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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.
We 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
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