How Does Electrolysis Work? Is It Right For You? Read Below To Find Out…
Electrolysis is the only form of permanent hair removal recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and American Medical Association (AMA). Electrolysis began in 1875 when Dr. Charles E. Michel published his findings that hair could be permanently removed by sending electrical current directly into a hair follicle via a needle.
What Is Electrolysis?
Electrolysis is the permanent removal of hair by inserting a small needle – roughly the width of a hair – directly into the hair’s root. A small pulse of current is shot down through the needle to the root, causing the blood supply to coagulate and destroy the root.
Is electrolysis really permanent?
Yes. It is the only permanent method of hair removal by the FDA and AMA. Once the blood supply to the root dries up, the hair will never grow back.
Is hair regrowth possible with electrolysis?
Regrowth is possible, depending upon the stage of growth during electrolysis. Hair grows in three stages: anagen, catagen and telogen.
- Anagen: the initial growing phase
- Catagen: a transitional period marking the end of hair growth (generally 2 – 3 weeks)
- Telogen: the resting phase; eventually the hair dies and sheds
Electrolysis during the anagen stage is best for hair removal. Unfortunately, not all hairs are in this stage simultaneously. By shaving or trimming two days before treatment, an electrologist can easily remove hairs in the anagen phase only.
Does electrolysis hurt?
There is mild discomfort associated with electrolysis, especially on sensitive areas such as the upper lip and pubic area. For those with sensitive skin, a topical anesthetic may be applied before or during treatment.
Which body parts do electrolysis work on?
Electrolysis works on all body parts except inside the nose and ears.
Does electrolysis work on all hair/skin colors?
Yes. Unlike laser hair removal, electrolysis removes hair regardless of skin or hair color.
How long does each electrolysis treatment take?
On average, treatments range from 15 minutes for small areas (like the upper lip) to an hour for larger areas such as the arms or legs. Back hair treatments may last up to three hours, or be broken up into two shorter sessions.
Does electrolysis leave scars or other permanent marks?
No. Assuming the electrologist is well-trained and all after-care is properly followed, there will be no scarring or permanent marks.
There may be some redness after electrolysis. This is completely normal, and should subside an hour or two after treatment.
Electrolysis After-Care
Electrolysis after-care is crucial to speed healing and reduce redness or pimples. Patients should wash their hands before touching any treated area.
Antiseptics should be applied before and after treatment. If pustules appear within two or three days after electrolysis, microorganisms have infiltrated the skin while it was still healing.
Common causes for this include:
- touching the treated area with unwashed hands
- saturating the skin in water (which pushes microorganisms down to the follicle)
- using makeup or other creams which have been contaminated
Skin Cleansers
Skin cleansers should be alcohol and fragrance-free. Masks or heavy creams should be avoided for at least two days.
Do not bathe, swim or submerge treated ares for 12 – 16 hours after electrolysis. Avoid submerging the face (if treated) for up to 24 hours. Instead of washing with water, use an appropriate lotion and wipe off with a clean towel. This reduces the likelihood of infection.
Makeup Removal
Makeup should not be worn on treated areas for 24 hours following electrolysis. If the makeup jar may have been contaminated (usually by an unwashed hand placed directly in container), it’s advisable to purchase a replacement.
Cake makeup that use sponges are generally more difficult to clean off, and can lead to skin irritation.
Hair After Care
Some people are prone to breakouts following electrolysis. Many times this is a result of product in the hair. These products act as sponges, and can catch dirt and microorganisms during the day, which are then transferred to the face via a pillow at night.
Because showers are not advisable until 24 hours after electrolysis, the best course of action is to wear a shower cap at night and sleep with a freshly washed pillow.
UV Exposure
Sunbathing or tanning booths should be avoided while undergoing regular electrolysis treatments. Electrolysis has been known to cause to cause erythema – a temporary redness of the skin – and exposure to ultraviolet rays may lead to hyperpigmentation, a number of small permanent brown spots on the skin.
If treated areas are exposed to sunlight, it’s best to apply SPF 15 every few hours to prevent hyperpigmentation.
Bleaching Creams
Bleaching creams for hair should be avoided for 48 hours after electrolysis treatment.
Post-electrolysis Regrowth
There are two types of post-electrolysis regrowth: apparent and actual regrowth.
Apparent regrowth
Apparent regrowth is not true regrowth of hair. It is merely hair that was not visible before, but has grown out a hair follicle in the telogen phase. This is most common with areas that have been tweezed or waxed prior to electrolysis and is quite normal. The best method is to continue with electrolysis; eventually all hairs will be removed.
Actual regrowth
Sometimes a follicle is not destroyed with electrolysis. This is usually caused by the improper insertion of the needle into the follicle, or insufficient current or treatment time.
If actual regrowth of hair is noted, do not wax or use depilatory creams. Most importantly, do not tweeze any hairs. Tweezing forces the hair back into a resting phase, and it may take up to 90 days before they can be effectively removed through electrolysis.
Selecting the Right Modality for Electrolysis Hair Removal
Choosing the correct modality for electrolysis hair removal depends on the type of hair. Read below to see which is right for you…
Thick, coarse hair: Galvanic electrolysis is best when there is a limited number of hair in the hair. If there is a large region of hair – such as the back or legs – then the blend method is best.
Curly, wavy hair: Again, galvanic electrolysis is best for a limited number of hairs, due to the crooked hair follicles. When there are more hairs to be removed, the blend method is the ideal choice. The curl should be trimmed off two days prior to electrolysis in order for the electrologist to determine the direction of hair growth.
Learn more about the differences between electrolysis and laser hair removal and electrolysis hair removal devices.
