Electrolysis Explained

Methods of Electrolysis

The Theory of Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a course of treatment that permanently removes hair growth when performed by skilled and experienced practitioners.

Since the 1960’s Electrolysis has been approved by the British Medical Association and has been used within some NHS hospitals by BIAE members treating NHS patients with electrolysis for permanent hair removal.

Electrolysis has the longest known track record together with the most effective results for permanent hair removal. Dr Charles Michel first used it successfully in 1875 to remove ingrown eyelashes. He discovered that once the follicle had been treated with electrolysis the hair was permanently destroyed.

For over 100 years, electrolysis has been recognised as a safe, reliable method of treating all skin colours, types, and hair types.

Many new treatments for hair reduction or non permanent hair removal have emerged over the years; however, electrolysis has remained the only treatment to achieve permanent and complete eradication of unwanted hair when performed by a skilled, experienced practitioner.

There are 3 methods of electrolysis to choose from to tailor treatment to individual patients’ skin, colour, type, hair type and reaction all three methods can permanently eradicate hair removal

They include:

Galvanic Electrolysis
Thermolysis or Short-wave diathermy
Blend Electrolysis
Flash Electrolysis

To date Electrolysis is the only proven method for permanent hair removal, it can be performed on any part of the face or body including on and around the eye area and sensitive genital areas.

Any skin colour including black skins and on any hair colour including blonde and thick white hairs. The technology and machines mean Electrolysis can treat large body areas and permanent results are apparent within 9 months of treatment.

Often areas completed within 12 months. Practitioners can predict treatment outcomes because of the thorough consultation procedure and give approximate total time of treatment; this information helps patients’ budget. Often sessions are taken in quick succession at the beginning of the treatment plan and reducing in frequency and session times towards the end.

Patients may see Electrolysis as a part of their personal maintenance programme going forward once the initial treatment has been completed. Often, the results are so pleasing patients go on to have further sessions for other face or body areas, perhaps one of the reasons Electrolysis has been a solution for permanent hair removal since 1875.Technology has advanced and enables speed, efficacy and less pain.

Many men and women choose Electrolysis as a safe and permanent solution to hair removal.

References

The British Institute Association of Electrolysis
The complete Guide to Electro-Epilation Angela Wheat 2002
Electrolysis, Thermolysis and the blend the principles and practice of permanent hair removal. Arthur Ralph Hinkle & Richard Hind BA MA 1987

Conclusion

Is using the HF or thermolysis current in speeds of up to 1000th of a second and with the highest intensities. The thermolysis current is used to pulse along the follicle to successfully denature follicle cells to give permanent hair removal.

Often 1-3 pluses are used working from the base of the follicle towards to sebaceous gland and to the bulge. Flash is the newest modality used in electrolysis today. Flash enables an incredibly quick and effective treatment; skin reactions are minimised due to the sophisticated use of the current in the follicle. Neighbouring hairs can be treated therefore it is particularly effective for large body areas such as legs, arms, torso, and genital work.

The sensation of electrolysis is minimised because the speed with which the current is used – the brain has little time to detect the sensation. The treatment is literally ‘over in a flash’. Flash can only be used on machines that are computerised and run on higher megahertz (MHz) from 13.5 up to 28.

With sophisticated software, these machines pulse current along the follicle from the dermal papilla along the follicle to the bulge where a successful denaturing of the cells means the follicle is inactive and unable to produce a hair. This is achieved in a single treatment to the hair and can be achieved using a single pulse or multiple (depending on the speed of the pulse).

The hairs are successfully treated in less than a second and with the minimum amount of skin reaction some of the latest machines can treat follicles with multiple tiny pulses in literally ‘a flash’. With this latest technology, the
sensation to the patient is minimised simply because the hair is treated effectively and with such speed, there is little or no time to feel the sensation.

Benefits of Flash:

Speed
Low pain
Thorough – treating base, papilla, follicle cells and Bulge.
Large body areas are a popular choice due to speed and efficacy of flash electrolysis.
Minimal skin reactions

Computerised electrolysis machines can offer the flash thermolysis modality
This is where the current is pulsed at an exceedingly high speed, up to 100th of
a second. Due to such high speeds of current delivery, the brain is not able to detect
the sensation of current so the levels of the current intensity can also be increased to
a higher level.

