Comparison: Electrolysis and other hair removal methods (ex: laser, waxing..)

Is Electrolysis painful?

What causes unwanted hair growth?

Are there any restrictions to Electrolysis?

Are all hairs eliminated in one treatment?

What is the normal growth cycle of a hair?

How many treatments will I need?

What are the side effects?

Is there any danger of infection?

Is Electrolysis safe for pregnant women?

About Electrolysis Procedure

About Electrolysis Methods

How to choose an Electrologist?

Electrolysis and other hair removal methods comparison

The Food and Drug Administration and the American Medical Association recognize only electrolysis as a permanent method of removing hair.

Electrolysis and Laser are two different processes. Laser treats whole areas of hair growth using light while Electrolysis achieves results by treating each hair individually. Laser treatment cannot be used for some areas and does not work well for light skin or hair. Laser doesn't remove blond, gray, red or white hair. Electrolysis can be used on all types of hair and is an efficient way to clear colorless hair that cannot be touched by laser.

Although 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.

Some places may advertise electrolysis, but in reality they use Electronic Tweezers or Photoepilators. These are not permanent hair removal procedures. In fact, some states prohibit those who use the electric tweezers - which can also be purchased for consumer use - from claiming it provides permanent hair removal. There are electrical electrolysis devices available for home use that try to copy the devices used by professionals. These devices are often unsafe for use by anyone who is not trained in electrolysis.

Chemical depilatories (liquids or creams) are often used to remove leg hair. These products may work well for the legs but cannot be used on the face. Depilatories contain irritating chemicals, and they also can be time-consuming and messy. Likewise, bleaches contain harsh chemicals and do little to disguise dark hair. They may also discolor the skin.

Waxing is another temporary method of hair removal and is usually done in salons. Waxing can be painful and costly. It can result in skin problems like ingrown hair. To keep your skin clear, waxing must be done frequently forever.

Tweezing and Shaving: These are easy and inexpensive methods. However hair can become coarser and will grow back, skin problems can occur.

Is Electrolysis painful?

Electrolysis is generally not considered to be a painful procedure. However, people have different levels of sensitivity and will respond differently. The majority of people undergoing treatment for the first time are pleasantly surprised by how little discomfort is involved. Modern electrolysis methods have reduced any discomfort to a mere tingling.

Some parts of the body are more sensitive than others. In these cases, adjustments can be made to help making the treatment more comfortable and a topical anesthetic may be used on those areas.

What causes unwanted hair growth?

Hair growth is the result of heredity and hormonal levels. Also, certain medications, temporary methods of hair removal and some illnesses can stimulate hair growth. Even normal physiologic changes, and stress influence the hair growth for each individual.

Usually, hair growth is desirable. But when the hair is on the wrong part of your body - a woman's upper lip or chin, the hands or arms - you may want to consider electrolysis.

The causes of excess hair growth cannot always be eliminated, but unwanted hair can!

Are there any restrictions to Electrolysis?

Most areas of the body can be safely treated with Electrolysis. 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, legs, bikini line, hands, feet, toes and fingers. Hair on the eyelashes, inside the nose and inside the ear canal are only treated under the supervision of a physician.

Some State licensing laws or some general liability insurance policies may prohibit removal of hair from moles. In cases where neither of the above restrictions exists, your electrologist may require written approval from your physician.

If you have any condition such as a pacemaker, consult your physician before commencing treatment.

Are all hairs eliminated in one treatment?

Hairs cannot always be eliminated with one treatment. To break 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 from previously treated follicles.

How many treatments will I need?

Since many factors influence hair growth, you will need to return for several visits. The total number of sessions needed to remove hair permanently from a particular area will vary from person to person.

It is very important to adhere to the recommended treatment schedule to achieve optimum results in the shortest time frame. Improvement should be observed within months after initiating treatment.

Most clients return once a week or every other week, as necessary and each treatment lasts between 15 minutes and one hour. But the unwanted hair will be gone forever once the series of treatments have been completed.

