Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Removal
What is electrolysis?
Electrolysis is the specialty of permanent hair removal utilizing only solid needle type devices.
Is electrolysis the only method of permanent hair removal?
Yes. Electrolysis is the only scientifically proven method of permanent hair removal. Electrolysis has been shown to be permanent in over a century of use. Its permanency has been well recognized by knowledgeable physicians and is testified to by hundreds of scientific articles published in the medical literature. Temporary methods such as shaving, tweezing depilatories, waxing and stringing require frequent time-consuming maintenance. Skin irritations, ingrown hairs, discoloration, and scarring may result. Some of these methods contribute to an increase in hair growth activity.
Are there different methods of electrolysis?
There are three recognized modalities (methods) of electrolysis:
- Galvanic (direct current) electrolysis- the hair root is destroyed by chemical action.
- Thermolysis (high frequency) electrolysis- the hair root is destroyed by heat production.
- Blend – a combination of the above two modalities where the hair root is destroyed by both heat and chemical action at the same time.
All three modalities are safe and effective. Your electrologist will choose the modality that is best for you.
Are other methods of hair removal as effective as electrolysis?
No. There is absolutely no reputable scientific evidence that shows any other method of hair removal being as safe, effective and permanent as electrolysis.
Why should I choose electrolysis to solve my unwanted hair problem?
Time is one factor for choosing electrolysis in today’s fast-paced world. Dealing with unwanted hair in a temporary way is tedious, costly and never-ending. Permanent hair removal frees you from this daily routine. Electrolysis also improves your physical appearance and self-image, lessens anxiety caused by the unwanted hair and helps you feel more attractive and socially acceptable. It is a choice that will enhance your own natural beauty and self-confidence. Lastly, electrolysis has been proven safe and effective over many years of use and is recognized by physicians and the American Medical Association. You can be confident that permanent hair removal will change your life in apositive and lasting way.
Is electrolysis safe?
Yes. Electrolysis has a 125-year history of safety and effectiveness. There has never been a reported case of disease transmission in electrolysis. We use only sterile disposable needles and new needle is provided for each treatment. The tweezers are also sterilized before each treatment.
Are there any situations when electrolysis should not be performed?
Yes. Your electrologist should do a consultation with you and ask the relevant medical questions to determine if you are a suitable candidate. A few situations require a doctor’s note of permission before commencing your treatment.
At what age can electrolysis be started?
Electrolysis can be performed at any age but parental or guardian consent must be obtained for anyone under 18 years.
The earliest age for treatment depends upon the motivation of the young person. Most electrologists want to make sure that it’s the young person, and not a parent, who is deciding that it’s time for electrology treatments. Girls as young as 12 seek treatments to remove hair on their upper lip. Teens and even pre-teens of both genders receive treatments to define or separate eyebrows.
Is electrolysis uncomfortable?
Whether there is any discomfort during electrolysis is quite variable depending on patient’s tolerance, epilator settings, modality used, as well as other factors. During most treatments, a definite sensation should be noticed. It has been variously described as a slight heat, tingling, or stinging sensation. There is no such thing as painless electrolysis. It is impossible to destroy hair growth tissue without sensation because its own network of nerve endings surrounds each hair follicle. The sensation, which may be felt, is assurance that destructive activity is taking place. Even though some parts of the body are more sensitive than others, adjustments can be made which may help to make the treatment more comfortable.
What areas of the body can be treated?
Hair can be removed from almost any part of the body. Some common areas for women include the hairline eyebrows, top of the nose, cheeks, sideburn area, upper and lower lip, chin, throat, neck, shoulders, back, chest, breasts, abdomen, arms, underarms, legs, bikini line, hands, feet, toes, fingers. Hairy moles may be treated with written permission from a physician. Men often have hair removed from the hairline, beard line, shoulders, back, neck, chest, ears, and nose. Electrolysis is very helpful for treating ingrown hairs, which frequently cause irritation in the beard area.
Are all hairs eliminated in one treatment or is re growth to be expected?
Deep, coarse hairs cannot always be eliminated with one treatment; thus, breaking down the hair germ cells may require additional treatments. During the course of treatment and due to the cyclic nature of hair growth, new hairs as well as hairs emerging from a dormant phase will also be treated and may be visible the same time as finer regrowth hairs.
What is the normal growth cycle of a hair?
All hairs have differing cycles of growth and are not visible on the surface of the skin at the same time. Hair normally grows for its usual cycle and then naturally sheds and replaces itself. Following active growing periods, most hair follicles go into a dormant stage. The period of dormancy may last for an indefinite period of time, however, replacement hairs usually appear within 3 to 12 months. The appearance of these coarse replacement hairs from dormant hair follicles should not be mistaken as regrowth form previously treated follicles.
Are there any side effects caused by electrolysis?
Electrolysis has been performed for over 149 years and has proven to be an extremely safe procedure. Electrolysis, like many minor procedures in medicine, does have a short healing time. Because electrolysis destroys the dermal papilla of a hair (hair root), it is normal to see some slight redness, welting and/or mild swelling associated with the electrolysis treatment. In most individuals, this will disappear in half an hour to several hours. In some circumstances, electrolysis causes tiny scabs to form over the treated follicle. These dots are perfectly normal parts of the healing process and will not leave any permanent damage, providing you do not pick at them, scratch them, or otherwise cause them to be infected. An occasional bruise, localized swelling, tenderness, and in some darker skinned individuals, some hyper pigmentation (excess pigmentation) may occur. Your electrologist will recommend the proper after care during the healing phase. Many clients’ report that their skin actually looks much improved after they’ve had electrolysis treatments.
How long does it take to permanently clear an area?
Total treatment can vary greatly from one individual to another. It is dependent on number of factors that include:
The size of the area being treated, previous use of temporary hair removal methods, hair growth cycles, the density of the hair, the texture of the hair, the existence of curved or distorted hair follicles, heredity, normal physiologic changes, hormone function, certain medications, medical history, the client’s age, the client’s tolerance, and stress influence the treatment program for each individual. Some improvement should be observed within several months after initiating treatment, provided the client adheres to the recommended schedule. It is important to realize that time, commitment, and patience are needed in order to overcome a problem, which did not develop overnight.
