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The Science
and History of Transdermal Electrolysis
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.
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. 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 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 caustic, a tiny drop could burn a hole instantly through
your skin.
Thousands of men and women have been successfully treated with Dr.
Michel’s process, also known as “conventional” or needle electrolysis.
It was somewhat ironic when, nearly a century later, scientists
discovered it was completely unnecessary to insert a needle to produce
caustic levels of sodium hydroxide inside the follicle pore. By simply
clipping an electrode directly to the hair itself (with the aid of a
highly conductive silver chloride ion gel) the pH of the tissue could be
elevated all the way to 14. Quantitative molecular measurements verified
the high presence of sodium hydroxide throughout the electrolyzed
tissue.
Transdermal Electrolysis: This is very good news for the countless
individuals who could not, or would not, undergo Dr. Michel’s needle
process. Most of the limitations which formerly plagued the professional
electrologist have been completely eliminated by the introduction of
non-invasive electrolysis. The most serious of which were the
health-risks involved with the use of needles (HIV, hepatitis,
infections, etc). Another involved the extreme difficulty in locating
the papilla bundle (where hair growth starts) with the insertion probe.
The Transdermal electrolysis current finds the papilla every time.
“Non-Invasive” electrolysis (as it is also known) is a treatment process
which has been thoroughly tested as safe and effective through clinical
studies and governing agencies. It has created a rock-solid reputation
among physician’s, cosmetologists, aestheticians, and electrologists for
the administration of electrolysis. The most important aspect of
Transdermal is that patient’s find the procedure very comfortable.
Distinct Changes Noted By Magnification
Before Transdermal Treatment: The complete follicle unit is illustrated
under 500X magnification, showing a distinct papilla matrix along with
all of the corresponding tissues/cells of a healthy and mature anagen
hair. This follicle was extracted from the patient by tweezing, without
having been treated by Transdermal Electrolysis
After Transdermal Treatment: This photo illustrates the drastic effect
to the follicle tissue following Transdermal Electrolysis. The entire
papilla bundle has dissolved, leaving nothing but the solid keratin
shaft. The fluid cells, which are responsible for nourishing the
follicle, are completely gone. The follicle from which this hair unit
was extracted has been highly traumatized. The cuticle of the hair has
shown substantial decomposition as well. Although the cuticle has no
part in actual “growth” of the hair, it is what actually holds it
securely in the skin. The breakdown of the cuticle structure will make
the hair pull from the skin with very little effort (or pain) following
the administration of the treatment. This is a very desirable way to
extract hairs from a client. The less discomfort involved, the more
likely the client will continue treatments.
Permanent Removal of Unwanted Hair - Without the Pain
Instead of inserting a needle, Transdermal hair removal involves placing
a patch to transmit galvanic current through the skin to the hair
follicles. This current creates a chemical reaction changing the water &
salt present in the hair follicle to sodium hydroxide. As in the case of
electrolysis, the sodium hydroxide destroys the germinative cells, thus
achieving permanent hair removal.
As it takes approximately 6 - 12 weeks for a hair to grow from the
papilla to the surface of the skin and each hair has its own individual
cycle, you can appreciate why electrolysis is required over a period of
time. You may also be unaware that there can be as many as 1000 hair
follicles in a square inch but only 10% are above the surface at any one
time. Excessive hair growth can be attributed to many causes such as
hereditary, stress, hormonal changes or even medications. In the case of
women, puberty, pregnancy and menopause can affect hair growth, for
these reasons, no-one - not even your doctor - can predict the exact
length of time it will take to achieve complete removal of hairs in an
area. |
