Are you bothered by unwanted hair growing on your body, such as on your upper lip, chin, or between your eyebrows? Are you tired of waxing, threading, and applying various creams? So, leaving aside these temporary solutions, today we will talk about a method that can permanently remove this hair. This method is called electrolysis.
Simply put, what is electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a highly effective hair removal treatment that has been around for over 100 years. It was originally developed to remove ingrown eyelash hairs, which are a common problem. Today, it is the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal method in the United States .
This is a very delicate procedure. A trained specialist (electrologist) inserts a device that is much thinner than a hair into your hair follicle, the area under your skin where the hair grows. Then, a very small electric current is passed through the wire and damages the root of the hair follicle. In other words, it destroys the root so that no new hair can grow. This stops new hair from growing and causes existing hair to fall out.
Who is this treatment most suitable for?
Having body hair is normal. But sometimes it becomes a problem for us. In such cases, you can consider electrolysis:
- Hair growth in unwanted places: For example, if women are concerned about hair growth in places like the upper lip, chin, chest, or between the eyebrows.
- Hirsutism: This is a medical condition. Simply put, it is the excessive and coarse growth of hair on the body of women in a male-like pattern (e.g., beard, chest).
This treatment can be performed on many areas of the body, including the back, bikini line, thighs, lower legs, breasts, abdomen, face (upper lip, chin, eyebrows), fingers, and underarms.
| What are the causes of unwanted hair growth? | |
|---|---|
| Heredity | If your mother, father, or someone in your family has excess body hair, you may also have that genetic influence. |
| Hormone levels | Unwanted hair growth can occur when levels of androgens, which are male hormones, increase in the body. |
| Some medications | This can also be caused by certain medications, such as steroids. |
| Some medical conditions | This is often seen with conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). If you have excessive hair growth, it is important to see your doctor first to rule out an underlying cause. |
What happens during the treatment? How long does it take?
Imagine you are having a treatment. The specialist inserts a very fine needle through the opening of your hair follicle. Then, a small electric shock is given to destroy the hair follicle. During this time, you may feel a slight stinging sensation, a tingling sensation, or a slight warming sensation . This is not very painful. However, if you are uncomfortable, you can ask the specialist if they can apply a topical anesthetic to the area.
The important thing is that this is not something that can be done in one go. You will have to go through several sessions.
Usually, you have to go once a week or every two weeks. This way, you may need to receive treatment for a year or a year and a half . The number of treatments required varies from person to person. It depends on your hair type and the area of the body being treated. If it's a large area or if the hair is coarse, more treatments may be needed.
Why do you have to go so many times?
The reason is that our hair has a hair growth cycle. Not all hairs grow at the same time. Some grow, some rest, and some fall out. So, you need to go in and destroy them at the right time in this cycle, when the hair is actively growing.
Things to know about post-treatment and safety
Electrolysis is a very safe treatment. But it can only be done correctly, by a qualified person, using clean equipment. There is a very small risk of infection or scarring if done incorrectly, with unsterilized needles. Therefore , it is essential to choose a good, certified place.
The skin may be slightly red after the treatment. This will go away after a while. Some people, especially those with darker skin tones, may temporarily develop dark spots in the treated areas. These will fade over time, so do not use bleaching creams or other products.
Avoid these things for the first 24 hours after treatment:
- Any activity that makes you sweat (such as exercising)
- Tanning the skin
- Being in the hot sun
- Applying makeup to the treated area
How to choose a good specialist (Electrologist)?
This is the most important step for your safety and the success of your treatment. Research these things before choosing a location.
- Qualifications: Check to see if the therapist has the necessary training, licenses, or certifications. Check to see if those certifications are displayed.
- Recommendations: Ask a friend, relative, or your family doctor about a good place.
- Consultation: Most places offer a free consultation first. Go there and ask all the questions you have. See if the way they answer makes you feel confident.
- Cleanliness and Hygiene: Is the place clean? Be sure to ask if they use sterilized, disposable equipment.
Although there are at-home electrolysis devices on the market, we do not recommend using them for this treatment. It is safer and more effective to have it done by a trained professional.
Take-Home Message
- Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved treatment for permanent hair removal.
- This cannot be completed in one go, and successful results require several treatment sessions spanning several months or even more than a year.
- This is a very safe treatment when performed by a qualified, experienced professional, using clean and sterilized equipment.
- If you have a problem with excessive hair growth (hirsutism), it is very important to consult your doctor to determine if there is an underlying medical condition before starting this treatment.
- Before starting treatment, visit the relevant location for a consultation, ask all your questions, and thoroughly investigate their qualifications and cleanliness.
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