Electrolysis uses needles to permanently destroy hair follicles. Unfortunately, however, it’s not a failproof procedure so it’s important to find a qualified electrologist who uses an appropriate technique – ask friends and family for referrals; and visit their practice to assess its sanitary environment.
Before your hair growth can be under control, multiple sessions may be required due to individual body cycles of producing new strands of hair.
Causes
Hair electrolysis is one of the most permanent and effective solutions for eliminating unwanted hair. By using an electric current to destroy hair follicles, electrolysis destroys them to stop new growth from sprouting again. Although safe, electrolysis does take some time before results appear; people may become discouraged and stop appointments altogether when more hair than before seems to emerge; it is essential that they stick with this treatment plan for maximum success.
At any one time, hair follicles grow at different rates depending on their stage of cycle. At any one time, 40-50% of follicles are in their growth phase while 20-30% resting phase (telogen) accounts for resting phases. Electrolysis targets the dermal papilla of follicles responsible for producing hair production; each treatment session destroys 40-60% of them thus leading to lasting and significant results after eight-12 treatments sessions are administered.
Electrolysis involves inserting a needle into each hair follicle and applying a small electrical current through it, to destroy its root and extract its hair follicle without harming surrounding tissues – unlike waxing and tweezing, electrolysis provides for extremely precise hair removal that allows targeting even in its very early stages of growth, when hair may still be very fine and inconspicuous on the surface of skin.
At first, there may be redness and swelling immediately following an electrolysis treatment, though its duration depends on your skin sensitivity. You may also observe pinprick-sized reddish-brown pinprick scabs in areas treated by electrode insertion; they will eventually fall off naturally within several days. Hormonal changes may spur further hair growth despite electrolysis treatment being permanent; to address any hormonal imbalances it is best to consult your healthcare provider regarding an effective plan to control such imbalances.
Treatment
Electrolysis offers permanent hair removal. This procedure entails inserting a needle into the hair follicle and applying small amounts of electricity – creating heat which burns it and prevents future growth. Although individual results vary from session to session, regular appointments should ensure lasting effects.
Experience and skill are two crucial components to the success of electrolysis treatments, determining their ability to accurately target hair follicles or completely eradicate them. Therefore, it’s vitally important that when selecting an electrolysis practitioner you conduct extensive research – reading online reviews or seeking recommendations from friends and family is invaluable in finding someone suitable. In addition, make sure their practice uses proper sterilization procedures.
Your body’s natural hair growth cycle plays a large role in determining how many electrolysis sessions will be necessary. On average, eight to twelve sessions should provide significant and long-lasting results; during your initial consultation session with an electrologist they’ll assess this factor and recommend an electrolysis schedule tailored specifically to you.
Although electrolysis can be painful for some people, others find it tolerable. Your pain tolerance and which part of the body you’re having treatment on will impact how intensely it hurts – typically upper lips, groins and necks tend to be the most sensitive areas for treatment sessions; you can however manage discomfort by scheduling them when hair growth is in its peak phase so the hair follicle can be destroyed during its anagen stage and won’t regrow back!
Hormonal fluctuations can contribute to hair re-growth even after electrolysis has been applied in an area. To minimize unwanted hair growth and protect against developing folliculitis – an infection which causes small clusters of pimples around your hair follicle – estrogen supplements or hormone therapy may help you balance out your body’s hormone levels and thus minimize unwanted hair.
Prevention
There are various things you can do to prevent hair from growing back after electrolysis, including using a cleanser containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to wash your face before and after electrolysis sessions to stop bacteria entering follicles. You should also schedule appointments regularly with your electrologist so she can catch any anagen phase growth before it transitions into the telogen phase.
After visiting an electrologist, it is crucial that you abide by all her instructions for postcare in order to reduce risk of infection and hasten healing. You should refrain from touching or scratching the treated area as well as expose it to direct sunlight or sweat excessively.
Your electrologist should also be available to address any anxieties. They should reassure you that the results are permanent, with some natural regrowth as normal, as well as creating a treatment schedule with clear milestones to help ease worries.
Electrolysis treatments can destroy 50-60% of hair follicles during each session, meaning you may see some temporary regrowth afterward as resting follicles may start producing hair again on their own. However, it’s important to keep in mind that any such effects won’t last.
Electrolysis treatments typically take 18 sessions to effectively rid an area of unwanted hair. Patients must remain patient and committed in their goal, as once all follicles have been destroyed the unwanted hair will no longer grow back. Maintenance visits will still be necessary from time to time as hormones can trigger dormant follicles back into active production of hair production; for those living with PCOS or adrenal gland disorders it is especially essential that regular visits be maintained with their electrologist for ongoing management.
Side Effects
Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method that works by cauterizing each root to stop unwanted hair regrowth. While electrolysis may be effective on certain body areas, for full results it typically takes multiple appointments and sometimes up to 18 months – for best results ensure you select an experienced practitioner by asking around for recommendations and searching reviews online of providers in your area.
Electrolysis treatments typically cause some discomfort; this varies according to each person’s pain threshold. An electrologist may use a numbing cream during and after your appointment in order to reduce discomfort; if significant pain remains post-treatment or during, this indicates an inexperienced practitioner performing it.
Electrolysis often produces a natural and healthy side effect: the formation of a scab at the entrance to hair follicles. While this scab may appear beetroot-colored or darker as it sheds, its purpose is simply protection for healing skin beneath. It should eventually turn honey-colored as it sheds, and that will reveal fresh, healing skin underneath.
Bruning is another potential side effect, caused when small blood vessels leak their contents into surrounding soft tissue. It’s more likely to happen when treating thick hair or taking aspirin-type medicines prior to an appointment; you can reduce bruising by applying witch hazel immediately post treatment.
After your first few electrolysis treatments, it may appear as though more hair is growing back than expected. This is likely due to your body having several hundred hair follicles per square inch – some not at dermal papilla. These non-dermal papilla follicles still produce hair growth but will produce finer locks than what was permanently killed during electrolysis treatments.
Your electrologist may also advise against tweezing after treatment to allow any potential anagen hairs that were buried deep within your skin to reroot and grow back as new anagen hairs, so it is crucial that you follow their advice and refrain from tweezing your hair afterwards.
