Electrolysis has been used for nearly 100 years for good reason; it works. There are multiple modalities of electrolysis available – galvanic and thermolysis for example – but all result in permanent hair removal.
Most clients need eight-12 electrolysis sessions in order to permanently remove hair from a certain area, though the exact number will depend on each individual and how they react to treatment.
Treatment Time
Electrolysis is a permanent solution for hair removal from the body by inserting a needle into each hair follicle and passing an electrical current through it, heating it and destroying the follicle – this prevents new hair growth while eliminating shaving or waxing altogether. Since electrolysis takes time to complete, regular sessions should be scheduled as it requires multiple appointments to be successful.
The length of your treatment session depends on several factors, including the area being addressed and your personal pain threshold. Some find the discomfort very tolerable while for others it can be much more intense; usually discomfort can be eased with numbing cream prior to beginning sessions; additionally it should be noted that swelling and redness will likely occur afterward.
How long it will take you to finish electrolysis treatments depends on how regularly you visit for appointments, with many needing multiple sessions before seeing their target area cleared off. Sessions should generally be scheduled weekly or bi-weekly until all target areas have been treated successfully.
Arriving early for appointments is key for completing your consent form and starting treatment on schedule. Applying numbing cream before an appointment also can ensure you will be ready for treatment as soon as possible.
Electrolysis treatments may take several sessions before you see results, but the wait will certainly be worth your while! Once hair follicles have been destroyed by electrolysis, they cannot repopulate themselves and you will remain hair free for good! Although electrolysis treatment is slightly more costly than other hair removal methods, many patients find it worthwhile as an investment to avoid spending years hunched over their bathroom sink with razor in hand! For more information about its advantages contact a certified electrologist now.
Treatment Area
Electrolysis involves inserting a needle into each hair follicle and passing an electrical current through it, heating up and destroying it in order to stop producing hair production and allow for the hair’s removal with tweezers. Electrolysis has proven successful on most body areas including eyebrows, face, arms, abdomen thighs and breasts – but the number of treatments needed varies between individuals: it could take from six months for smaller areas or up to three years in larger regions of your body.
The number of sessions needed will depend on the density and thickness of hair in the area being treated as well as each hair follicle’s individual growth cycle; there are 300-500 hair follicles per square inch of skin, not all active at once; there are three stages of hair growth: anagen, catagen, and telogen.
Hair follicles that are active are more difficult to destroy during an electrolysis treatment and as such take longer to permanently be eliminated from the body when more are in their anagen phase.
Electrolysis sessions may cause discomfort; the extent of which will depend on each individual. Some experience only a mild tingle while others might feel pinpricks instead. Before beginning any treatment it’s important to discuss this with your electrologist in order to find appropriate anesthetic options based on individual tolerance levels.
As soon as an electrolysis session concludes, it is vital to keep the treated area free of bacteria. This includes keeping pores open and refraining from engaging in activities which might cause sweating or tanning. Furthermore, sunblock should be applied over the area while using makeup or creams that could irritate it is advised – blisters may appear after electrolysis but they should subside quickly; should they persist beyond this, seek medical advice as to its cause immediately.
Treatment Duration
Electrolysis may seem painful at first, but in reality it can actually be quite tolerable. The needle used during treatment is small and thin – how much it hurts depends entirely on your tolerance to pain; some describe it as feeling like an occasional tiny pinprick while others experience heat or tingling sensations during their session. A lidocaine cream may also be applied directly onto your skin during sessions to provide extra comfort during treatments.
Once the skin is numb, an electrologist will use a needle to inject an electric current directly into a hair follicle and produce an electrical current through it. The electric current passes through the needle and produces chemical reactions which eventually destroy its ability to produce more hair follicles; once destroyed, any new hair should cease growing out on its own and eventually fall out as time progresses.
Electrolysis can be used to treat most areas of the body, including eyebrows, faces, stomachs, thighs and breasts. Before initiating treatment on any new area it’s wise to check with an electrologist first as all hair types or growth cycles differ significantly.
Some individuals may require up to 30 treatments in order to completely get rid of hair from an area, according to cosmetic injection expert Sadyk Fayz. “This is because hair grows in cycles, requiring multiple visits in order to capture all phases,” states Sadyk Fayz. Additionally, some individuals may be more sensitive to the process and require multiple sessions than others.
Electrolysis requires patients to maintain a regular schedule. “Missing several sessions will lengthen the procedure,” according to Green, adding that shaving, tweezing or waxing the hair in between appointments could irritate follicles and further lengthen its process of elimination.
Dermatologist Lal advises using an antibacterial cleanser both before and after electrolysis treatment in order to protect follicles from bacteria that could otherwise irritate them, leading to an outbreak of folliculitis (an inflammation which results in clustered pimples) in the area being treated. And always apply sunscreen afterward,” she notes.
Treatment Results
Electrolysis treatments will require multiple sessions for permanent hair removal. Your individual treatment regimen will determine how many sessions are necessary; once finished, however, you’ll reap the rewards of long-term hair reduction without shaving or waxing!
Electrolysis can also provide an effective permanent solution to stubborn hairs that have proven resistant to other methods, including thick, curly or dark locks that have proven difficult to manage with other methods such as waxing and threading. People with thick, curly or dark locks often find success using this permanent method to permanently get rid of their unwanted locks. Furthermore, those who have misshapen follicles damaged from previous waxing treatments such as tweezing, threading or threading may benefit greatly from electrolysis as a permanent solution.
Electrolysis involves an electrologist inserting a small probe into each hair follicle and applying an electric current that generates heat and chemical reactions, ultimately disabling each one so it cannot produce another hair follicle in its place.
Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal method, though results will take time and dedication to reach. A typical area can require anywhere between 20 to 30 treatments before being considered complete and successful.
Following electrolysis treatments, skin can become red and sore after each appointment. A cool damp compress can provide comfort while decreasing inflammation. Furthermore, it’s key to be consistent in attending appointments, as consistency will bring optimal results.
One or two days post-treatment, some patients may notice a small scab forming on the follicle opening. This is completely normal and a sign that their skin is healing; honey colored or darker-toned scabs should not indicate any kind of infection or other issue.
Some individuals may experience a mild allergic reaction during electrolysis treatments that results in reddening of the skin. Although this isn’t considered an emergency situation, it should be reported to your electrologist so they can adjust needle types or decrease electrical consumption for future treatments. Intense redness could indicate too aggressive application of electrolysis or an increased susceptibility than expected.