What are the side effects?

Since its beginning, Electrolysis has been shown to be an extremely safe procedure. Like many minor procedures in medicine, Electrolysis does have a short healing phase during which there may be some transient redness or swelling, which usually disappears within a few hours, and occasionally some pinpoint scabbing. Your electrologist will advise you regarding what can be expected during the healing phase.

Is there any danger of infection?

A qualified professional electrologist will use only pre-sterilized needles and forceps for every treatment The needles are intended for one-time use and will be disposed of immediately in a proper sharps container. Generally accepted standards of infection control and hygiene will be followed.

Standard precautions includes hand washing, the use of gloves, sterilization of critical items used in electrology treatments, the proper disinfection of semi-critical and non-critical items, and the proper cleaning of environmental surfaces.

Although electrology has never been proven harmful to pregnant women, we recommend that you seek the advice of your physician before beginning or continuing treatment. Your electrologist may also require a letter from your doctor authorizing treatment during pregnancy.

About Electrolysis Procedure

Electrolysis is a time-tested method that was invented over a 100 years ago to remove hair. Most areas of the body can be treated with electrolysis, including the eyebrows, face, thighs, abdomen, breasts, and legs.

Today's medical electrolysis devices, called epilators, destroy the growth center of the hair with a short-wave radio frequency. A very fine probe is inserted into the hair follicle at the surface of the skin. The hair is then removed harmlessly with forceps. The energy destroys the follicle and the hair does not grow back.

There are no permanent side effects. Sometimes, a slight reddening of the skin occurs during or immediately after treatment, but this will only last for a short time. Electrolysis is very safe and, unlike depilatories or bleaches, no harsh chemicals are used.

About Electrolysis Methods

Three kinds of energy are used:

Galvanic (Direct Current) electrolysis works by causing salt and water in the skin around the probe to be chemically altered to produce a small amount of sodium hydroxide, or lye. Lye is the active ingredient in some crystal drain openers. If enough is produced, it can damage the cells that cause hair growth.

Thermolysis (Alternating Current) works by causing water molecules in the skin around the probe to vibrate, which creates heat. If enough heat is produced, it can damage the cells that cause hair growth.

Blend (Dual Modality) is based on the theory that lye is more caustic when heated. Theoretically, blend is more effective than other methods when performed correctly. Blend is recommended by several experts, but electrologist skill is by far the most important factor in safe and effective treatment.

How to choose an Electrologist?

Electrologists are people who have undergone training to professionally administer the electrolysis procedure. If you are considering undergoing electrolysis, it is very important that you do your research before committing to an appointment. The wrong decision can mean extra sessions and cost and unnecessary discomfort. By following the guidelines listed below, you can take comfort in knowing that you will be making aneducated and informed decision when choosing an electrologist.

Know their qualifications: Many states require that electrologists be licensed or certified within the state in order to practice electrolysis. If you live in those states , be sure the practitioner's certificate is current and fully on display. For states that do not regulate electrolysis, look for electrologists who have a certification from an accredited electrology school.

Get a consultation: During the consultation, be sure that any and all of your questions about the procedure are answered. Some of the questions you can ask include: how the procedure will feel, the cost of each visit , the length of each session, how long they have been in business and the number of clients they have treated. Make sure they use the right technique. Make sure the practitioner uses needle electrolysis, which is the only permanent form of hair removal.

Use common sense: When you go to your consultation, look around. Does the place look clean? Do the workers look clean? Do they use disposable gloves or probes? Are you personally comfortable with the professional? Personal comfort is essential to knowing you have made the right decision in choosing an electrologist.

The American Electrology Association has established specific standards for the profession including a national board certification credential, Certified Professional Electrologist (CPE). This designation indicates that the electrologist has successfully passed comprehensive national testing. Once awarded the CPE credential, the electrologist must fulfill continuing education requirements and/or be re-tested in order to maintain the prestigious CPE status.