1. What is Electrolysis? 2. What causes excess hair? 3. What is a normal hair growth cycle? 4. How long does it take? 5. Are all hairs eliminated in one treatment? 6. What are the side effects? 7. How much does it cost? 8. Is it painful? 9. What about Laser? 1. What is Electrolysis? Electrolysis is the science of permanent hair removal utilizing a probe device. A fine, sterile probe is inserted into the hair follicle and a small amount of current or heat, depending on the modality used, is discharged destroying the hair follicle and preventing it from producing another hair. Modern Electrology began in 1875 through the efforts of Ophthalmologist, Dr. Charles Michel. He accidentally discovered electrolysis while removing an ingrown eyelash from one of his patients. Through his initial efforts and continued research, permanent hair removal through Electrolysis is a reliable and safe method for halting excess hair. For the last 100+ years the medical community has recognized the three methods of electrolysis as the only process for permanent hair removal: Thermolysis, Galvanic and Blend. A. Galvanic: A DC (direct) current passes through the needle charging the moisture (H2O) and salt (NaCl) naturally found in the follicle causing a chemical reaction. Sodium hydroxide (lye) is produced. The lye destroys the hair follicle by chemical decomposition. The current causes the H2O (2 Hydrogen and 1 Oxygen atom) to split apart (ionize) into a Hydroxyl Ion (OH) and a Hydrogen Ion (H). Ions are unstable and tend to recombine with other ions. The Salt molecule (NaCl) is composed of one Sodium atom (Na) and one Chloride atom (Cl). The current separates it into a Sodium Ion and a Chloride Ion. The unstable Ions will pair up immediately to balance themselves. The Chloride Ions hook up in stable pairs (Cl2) to form Chlorine Gas. The Hydrogen Ions pair off to form Hydrogen Gas (H2). And most importantly, each Sodium Ion (Na) tends to combine with a Hydroxyl Ion (OH) to form Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). This is our follicle-killing Lye! For those interested, below is the chemical equation: B. Thermolysis: An AC (alternating) current passing through the needle causes vibration in the water molecules surrounding the hair follicle which produces heat. The heat damages the hair follicle. This is the quickest method, but areas will need to be covered more times than with Galvanic or Blend. C. Blend: This method combines the benefits of galvanic and thermolysis by passing a DC current through the needle, producing lye, which is then heated up by the AC current. The heat spreads the lye around the follicle, ensuring proper damage to the hair follicle tissue. This is faster than Galvanic alone, but still more time consuming than Thermolysis. I will choose the appropriate current for the client after analyzing the skin, texture, moisture gradient (dry or moist), hair type, and client sensitivity. With these options available, your treatment can be customized for maximum comfort, swiftness, and most importantly, permanency. 2. What Causes Excess Hair? According to current medical science, excessive hair growth is primarily caused by three factors: Normal Systemic Changes, Heredity and Glandular Disturbances. Normal Systemic Changes can be caused by puberty, pregnancy, menopause and hysterectomy. Puberty stimulates change in both the body and hair-growth patterns. Common pattern changes include an increase in hair follicle activity and an overall darkening/thickening of the hair shaft. The diminished hormonal levels in a womanıs body following menopause and/or a hysterectomy can promote new hair growth on the face and body. Glandular Disturbances originate in the endocrine system, which is responsible for our physical development. Certain specific medications, such as male hormones, birth control pills, and even pregnancy can disrupt the delicate endocrine balance and produce unwanted hair. Hereditary Hirsutism, excessive and abnormal growth of hair, is found in all nationalities, some more than others. Electrolysis can permanently solve this problem regardless of nationality or the amount of hair. However, many cases of "excessive" hair growth are actually normal in relation to the physiological changes the client may be going through, just as it is normal for many men to go bald. Most instances of baldness are cause by heredity and are considered normal. It is worth noting that stress (both emotional and physical) can stimulate the adrenal glands to initiate a hormonal reaction that can cause finer hairs to become more coarse and noticeable. Increased blood supply can also stimulate hair to grow thicker and darker. Waxing and tweezing can cause an increase in blood supply in many clients while others experience reduction of hair growth. 3. What is a Normal Hair Growth Cycle? All hair, regardless of the area of the body, has a different growth cycle. Eyelashes and eyebrows, for instance, grow for about four months and then are shed. The life span of a human scalp hair is from two to four years. After the hair is sloughed off, the follicle becomes dormant for a period varying from a few weeks to several months, and then begins once again to produce hair. Since only visible hair can be treated, the initial treatment period for any given area is four months. Much of the perceived "re-growth" that occurs during treatment is really hair emerging from dormancy. Once this hair becomes visible, it can be treated for the first time. 4. How Long Does It Take to Be Rid of The Hair? Although the number of treatments required varies with each client, those that adhere to the recommended treatment schedule usually accomplish their goal between 12-18 months. Some improvement should be observed within several months after initiating treatment, provided the client adheres to the recommended treatment schedule. Factors such as hair growth cycles, the quantity and structure of the hair presented, previous uses of temporary hair removal methods, heredity, hormone function, normal physiologic changes, certain medications and stress may influence the treatment program. Hairs that have been tweezed, waxed or are very curly often have a good chance of coming back as a finer hair. It can then be epilated for good. This is due to the follicle distortion, which means it is not growing straight under the surface of the skin. Since the probe is straight, with a bent root, only part of the hair (and germinative cells) is treated on the first treatment. 5. Are all hairs eliminated in one treatment? Deep, coarse hairs cannot always be eliminated with one treatment; thus breaking down the hair germ cells may require additional treatments. Due to the cyclical nature of hair growth, new hair as well as hairs emerging from a dormant phase will be treated and may be visible the same time as finer re-growth hairs. 6. What are the side effects? Immediately following treatment, there may be a slight redness and/or swelling which usually disappears within a few hours. Occasionally, small whiteheads or tiny scabs may occur. Whiteheads usually are indicative of bacteria entering the follicle after treatment. Remember to keep the area as clean as possible for the 24 hours immediately following treatment. Scabs are part of the normal healing process and will not cause any permanent damage if they are not picked off. Trauma to the underlying tissue will sometimes cause lymph fluid to seep from the follicle. The lymph fluid seeps to the top of the skin and in a dry environment will harden forming a scab. Applying anti-bacterial ointment on the treated area will often deter the scabs from forming. You can read more about this in the After Care Instructions on this website. You will also receive a copy from me at your first appointment. When electrolysis is correctly administered there should be no permanent skin damage. 7. How much does it cost? Cost is based on how much hair you have to begin with and how much of it you want removed. Since each individualıs physiology is not the same, some clients require more treatments than others because of stronger follicular resistance. Upon your initial visit I can give you an estimate but it is simply an estimate. . I wish there was a cut and dry answer to this question, but unfortunately there is not. 8. Is it painful? Each personıs individual pain tolerance plays a major factor in the degree of sensation felt by the electrolysis treatment. Because we are in essence destroying tissue in the follicle there is sure to be an uncomfortable feeling. For some it is merely an annoyance, for others it is less tolerable. Fortunately there are topical numbing solutions that can be used, as well as over-the-counter pain relievers, which seem to help. See the Pre-Care Instructions for more detailed information. 9. What about Laser? While laser promoters compare laser to electrology and some laser devices have been cleared for permanent reduction, laser assisted hair removal is considered a temporary method of hair removal. Additionally, laser hair removal has not been evaluated for long-term safety of the patient's skin and health. For more information on lasers visit: www.fda.gov