Background & History of Electrolysis:

Before 1875 electrolysis did not exist. Many temporary methods of dealing with unwanted hair were employed from pumice and quicklime to elaborate potions and poultices, but the results were always disappointing to the users. The hair came back!

Then in 1875, Dr. Charles Michel, an ophthalmologist, was experimenting with ways to remove the painful ingrown eyelashes of his patients. He would insert a fine wire, which was attached to a battery, into the hair follicle and then release a small amount of current. He found that the current which flowed into the hair follicle destroyed the hair forever. Electrolysis had been born, and the thousands of men and women plagued with unwanted hair could now be helped. What once appeared to be a hopeless situation now had a solution. From then until the present, electrolysis has stood the test of time.

It is fully accepted by medical doctors and is recognized as the only safe and effective form of permanent hair removal.

How does electrolysis work?

An electrolysis treatment involves the inserting of a sterile probe, the same size as the hair, into the hair follicle opening down to the Dermal Papilla. The dermal papilla is the electrologist's target. It is the part of the follicle that contains blood and nerves and feeds the growing hair. If the papilla and the regenerative cells surrounding it are destroyed, the hair will die. When the probe is in place, a low-level electrical current is applied that will destroy the papilla and surrounding cells and loosen the hair in the follicle. The hair is then removed.

Many hairs will be eliminated with only one treatment, but others will need two or more treatments to achieve permanency.

Electrolysis involves a series of treatments over a period of time. The length of time depends on the amount of hair, its coarseness, the cause of the excess hair and many other factors, but once the dermal papilla has been eliminated, the hair is dead and will not re-grow.

What causes unwanted hair?

Heredity, as a cause of excess hair, must be approached from three different levels; race, nationality and family. People belonging to the Caucasian race tend to be the most hairy; those of the Negroid race follow, and the Mongolian race is the least hairy. If your ancestors lived along the Mediterranean Sea, your chances of having excess hair are greater. Italians, Greeks, Spanish and French fall into this category as well as many others. And finally, it is a known factor that if your mother and grandmother had facial hair, your chances for having the same condition are greater than if they did not. 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.

Malfunctions of the endocrine glands can trigger the appearance of excess hair, too. Some diseases of the thyroid gland, ovaries, pituitary gland and adrenal gland are known to stimulate hair growth. Cushings disease, polysystic ovaries and thyroid conditions are just a few of them. These pathological disorders must be treated by a physician in order for electrolysis to be effective.

Medications are another known factor influencing the production of unwanted hair. Some common culprits include birth control pills, cortisone, some seizure drugs and high blood pressure medication.

Topical influences may also play a part in increased hair growth. These are external influences on the body that cause an increase in the blood supply to the skin and hair follicles. Included in this category are the abrasive action of casts, sunburn, scars from injuries, as well as prolonged tweezing and waxing.

And finally, Stress (both emotional and physical) can stimulate the adrenal glands to initiate a hormonal reaction that can cause fine, soft body hair to become more coarse and noticeable. In addition, it has also been proven that emotional disturbances can cause menstrual irregularities.

Regardless of the cause of your specific hair problem, electrolysis can safely and permanently eliminate it for you.

Where on my body can electrolysis be performed?

Fashion often dictates how much or how little hair is "stylish." Women have been removing body hair to keep up with the times since civilization began. Hair removal can be done on the hairline, eyebrows, ear, top of the nose, cheeks, sideburn area, upper and lower lip, chin, throat, neck, shoulders, back, chest, breasts, abdomen, arms, legs, bikini line, hands, feet, toes and fingers. Hairy moles can be treated with the permission of a doctor. It is perfectly safe to treat pregnant women, but the breast and abdominal area should not be treated after the sixth month of pregnancy due to tenderness in these areas as well as possible hormone stimulation.

With today's emphasis on healthful living, the twentieth century man enjoys being well groomed and looking attractive, too. Many men seek the services of an electrologist for permanent hair removal. Areas of concern for men would include: hairlines, eyebrows, beard lines, shoulders, back, neck, chest, ears and nose. Ingrown hairs are also a serious problem for many men and cause them constant irritation. Electrolysis can help in this area also.

If you choose electrolysis as a solution to your hair problem, it will change your life in a positive way. Your investment will pay for itself in confidence, an improved appearance, self-satisfaction and time saved from all your previous forms of hair removal.

Remember, electrolysis is a permanent solution to a temporary problem not like waxing, tweezing, threading, etc... which are temporary solutions to a permanent problem.

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