The Flash pulse can also be set to multiple pulses, 1,2, or 3 pulses
per insertion. This makes the treatment highly effective as one pulse treats the base
of the follicle whilst the next pulse or pulses flash up the follicle reaching the bulge
thus destroying stem cells within the follicle. This method of treatment is more
comfortable for patients and there is generally reduced skin surface reaction
following treatment. Larger areas of treatment can also be treated quickly.

PAIN MANAGEMENT
The sensation of electrolysis is manageable to most though is subjective. The main
feelings felt are a building of heat or a stinging sensation. Practitioners can help in
reducing the sensations:

Soothing music
Conversation
Warmth i.e.: towels, duvet’s, electric blankets and padding such as pillows.
Patients can have earphones in and listen to pod casts or music.
Longer sessions can bring a numbing to the senses as nerves are confused.
Using gentle pressure helps dull nerves and sensations.
Application of topical over the counter numbing products.

Flash Electrolysis

Uses a direct current (DC) and the original method of Electrolysis founded in 1875. The client is involved and holds a metal bar called an indifferent electrode.

When the direct current flows, the water and salts (already present) in the follicle change to ‘sodium hydroxide’ or the chemical ‘Lye’. The follicle tissue is decomposed and permanently destroyed.

The hair is gently released from the follicle. Galvanic electrolysis is much slower, the build-up of the Lye in the follicle takes time and may take up to 20 seconds per hair, on very tenacious follicles. Typically, the galvanic current travels along the needle towards to the bulge and spreads outward.

This method of treatment relies on the galvanic current causing a chemical destruction within the tissue in the hair follicle allowing the hair to be readily removed Galvanic Electrolysis is slower than thermolysis however the chemical action used to destroy the hair follicle is highly effective. It is particularly suitable for people with sensitive skin and those with distorted hair follicles.

The galvanic method alone is not widely used for hair removal in the U.K., mainly due to its slow action.

Galvanic Electrolysis

Galvanic Chemical Electrolysis

This is a combination of both galvanic and thermolysis methods. The Blend modality is a combination of the two currents Direct current (DC) and High Frequency current (HF).

When carefully blended these two currents can facilitate an exceptional treatment. The high frequency thermally heats the chemical action of the direct current making this modality an extremely caustic and effective in treating tenacious, terminal, thick hair on any part of the face or body successfully denaturing the cells responsible for hair growth and with little reaction to the skin.

The Blend is a gentle yet very thorough it takes as little as 2 seconds or as long as 10 seconds to reach desired results.

Blend Electrolysis

Thermolysis or short-wave Diathermy

This method of electrolysis uses heat to destroy the hair follicle. It is faster than the galvanic method and because it uses an alternating (oscillating) high frequency current which constantly changes in polarity (direction).

Thermolysis or Short-wave diathermy

The current is applied to the hair follicle via a fine probe causing thermal heat to be produced in the hair follicle, destroying it allowing the hair to be easily removed. A momentary sensation of heat is felt during treatment, each time a hair is treated. This sensation varies according to the area of the body being treated and from person to person.

Thermolysis or Short-wave diathermy

The whole follicle is treated from the base of the follicle to the Bulge.

Hairs need one treatment.

Electrolysis is 100% permanent.

Skin reactions are temporary.

Facts about Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a course of treatment, not an ongoing course of treatment.

Electrolysis is specific in the target area aiming to treat the PSU (pilo sebaceous unit) maintaining surrounding skin and structures.

Facts about Electrolysis

A treatment plan is made at the consultation process and is a bespoke plan according to the patients’ work and social commitments, weather it is facial or body treatment and their personal budget.

Practitioners have more than one option or method to choose from.

Electrolysis treatment can be taken at any time of the year.

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A treatment plan is made at the consultation process and is a bespoke plan according to the patients’ work and social commitments, weather it is facial or body treatment and their personal budget.

The hair is best removed during the active phase to target the active blood supply to the root of the follicle and destroy germ cells, however destruction of the follicle can be achieved at any of these stages as the bulge (stem cells) can be cauterised at any phase.

