PCOS is caused by hormonal disruption that alters how your body processes glucose (sugar), leading to excess male hormone production and an imbalance of male-female ratios in your system. PCOS increases your risk for diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease as well.
PCOS cannot be cured, but treatments may help alleviate its symptoms and enhance quality of life. Common solutions for PCOS may include birth control pills, diabetes medications and fertility treatments.
How Is It Done?
At any point in time, extra hair growth can occur for any number of reasons – heredity (extra facial and body hair can run in families), hormonal fluctuations and illness such as polycystic ovary syndrome can all cause excess hair growth, with 6 percent of women affected during their reproductive years experiencing it – this condition being the source of acne breakouts, thin top-of-head hair and unwanted body/face hair among other issues. It is crucial that any symptoms appear immediately to see a physician as untreated disease can result in serious health consequences later down the road.
PCOS can be treated using medications such as spironolactone, which blocks androgen production and can lighten and thin unwanted hair growth. You can also try electrolysis; it’s FDA-recognized as an effective long-term form of hair removal and works especially well against hormonal hair growth related to PCOS.
Undergoing electrolysis requires having a trained electrologist insert a small needle into a hair follicle’s opening and apply small amounts of electricity through it to destroy its hair follicle. Although some individuals with sensitive skin may find this process uncomfortable, electrolysis remains safe and effective way of getting rid of unwanted hair.
Before and after pictures of electrolysis can be found online, and most clients who get it done often feature sleek, hairless faces. But be mindful of any side effects, which could include temporary redness and mild irritation; treatment options might include using soothing cream recommended by your electrologist or applying ice to the area periodically throughout the day.
Electrolysis is a chemical process in which electrodes are immersed in an electrolyte solution and exposed to electric current. Ions in the solution become attracted to these electrodes due to their opposite charges; once attracted they’re then transformed by an electrolytic cell into new elements or compounds with neutral charges or chemical compounds.
What Are the Side Effects?
PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, affects approximately 6 percent of women worldwide and can be caused by a hormonal imbalance affecting normal ovarian function. To regulate this process, the pituitary gland typically releases both follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH work in harmony to stimulate follicle development within an ovary, producing estrogen and an egg that will eventually mature and release its contents via ovulation. If ovulation does not take place, these cystic-looking follicles build up inside the ovary until finally released through ovulation – otherwise, they remain trapped inside and become visible through ultrasound images as cysts. PCOS derives its name from this condition, although not all ovarian follicles appear as cysts. The main symptom is abnormal or irregular menstruation cycles; other signs include hirsutism; severe, excessive facial or body hair growth; and acne. Obesity has also been associated with PCOS but diagnosis does not depend upon it being obese.
Treatments of PCOS vary depending on a woman’s goals; some women seek fertility treatments while others may wish to regulate their menstrual cycle or treat hirsutism. Whatever her goals, however, treatment should always be sought because left untreated it can lead to long-term health issues like insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease that could ultimately worsen over time.
Electrolysis can be considered moderately painful; pain tolerance levels will differ between individuals, with more sensitive areas such as neck or face hair removal being particularly sensitive. Electrologists will use topical anesthetic to minimize discomfort during an electrolysis treatment session.
Before attending an electrolysis session, Dana Elise of Dana Elise Solutions in Beverly Hills, CA advises clients to avoid shaving, plucking, or waxing the area being treated. Instead, she suggests using a bikini trimmer. Elise suggests asking your electrologist if there are any specific guidelines you must abide by for optimal results.
Prior to electrification, it is often wise to stop shaving, tweezing and waxing for six weeks in order to help the follicles produce less androgen and thin out hair follicles. Furthermore, be sure to inform your practitioner of all medications you are currently taking since this could increase or decrease its effectiveness during treatment.
How Long Will It Take?
Electrolysis is a chemical process in which DC electrical current is used to drive non-spontaneous chemical reactions. Two electrodes immersed in an electrolyte solution cause chemical change to take place; one electrode, known as an anode and another as cathode. An anode typically consists of platinum or other inert materials while cathodes tend to use metals such as copper as cathodes. Electrolysis has numerous applications both manufacturing and chemical processes alike.
Women diagnosed with PCOS often exhibit excessive hair growth, commonly referred to as hirsutism. This condition arises from hormonal imbalance that causes their ovaries to produce too many androgens which in turn causes cysts that look like fluid-filled sacs to form on them and produce irregular menstrual cycles – thus creating the condition known as PCOS.
Doctors can treat the symptoms of PCOS, including hirsutism, with medications like spironolactone. These medicines may lighten and thin hair growth while simultaneously blocking new follicles from producing androgens – though this treatment will only alleviate symptoms temporarily before new hair growth resumes.
An electrologist can assist those living with PCOS by permanently removing unwanted hair growth. The procedure is safe for all skin and hair colors and works equally effectively across both genders and body areas. Before beginning the session, your electrologist will review your medical history and may ask you questions to help your discuss symptoms with their healthcare provider.
An electrologist can offer women with PCOS more than just hair removal – they also provide services like facial and underarm waxing, hormonal facial hair thinning treatments, as well as epilation, which removes hair directly from its roots rather than its shaft. Hormonally-driven facial hair often appears first on the chin. Tweezing can further aggravate its development; epilation provides another method that removes it completely without damage to follicles or any ingrown strands that might occur from tweezing.
Will I Need to Visit the Electrologist Again?
An electrologist can use electrolysis to permanently eliminate hair by inserting a thin wire into each individual follicle and applying electric current, creating chemical changes at its center that prevent new hair growth while forcing existing ones out by breaking off at their roots. This treatment can be used on women and men both who want unwanted facial or body hair removal such as between eyebrows or on breasts; or those experiencing excess hair growth (hirsutism).
Electrolysis is the only permanent hair removal option that works. Unfortunately, however, it can be costly and require multiple sessions before unwanted hair has been completely eradicated. Therefore, it is vitally important that when choosing an electrologist and the appropriate procedure that fits your unique needs.
Finding an electrologist is easy by asking friends and family for recommendations or conducting an online search. When browsing sites that list services offered and include photos of practitioners as well as equipment used, be sure to ask about sanitation/sterilization policies as well as free consultations to determine whether this choice meets your needs.
At your consultation, the electrologist will explain how electrolysis works and answer any of your queries about it. When discussing medications that you take or medical issues you have, be sure to mention them; an experienced electrologist can then identify the optimal treatments options for your unique circumstances.
An electrologist will discuss the best methods of hair removal for your particular body type and provide an estimate as to how many sessions will be necessary to completely clear an area. Most clients schedule regular appointments until all their areas have been cleared – then once or twice monthly visits may be needed as maintenance visits.
State licensing requirements differ between states for electrologists; it’s best to check with your government for more details. When searching for electrologists, be sure to look for ones with credentials from professional organizations like the American Society of Permanent Cosmetics or who hold other credentials that demonstrate commitment.
