Electrolysis offers an effective permanent hair removal option, suitable for people of all skin and hair colors and those who do not qualify for laser hair removal.
Electrolysis may seem painful to many patients; fortunately, modern machines are much less uncomfortable than those used by your great grandmother.
The Number of Sessions
Electrolysis is an effective, permanent hair removal treatment. As the only hair removal method that works on all skin tones and hair colors, electrolysis can also provide a viable option for people who cannot have laser treatments due to skin sensitivities. Unfortunately, electrolysis takes more time than other options as each follicle must be individually targeted and treated multiple times before finally becoming destroyed.
Depending on each individual, the exact number of sessions necessary to permanently remove hair will differ; each hair has a unique growth cycle. On average, eight-12 electrolysis sessions should be sufficient to permanently eradicate an area of unwanted hair. Though this may seem like a lengthy process, remember that once it’s removed it won’t grow back – once gone for good!
Your electrolysis sessions should be scheduled on a regular basis to speed up the process. Between sessions, it’s wise to care for your skin by using antibacterial products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid that will protect it against bacteria entering hair follicles and irritating them.
Finding a qualified electrologist is also key. When choosing an electrologist in your state, look for one with license or certification, ask about experience and training before making a selection decision, and ideally avoid unlicensed electrologists as unprofessional practice can result in damage that’s expensive and hard to treat.
One of the more frequent complications encountered by amateur electrologists is folliculitis, an uncomfortable condition caused by inflamed hair follicles that is made worse when unsterilized needles and poor technique are used to perform treatments. Therefore, it’s essential that individuals seeking electrology services find one with professional skills and experience who can avoid this scenario.
Selecting an electrologist who best matches your needs can make electrolysis treatment simpler and more effective. Before making your initial appointment, check out these helpful tips on preparing for electrolysis:
The Area
Electrolysis is an advanced hair removal technique which uses an electrical current to heat a needle inserted into each individual follicle, heating and destroying it, rendering any future hair growth impossible in that follicle.
Electrolysis remains one of the most effective and least-side effectful ways to remove hair, while other methods may work but tend to be less successful and have additional side effects; chemical products like lotions and creams often cause skin irritation, while waxing only removes outer layers of hair without permanently eliminating it.
Electrolysis stands out from other hair removal methods by targeting each individual follicle rather than stripping away all hair in an area at once. Although electrolysis takes longer to achieve permanent results, it remains safe for all types of skin.
Electrolysis may cause discomfort, although its severity will differ for everyone. Some can tolerate it much better than others if they use topical anesthetic cream before their appointment. It’s also essential that you find an experienced electrologist with knowledge in treating skin types and areas specific to you.
Electrolysis takes longer when treating large areas such as legs or abdomen; small treatment areas, like lips, take much less time due to being easier for electrologists to catch all individual hairs at their proper growth cycle and treat effectively.
People needing a larger treatment area will need to schedule their sessions more frequently – possibly once every week or every other week at first – until all hair in that area has been eliminated.
Be mindful that each session may cause redness in the treatment area due to electrical impulses passing through follicles, and may last several days depending on your skin sensitivity. To reduce this side effect, it is advised that you use moisturizer with high SPF protection and limit sun exposure while the redness remains.
The Amount of Hair
Electrolysis differs from temporary methods like waxing in that it permanently eliminates hair growth by targeting its source, rather than simply pulling it from its root. Although results may be achieved within several sessions with some electrologists suggesting two or three sessions is often enough, others require several more. To reach lasting results it’s wise to follow your electrologist’s recommendation of treatment schedule and schedule.
Timely appointments are important, as the longer a period passes between electrolysis sessions, the quicker hair can grow back in its empty follicles – especially noticeable on facial areas like lips. Too quickly regrown hair may even result in scarring.
Electrolysis varies in terms of discomfort depending on a variety of factors, including where hair removal takes place and a person’s personal threshold for pain. Many electrologists offer topical numbing creams to decrease sensation during treatment, and once completed there may be slight redness and localized swelling that should dissipate within several days.
When selecting an electrologist, be sure to seek recommendations from someone familiar with the procedure. Inquire into their sterilization and cleaning practices as well. Ideally, visit their practice in person in order to make sure everything is in order and that disposable equipment is used by them.
Electrolysis involves inserting a thin stainless steel probe into a hair follicle opening and plugging it in to an electrical current source. Galvanic current, thermolysis heat and blend electrolysis all work to permanently destroy hair follicles so they cannot ever grow back again. Each method works to do just this. Destruction of hair follicles can be uncomfortable, yet necessary in order to achieve results. Electrolysis treatments vary between individuals but on average should take eight-12 treatments before permanently eliminating unwanted hair from your body.
The Amount of Time
Electrolysis is a medical procedure used for permanently removing hair from the body. This treatment involves inserting a fine needle into each of your hair follicles and using heat to destroy them, with no long term side effects from this approach. Moisturizing after treatment is crucial in order to avoid scarring. In rare instances, however, hyperpigmentation or freckling of skin may occur but usually clears within a few months.
Electrolysis takes time depending on several factors, including your hair thickness, area being treated and tolerance to pain. On average, treatments last between 15 minutes to an hour with longer appointments needed if treating larger parts of your body.
At an electrolysis session, you may experience a mild stinging sensation when the probe is inserted into your follicles. While not painful or uncomfortable in itself, some people experience it as an intermittent burning sensation that lasts several days after treatment has begun.
As part of an electrolysis treatment, your skin may become red and irritated in the treated area. To reduce these symptoms, a moisturizing cream with added SPF protection and keeping the area free of bacteria should help. Furthermore, avoid tanning or sweating the treated area during sessions for maximum efficacy.
An effective way to accelerate this process is to attend regular appointments with an electrologist. They will know when is best for them to treat your hair based on its growth cycle, helping you reach results faster; though full removal of all your body hair could take 18-24 months or three years.
Electrolysis works to permanently destroy each hair follicle and ensure you won’t regrowth hair in those areas again. Treatment plans typically consist of between eight and 12 electrolysis sessions for permanent hair removal; by adhering to your appointment schedule and following advice from an electrologist, all unwanted hair should have been eradicated!
