Question
I had my first IPL treatment for my full face (except forehead) 4 weeks ago. My next appointment is today. I have blondish hair all over my face, but it's a little more that just peach fuzz - I hate it. I've tried electrolysis, but it's crazy painful and it would take way too long to finish my face considering I still had regrowth after every session. Anyhow, I researched meladine for a long time before just deciding to bite the bullet and give it a try. I've heard some good things and a lot of bad things about it, but I knew if didn't try it, I would regret it. So I used it as directed (which is tedious, but not too bad) and had my first treatment. My IPL laser technician said of course that she couldn't promise anything because she has never treated anyone with meladine. I have to say, my first treatment hurt like hell! I also smelt burning hair and my face reddened. She said that it was a good sign. Also, color emerged from my skin (from the meladine). I can't really tell if it has helped because the meladine instructions call for a daily shave. I still have growth, I know that much. Both my IPL Tech and I are curious to see if the meladine will work over time.
I'm going to continue with treatment, and I will try to keep everyone posted. I'm prepared for this not to work, but I'm hoping for the best. I guess we'll see! Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

Answer
I had my first IPL treatment for my full face (except forehead) 4 weeks ago. My next appointment is today. I have blondish hair all over my face, but it's a little more that just peach fuzz - I hate it. I've tried electrolysis, but it's crazy painful and it would take way too long to finish my face considering I still had regrowth after every session. Anyhow, I researched meladine for a long time before just deciding to bite the bullet and give it a try. I've heard some good things and a lot of bad things about it, but I knew if didn't try it, I would regret it. So I used it as directed (which is tedious, but not too bad) and had my first treatment. My IPL laser technician said of course that she couldn't promise anything because she has never treated anyone with meladine. I have to say, my first treatment hurt like hell! I also smelt burning hair and my face reddened. She said that it was a good sign. Also, color emerged from my skin (from the meladine). I can't really tell if it has helped because the meladine instructions call for a daily shave. I still have growth, I know that much. Both my IPL Tech and I are curious to see if the meladine will work over time.
I'm going to continue with treatment, and I will try to keep everyone posted. I'm prepared for this not to work, but I'm hoping for the best. I guess we'll see! Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

Answer
Well, I went for my 2nd treatment yesterday. She upped the setting to 36 (i think) and it actually hurt less and I hardly got red at all. There were still some spots that made me twitch, but not near as much as last time. It kind of worries me, I don't know why this would be the case, but I think I will have her up the setting next time. My next treatment is in 6 weeks. I'm thinking of changing it to 4 weeks. I don't know, I'm a little confused as to how long I should wait for my face.
Any information or advice? Thanks, and I'll keep posting!

Answer
First time usually hurts most because you have more coarse hairs at that time, and coarse hairs close together hurt the most.
4 weeks is a bit early. you should be going in for following treatment after the hair sheds (2-3 weeks post-treatment) and enough of the new batch comes to surface. For the face for most people that's about 6 weeks. It varies though. Just go when you have enough new hair pop up after the shedding and the hairfree period after that.

Answer
Well, it's been about 4 weeks since my 2nd laser session using meladine. I am going to start applying the meladine tonight in preparation for my October 11 appointment.
So far, I'm not quite sure how I feel about my treatment. I do still have regrowth, but I'm not sure if it's as much or as thick as it used to be - it's really hard to tell considering with the meladine, you have to shave the hair daily in order for it to penetrate to the root. A part of me thinks when I touch my face with the regrowth, that it's not as bad - but this could be wishful thinking.
As I said in my last posts, my first session hurt quite a bit, my face reddened, and I smelt burning hair - which was a good sign. My next session hardly hurt at all and I really did not redden, which seemed like a bad sign to me. As Blink said, this could be b/c there was less hair. Also, I went after 4 weeks instead of 6.
This time, it will have been 6 weeks and I am going to have her up the joules. Any suggestions on the power issue? I've heard of people with my type of hair starting at 50, which I'm all for - pain is not an issue for me. I would rather have a few minutes of pain if it meant getting good results.
Please post if you have any comments, stories or suggestions and I will keep everyone updated on my progress.

Answer
do you experience shedding at all after treatments? the fact that you are going in 4 weeks post treatment is telling me that you might not...since it takes 2-3 weeks to shed and you should have at least 2-3 weeks of hairfree period after that. If you can't tell since you're shaving everyday, I would stop and let it grow out to see if there is a difference. Also, take a picture NOW so that you can compare results later. It can be hard to tell without having a before picture. I would hate for you to be wasting your money. Really do try to figure out if it's working at all before you spend a lot of money. Most people who have tried meladine say it doesn't work. Plus, even if the hair is DARK, but fine, laser usually can't get it as well. So you have 2 things going against you. It can actually work the opposite way and make your hair grow in thicker and darker because you are applying all this to it and the body can react back when all this blood flow is rushing to the area, because hair feeds on that in the first place...