my reproductive years, he said that because I am half East Indian that I would be prone to it.
Having to deal with people who insult my intelligence in this way has been extremely upsetting because the treatment that I choose to have for my symptoms would depend on what the symptom is actually caused by. I have read the terms "sunken scar," "pitting," "tissue damage," "collagen loss," "fibrous tissue attaching to underlying muscle..." My difficulty in getting a straight answer from these doctors, who have in so far as yet recommended sun block and over the counter hydroquinone, has prevented me from getting treatment for this weird wrinkling.
What is this wrinkling? Is it collagen loss? Is it fibrous tissue that replaced collagen that has attached itself to underlying muscle? What could cause pitting and what could cause pitting to turn into wrinkles? Can you give me a medical description of what happened to my skin? I'm frustrated and tired of dealing with people who, in fear of a court case, will not give me a straight answer or recommend a treatment for this symptom.
Aside from needing some explanation for the wrinkles, I have been doing very poorly with the pigmentation aspect of the scar. I discovered that sunblock does not protect 100%. Therefore I have been coping by living a very restricted life,wearing a vision obstructing hat (the only one that would shade the lower part of my face),
and putting sun block on every two hours. I have not always had the chance to put sun block on,on time.
I can't drive because of the sun coming through the window. I'd have trouble explaining to a new love prospect that I can't take a sunny vacation or take a walk or sit in the front seat of the car with them or even sit on the train or bus let alone wait for the train or bus, without the fear of the indignity of having my face turn into a joke. The knee jerk reaction of seeing a lady with a mustache is to laugh. My profession is such that I have to be taken seriously and involves presenting. Therefore I have put my career on hold in favour of a menial labour job. The wrinkles around my mouth make me look older which also stands in the way of my career since I don't have enough experience to compensate for my age in the eyes of potential employers. Both careerwise and relationshipwise, I don't see how to move forward short of changing my career (which I can't afford financially) and giving up on love. The nature of this scarring being that it darkens with sunlight exposure, is such that I have to choose between my dignity or doing the things I need and want to do. So far choosing my dignity has won out but not without huge sacrifice. Please don't suggest a psychologist.They can't change human nature, besides which they are the ones who are always doing surveys on the impact of good looks. What I need is an honest medical opinion and advice to help me move forward.
I am hoping that if I can fade the pigmentation enough over the winter that next summer it won't come back with sunlight. Do you think this is possible, or will I always be prone to the return of this pigmentation?
So far you have been a huge relief in your caring, honesty and respectfulness towards me in this ordeal. The other two doctors I have seen do not seem to recognize the monumental impact the nature of this scar can have on a woman's life. Professionals in the beauty industry have seemed particulary hypocritical to me. I am still on a waiting list for a general practicioner and therefore haven't been able to see more than two experts. Therefore any explanation that you have about the wrinkling and whether you think I can ever be rid of the risk of the return of the pigmentation with sun light, would be appreciated. Sorry about the length of this and thank you for your advice and support.
hi i have had electrolsis done and have started seeing pit holes and slight wrinkles on my lip im only 25 so carnt be ageingi was wondering to if they will go away and heal on thier own or go worse very concerned
hi i have had elctroloysis and after 4 to months of me going once a week for 20 min sessions ive started seeing wrinkles near my lips and pit holes very concerned and wondered if they will go or get worse very concerned no one mentioned to me at the beauty salon that this could happen thanks
Hello,
I have the same issue scarring, wrinkling and pigmentation damage on my face. What treatments have u found to be helpful for u? I really would appreciate any info Im only 35 yrs of age and this has really brought my self esteem to the ground and makes me very self conscious.. Thank You
I have the same issue scarring, wrinkling and pigmentation damage on my face. What treatments have u found to be helpful for u? I really would appreciate any info Im only 35 yrs of age and this has really brought my self esteem to the ground and makes me very self conscious.. Thank You
Hi,
I have similar damage from electrolysis and was wondering if you had found any treatments that have worked for you.
I was also wondering if you might possibly have lupus. I have lupus and one of the symptoms is being extra sensitive to the sun. I may be way off base, but you should research it and see if you may have some of the other symptoms.
Jean
I have similar damage from electrolysis and was wondering if you had found any treatments that have worked for you.
I was also wondering if you might possibly have lupus. I have lupus and one of the symptoms is being extra sensitive to the sun. I may be way off base, but you should research it and see if you may have some of the other symptoms.
Jean
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
How are you? I can fully understand the pain and suffering from which you are going through. I remember talking to you at length about the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and sunken deep scars as a side effect of electrolysis treatment.Sunken scars are recessions into the skin due to the skin being attached to deeper structures (such as muscles) or to loss of underlying fat. For these type of scarring filling with injections of collagen or hyaluronic acid and laser resurfacing has given excellent results. My sincere advice is to discuss this in detail with your dermatologist before going in for ant treatment option.
I sincerely hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.
How are you? I can fully understand the pain and suffering from which you are going through. I remember talking to you at length about the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and sunken deep scars as a side effect of electrolysis treatment.Sunken scars are recessions into the skin due to the skin being attached to deeper structures (such as muscles) or to loss of underlying fat. For these type of scarring filling with injections of collagen or hyaluronic acid and laser resurfacing has given excellent results. My sincere advice is to discuss this in detail with your dermatologist before going in for ant treatment option.
I sincerely hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.
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