Every hair treated correctly is destroyed and will not regrow. This may take anything from one, to up to ten sessions per follicle, dependant on the hair type (vellus or Terminal) and what stage of growth the hair is in when first treated. However, every treatment on each follicle will diminish the and target the stem cell bulge and blood supply to each follicle.

During a course of treatment, the area will be cleared however there will be missed / unseen hairs growing beneath the surface of the skin or hairs which are too short for treatment and need to grow these hairs will require treatment for permanent hair removal to be achieved these hairs are known as regrowth hairs even though they have never received treatment.

For eample, 500 potential hairs in one area reduce to 300, 150 until there are no hairs and follicle destruction has been achieved. The first signs that electrolysis is working is that the regrowth of the hair is slower, softer, and finer. The client will see and feel this visible difference during the treatment. At any one time a person potentially has 50-75% of any potential growth visible, a proportion being under the skins surface waiting for the Anagen phase to repeat.

Some other forms of depilation, (waxing, plucking, threading) can affect how the hair grows and it turn the growth cycle. When a Vellus hair is removed regularly buy other depilation methods and the hairs are ripped from the root and blood supply the hair can eventually be stimulated into a stronger thicker hair growing deep into the dermis.

The patient will be made aware at consultation the approximate time it will take to have permanent results and this will help patients’ budget.

On the body areas, you can determine approximately how many treatment hours it will take to complete course as patients will leave hair growth for 3-4 months to grow and complete the hair cycle. However, with facial growth patients need to be hair free, facial hair is defeminising therefore regular sessions of electrolysis will need to be taken and concentrating on areas that pose a particular problem to the patient.

Managing hair growth to continue with work and social commitments are advised by the practitioner such as shaving, cutting. Total time to treatment success is advised and is approximate.

However, within 3 months’ patients will see an improvement in hair growth With electrolysis, each hair is treated individually, therefore requires time and commitment from the client and practitioner. Hairs need to be long enough to be treated, minimum or 2-3mm, so as the Electrolysist can get a grip the hair with

forceps.

Treatment Considerations

Whilst electrolysis is permanent a course of treatment is required and tailored to individual patients’ needs. Completion of the treatment depends on many factors. All these considerations will be discussed during the detailed consultation that will be carried out prior to an initial Patch Test and then a treatment plan is devised.

The cause of the hair growth, hormonal factors, medication.
The quantity and density of the hair to be treated.
What temporary methods of hair removal have previously been used (some encourage hair growth)
The cycle of the hair growth – proportion being under the skins surface.
Sensitivity of the area being treated - this governs the frequency and length of each treatment.
The strength of the hair root - this determines the intensity of the current used.
The co-operation of the patient. It is necessary to adhere to the treatment plan and follow recommended guidelines.

Electrolysis and the Hair Follicle

Our bodies are covered in hairs (apart from the soles of our feet and palms of our hands).

There are two different types are Vellus and Terminal hairs. The terminal hairs we are born with are our eyebrows, eyelashes, and hairs on our head. As we hit puberty some of the vellus hairs on the body, which are hormonally sensitive will be stimulated into a Terminal hair such as: underarm, pubic hair, leg, and chest hair, and facial hair/beard hair. Facial hair is especially hormonally sensitive.

The size or the probe to treat each follicle is dependent on the size and type of the hair to be treated. The probe ideally wants to match the size of the hair, so the larger, thicker the hair is, the larger the probe size needs to be used.

The hair follicle goes through three stages of growth:

Anagen – Active growing phase of the hair where the blood supply is attached to the base of the follicle and mitosis is occurring with the hair shaft is actively growing. Depending on area of the body hair arises in the length of this anagen cycle will vary on the head it can last 2-7 years.

Catagen – Is the transient stage lasting 1-2 weeks approximately where the follicle begins to shrivel away from its blood supply.

Telogen – Is the dormant or resting stage lasting 3-4 months approximately where there is no blood supply feeding the follicle and the hair shaft is waiting to fall out or for the follicle to restart the Anagen phase again.

Hair growth

info@karenbrownclinic.co.uk

07840484905

info@karenbrownclinc.co.uk

07840484905