The
concept of
electrolysis began more than a hundred years ago in Saint Louis
Missouri, by Ophthalmologist Charles E. Michel.
For
many years, he had tried in vain to solve the problem of ingrown eyelashes,
which had caused chronic vision problems in several of his patients.
Experimenting with a new
technique, he attached a surgical needle to a live electrical wire from a
dry-cell battery and inserted it down the follicle shaft for several
minutes.
The result of the treatment was the total destruction of the hair follicle
unit. The hair never grew back, and history was made.
What
Dr. Michel actually did was to alter the pH of the follicle shaft from
neutral (7) to highly caustic (11-14) by creating an electro-chemical
reaction inside the tissue. The electricity had changed the natural
sodium electrolytes into a highly caustic alkali called
sodium hydroxide
(NaOH). It is this chemical byproduct, not the electricity itself,
which was responsible for the destruction of the hair-generating tissues.
This chemical is so completely caustic that a tiny drop could burn a hole
instantly through your skin.
Is Electrolysis Dangerous?
The amount of electrical current used is extremely small and poses no
hazard. Electrolysis is mechanically safe and controlled
at every stage of its application.
How Many Treatments Does It Take?
Many hairs will be eliminated with only
one treatment, but some will need two or more treatments to achieve
permanency. Electrolysis involves a series of treatments over a period of
1-3 months. The overall length of time depends on the amount of hair, its coarseness, the
cause of the excess hair, but once the dermal
papilla has been eliminated, the hair is dead and will not grow again.
Is Electrolysis Painful?
Electrolysis
rarely causes discomfort. If it does, adjustments can be made
to the machine which will totally eliminate any sensation (although the length of the
treatment will be increased proportionately).
The sensation is less than in tweezing. Most
patients are surprised as they expect to feel much more. Some patients even
relax enough to fall asleep.
Is it Hard or Painful to Insert the Needle?
No, the
insertion of the electrolysis probe is
much easier and far
less intimidating than most people believe. The "needle" is actually a
blunt-ended, highly flexible probe which never pierces the skin. There is no
blood (or pain) involved. It slides effortlessly down a pre-existing shaft,
like a hand into a glove.
To insert the probe, simply find
the follicle opening with the tip of the probe, match the angle of the hair
growth, then slide it downward until it stops (it will not push through the
bottom of the follicle shaft).
Once the probe is correctly placed, depress
the foot switch on your electrolysis unit. A mild current of energy will
exit the probe, destroying the
hair growth forever. Micro Probe Electrolysis is so complete and thorough only
one of ten
hairs may return to require a second application.
Can I Perform 'Self
Electrolysis'?
Yes, the procedure is very safe and easy. There are many home
electrolysis systems on the market. Most of which use an inefficient
9,000K
µV
(10V-6)
current with a very large probe (0.006-0.008 inch diameter). This low
voltage makes for long treatment times of 1 minute or more. The large
diameter probe makes insertion difficult and uncomfortable. The best
advice for home treatments is to buy a medium to high power system from
18,000K
to 24,000K
µV
(10V-6)
which has a foot switch and a small diameter probe (0.003 maximum).
The technical expertise required to operate an electrolysis machine is very
minimal.
What Causes
Excess Hair? Hirsutism
is a condition in which there is excessive
growth of hair on the face or body. It can occur in both men and
women without discrimination and is caused by hair follicles that are
overly
sensitive to male hormones (called
androgens). It can also be caused
by abnormally high levels of these hormones.
Some medicines promote
Hirsutism,
such as birth control pills, hormones and anabolic steroids. Women of
Mediterranean ancestry, Hispanic women and African American women tend to
have more body hair than women of Native American or Japanese ancestry. The
condition seems to run in families and your doctor may want to run some
tests to find out what the underlying cause may be.
Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause
can also cause excess hair growth. During the normal systemic changes in a
woman's life, hormone production varies. It is not uncommon for hormones
during these times to be unbalanced. Increased male hormones (androgens)
can be present which may result in unwanted hair growth.
Does Electrolysis
Always Work? This question is usually asked
when patients see hair appearing in the treated area. Hair that appears in the
area is not necessarily hair growing from a treated follicle. Most, in fact,
will grow from untreated follicles. If the hair appears in six weeks or less,
you can be sure that it is from a follicle that was previously dormant. Seven to
eight weeks would be required for a hair to grow from the treated follicle.
Can Electrology Be Harmful
or Cause Scarring?
Under normal conditions,
there are no harmful effects from electrology treatment. Most undesirable
after effects are caused by the patient. Scratching, picking, or using heavy
makeup, general uncleanliness can all cause problems.
Caution should
be taken with diabetics and patients prone to keloids. To avoid harming the
patient, the electrologist should not treat areas inside the nose or ears, or
wherever there are skin irritations, until the patient has been examined by a
physician.
Can Hair Be
Removed From a Mole?
The electrologist
should check insurance coverage and state regulations before treating a mole. A
physician's permission should also be obtained to protect the health of the
patient. These precautions are presently necessary because treating moles is
still controversial. There is no recorded damage due to treatment of a mole, and
many insurance companies now cover this treatment. In fact after treating moles
(in 90% of cases) color disappears in 2 to 4 months, leaving the skin
in perfect condition.
How Long Does Each Treatment Last?
The average treatment ranges from 15 minutes to
one hour. The amount of time per treatment depends upon the reaction of the skin
to treatment, and the patient's sensitivity. Timing also depends on what part of
the body is being treated. The first treatment should last no more than 15
minutes. Use this treatment as a test. If all goes well, a patient may
eventually receive three hours of body treatment at one time. Facial treatments
will always vary greatly depending upon the area; from 15 minutes to one hour.
How Much Hair Can Be Removed in
One Treatment?
The amount of hair that can
be removed in one treatment depends upon the sensitivity of the patient, the
skin, and the proficiency of the electrologist.
What Causes Ingrown Hairs?
Ingrown hairs grow through the side of the follicle and lie just beneath the
skin's surface. Ingrown hairs are usually caused by tweezing or waxing, when the
hair breaks at the weakest point just below the surface of the skin. This can
distort the hair, especially if it is pulled against its direction of growth.
The hair will then grow under the surface of the skin rather than up and out of
the hair follicle.
A pimple like inflammation results that is uncomfortable to
the patient, especially when it occurs on the inner thigh, the neck, or the
underarm. Men with heavy beards can have this problem. When they shave close,
the hair pulls back into the hair follicle, and sometimes its direction of
growth is altered, causing ingrown hairs. Patients who are prone to ingrown
hairs should stop tweezing or waxing and receive electrology treatments
immediately.