Electrolysis works differently from laser hair removal, treating one follicle at a time for maximum efficacy. Unfortunately, it may take longer for results to become visible.
Electrolysis treatments depend on your individual circumstances, with most individuals needing between 12-15 treatments in order to permanently rid themselves of unwanted hair. For the best experience, seek advice from an experienced professional for consultation services before beginning treatments.
Duration of Treatments
As each session involves plucking hairs one at a time, each session can take quite some time. Removing just one follicle could take up to half an hour; treating larger areas such as legs could easily last over an hour and half! Many clients visit for weekly or biweekly treatments for some months or years until all unwanted hair has been eliminated from the body.
Electrolysis treatments work by inserting a needle into a hair follicle, then passing an electric current through it, heating and disabling it. After this has taken place, your practitioner uses tweezers to remove its remnants from your skin.
Electrolysis treatments may not always be painless, though most people report mild and tolerable sensations. To ensure you receive safe treatments that won’t damage or scar your skin further, it is crucial that you find a qualified electrologist to perform them for you. One good way is asking friends or family members for recommendations or seeking an electrologist certified by your state government.
Before your electrology session, avoid shaving or plucking facial and body hair as this will impede the electrologist from inserting their probe into your hair follicles. A good idea would be to purchase some numbing cream from most beauty shops before your appointment for added comfort.
After your treatment, it is likely you will experience some redness and irritation; to ensure a speedy healing process it is wise to ice the area as often as possible. Your practitioner may recommend triple antibiotic ointment or cortisone cream to expedite the healing process.
Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal solution suitable for all skin and hair types. What sets it apart from other options, like chemical peels or waxing, is its ability to eliminate hair follicles at their source – unlike laser therapy which only removes them on the surface of skin.
Side Effects
Electrolysis involves electrologists inserting probes into each hair follicle and using heat or electricity to destroy its growth center, without permanently harming the skin. While this doesn’t cause permanent damage to clients’ bodies, it does cause some discomfort that varies based on an individual’s pain tolerance; some experience an occasional burning sensation during electrolysis treatment – making it important to find an experienced electrologist who uses numbing creams to minimize discomfort during electrolysis sessions.
After treatment sessions, it is not unusual for clients to experience redness, swelling and scabbing as their body heals from electrolysis. Swelling and scabbing tend to occur more in larger areas treated; to speed recovery further ice applied two or three times daily can be applied directly over the affected area and/or use of triple antibiotic ointment may help.
One of the more frequent side effects of electrolysis is irritation to hair follicles. This may lead to hyperpigmentation – where pigment-producing cells overproduce pigment, leading to dark or light patches on your skin which will fade over time. While not harmful or dangerous, this side effect should eventually fade with time.
Electrolysis may damage skin and result in scarring if administered incorrectly or too frequently, with overtreatment or inadequate aftercare leading to such effects. When this occurs, an electrologist may advise using anti-scarring creams and ointments; picking at scabs can lead to bacterial infections which will need further medical intervention.
Electrolysis requires regular sessions at regular intervals until all hairs have reached the optimal growing cycle, typically every other week for several months until a large area has been cleared of its hairs. Maintenance treatments then become less frequent until permanent hair-free appearance has been reached. Conventional wisdom suggests it will take 200-300 hours of electrolysis treatments on average for a typical transgender face including lips, chin and eyebrows – although individual results may vary based on various factors including skin sensitivity and hair type.
Preparation
People often have concerns about electrolysis being painful; this largely depends on your sensitivity level and what area of the body needs to be treated, however. Just like with any treatment, there are ways you can prepare and make it more comfortable – using numbing cream may make the experience less intense.
Before your electrolysis appointment, it is wise to refrain from shaving or plucking the area in question as these methods could make it more challenging for your electrologist to follow the hair follicles. Also avoid wearing makeup or ointments that might clog pores. Exfoliation prior to your visit could help clear away dead skin that prevents needle access to hair follicles.
Experienced electrologists should be your top priority for electrolysis sessions. When possible, seek recommendations from friends or family. Do some research and gain information on their background as well as their length of experience in business. Seek free consultation sessions where possible in order to gather as much knowledge of the process as possible before making your final decision.
After selecting an electrologist, be sure they use the best equipment available. Newer machines tend to be more effective and less painful; one popular type is called an epilator and uses a thin needle to pass an electric current through hair follicle growth centers in order to remove hair follicles through electric current. Although skin at entry may feel temporarily hot or pinchy due to this process, it usually won’t hurt.
Some clients experience skin discoloration following their treatments, often in the form of dark spots which tend to gradually fade over time. Lightening cream may be used if necessary to lessen their appearance.
At times, patients need 200-300 hours of electrolysis treatment in order to achieve desired results due to hair’s slow growth cycle, which requires removal one follicle at a time.
Post-Treatment Care
Within 48 hours of treatment, it is best to avoid activities which will irritate or inflame the skin such as exercise, sweating and contact with dirt and dust. If engaging in these activities nonetheless, then prior to engaging in them apply either Bacitracin ointment, Neosporin or an antibacterial cream as this will speed up skin recovery time and promote faster healing.
After electrolysis, it is normal for the treatment area to become slightly red and swollen; this usually subsides within an hour or two but may persist longer for some people. The cause is likely related to constricting blood vessels as part of nature’s healing process.
Some individuals may experience small scabs following electrolysis treatments. It’s essential that these scabs remain intact, as picking at them could open the hair follicle and allow bacteria into it and lead to infection. Keep the treated area clean by using an anti-irritating facial cleanser and moisturizer recommended by us; keeping skin properly hydrated with our help can also be useful.
Electrolysis-generated scabs will eventually disperse on their own, though you may wish to utilize an epilator yourself to hasten the process. When doing so, be sure that you use an appropriate device and follow all instructions; waxing devices may cause irritation and lead to more scabbing.
Electrolysis procedures can be made more comfortable by cooling your face before and after each treatment session, which helps alleviate the associated pain, swelling and bruising. Furthermore, wearing sunscreen daily is highly recommended to protect follicles that may be particularly susceptible to sunburns from direct sunlight exposure.
Before having electrolysis done, it is crucial that you select an experienced and licensed electrologist. Ask your friends or family members for recommendations, or perform an internet search to identify suitable electrologists. Be sure to verify if the electrologist is certified as well as how long they have been practicing. Also inquire as to the types of electrolysis offered – some places advertise electrolysis but offer only photoepilator or electronic tweezers which do not offer permanent methods of hair removal.
