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The concept of electrolysis began more than a hundred years ago in Saint Louis Missouri, by Ophthalmologist Charles E. Michel. For many years, he had tried in vain to solve the problem of ingrown eyelashes, which had caused chronic vision problems in several of his patients.
The result of the treatment was the total destruction of the hair follicle unit. The hair never grew back, and history was made. What Dr. Michel actually did was to alter the pH of the follicle shaft from neutral (7) to highly caustic (11-14) by creating an electro-chemical reaction inside the tissue. The electricity had changed the natural sodium electrolytes into a highly caustic alkali called sodium hydroxide (NaOH). It is this chemical byproduct, not the electricity itself, which was responsible for the destruction of the hair-generating tissues. This chemical is so completely caustic that a tiny drop could burn a hole instantly through your skin. |
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Is Electrolysis Dangerous? The amount of electrical current used is extremely small and poses no hazard. Electrolysis is mechanically safe and controlled at every stage of its application. How Many Treatments Does It Take? Many hairs will be eliminated with only one treatment, but some will need two or more treatments to achieve permanency. Electrolysis involves a series of treatments over a period of 1-3 months. The overall length of time depends on the amount of hair, its coarseness, the cause of the excess hair, but once the dermal papilla has been eliminated, the hair is dead and will not grow again. Is Electrolysis Painful? Electrolysis rarely causes discomfort. If it does, adjustments can be made to the machine which will totally eliminate any sensation (although the length of the treatment will be increased proportionately). The sensation is less than in tweezing. Most patients are surprised as they expect to feel much more. Some patients even relax enough to fall asleep. Is it Hard or Painful to Insert the Needle? No, the insertion of the electrolysis probe is much easier and far less intimidating than most people believe. The "needle" is actually a blunt-ended, highly flexible probe which never pierces the skin. There is no blood (or pain) involved. It slides effortlessly down a pre-existing shaft, like a hand into a glove. To insert the probe, simply find the follicle opening with the tip of the probe, match the angle of the hair growth, then slide it downward until it stops (it will not push through the bottom of the follicle shaft). Once the probe is correctly placed, depress the foot switch on your electrolysis unit. A mild current of energy will exit the probe, destroying the hair growth forever. Micro Probe Electrolysis is so complete and thorough only one of ten hairs may return to require a second application. Can I Perform 'Self Electrolysis'? Yes, the procedure is very safe and easy. There are many home electrolysis systems on the market. Most of which use an inefficient 9,000K µV (10V-6) current with a very large probe (0.006-0.008 inch diameter). This low voltage makes for long treatment times of 1 minute or more. The large diameter probe makes insertion difficult and uncomfortable. The best advice for home treatments is to buy a medium to high power system from 18,000K to 24,000K µV (10V-6) which has a foot switch and a small diameter probe (0.003 maximum). The technical expertise required to operate an electrolysis machine is very minimal. What Causes Excess Hair? Hirsutism is a condition in which there is excessive growth of hair on the face or body. It can occur in both men and women without discrimination and is caused by hair follicles that are overly sensitive to male hormones (called androgens). It can also be caused by abnormally high levels of these hormones. Some medicines promote Hirsutism, such as birth control pills, hormones and anabolic steroids. Women of Mediterranean ancestry, Hispanic women and African American women tend to have more body hair than women of Native American or Japanese ancestry. The condition seems to run in families and your doctor may want to run some tests to find out what the underlying cause may be. Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can also cause excess hair growth. During the normal systemic changes in a woman's life, hormone production varies. It is not uncommon for hormones during these times to be unbalanced. Increased male hormones (androgens) can be present which may result in unwanted hair growth. Does Electrolysis Always Work? This question is usually asked when patients see hair appearing in the treated area. Hair that appears in the area is not necessarily hair growing from a treated follicle. Most, in fact, will grow from untreated follicles. If the hair appears in six weeks or less, you can be sure that it is from a follicle that was previously dormant. Seven to eight weeks would be required for a hair to grow from the treated follicle. Can Electrology Be Harmful or Cause Scarring? Under normal conditions, there are no harmful effects from electrology treatment. Most undesirable after effects are caused by the patient. Scratching, picking, or using heavy makeup, general uncleanliness can all cause problems. Caution should be taken with diabetics and patients prone to keloids. To avoid harming the patient, the electrologist should not treat areas inside the nose or ears, or wherever there are skin irritations, until the patient has been examined by a physician. Can Hair Be Removed From a Mole? The electrologist should check insurance coverage and state regulations before treating a mole. A physician's permission should also be obtained to protect the health of the patient. These precautions are presently necessary because treating moles is still controversial. There is no recorded damage due to treatment of a mole, and many insurance companies now cover this treatment. In fact after treating moles (in 90% of cases) color disappears in 2 to 4 months, leaving the skin in perfect condition. How Long Does Each Treatment Last? The average treatment ranges from 15 minutes to one hour. The amount of time per treatment depends upon the reaction of the skin to treatment, and the patient's sensitivity. Timing also depends on what part of the body is being treated. The first treatment should last no more than 15 minutes. Use this treatment as a test. If all goes well, a patient may eventually receive three hours of body treatment at one time. Facial treatments will always vary greatly depending upon the area; from 15 minutes to one hour. How Much Hair Can Be Removed in One Treatment? The amount of hair that can be removed in one treatment depends upon the sensitivity of the patient, the skin, and the proficiency of the electrologist. What Causes Ingrown Hairs? Ingrown hairs grow through the side of the follicle and lie just beneath the skin's surface. Ingrown hairs are usually caused by tweezing or waxing, when the hair breaks at the weakest point just below the surface of the skin. This can distort the hair, especially if it is pulled against its direction of growth. The hair will then grow under the surface of the skin rather than up and out of the hair follicle. A pimple like inflammation results that is uncomfortable to the patient, especially when it occurs on the inner thigh, the neck, or the underarm. Men with heavy beards can have this problem. When they shave close, the hair pulls back into the hair follicle, and sometimes its direction of growth is altered, causing ingrown hairs. Patients who are prone to ingrown hairs should stop tweezing or waxing and receive electrology treatments immediately. |
Experimenting with a
new technique, he attached a surgical needle to a live electrical wire
from a dry-cell battery and inserted it down the follicle shaft for
several minutes.