Electrolysis is the most effective and commercially successful method that is being employed in modern beauty therapies to remove and stop the growth of unwanted hair. The process involves inducing a low-level electric current via a sterile probe, which in turn destroys dermal papilla, thus retarding the growth of hair in the region.
Electrolysis is a permanent and easy method, which uses the latest available technology today. It takes you a step closer to enhancing your physical appearance. The process employed for hair removal depends upon ascertaining the reason for excessive hair growth, type of hair and the amount of hair that needs to be removed in a particular region.
 

Electrolysis: The causes that induce unwanted growth of hair
Electrolysis as an effective method of hair removal requires many preliminary investigations about the history of unwanted hair growth on a person’s body. There are many reasons that can be strongly attributed for random hair growth.

Unwanted hair growth can be hereditary in nature. Unwanted hair growth is induced as a result of the mutation of a single or multiple gene factor. The result is that this defective gene is passed on from one generation to another. Hormonal imbalance also results in uncontrolled and unwanted hair growth in our body. This in turn can be the result of negative side effects of antibiotics, post pregnancy changes in women, any defective gene becoming dominant, and several other reasons.

In addition to this, studies have shown that prolonged drug addiction and narcotics also initiates and stimulates uncontrolled hair growth. Any chronic illness can also result in uncontrolled hair growth. This could also be related to the indirect effect of antibiotics and treatment methods employed to cure the disease.

It is seen that people who resort to temporary hair removal methods such as chemical depilatories, laser technology and other methods are more susceptible to getting unwanted and uncontrolled hair growth in some specific parts of body. 
 

Electrolysis: How many sessions of treatment are required?
Electrolysis is carried out depending upon the quantity of hair, the region where treatment is required and the person’s adaptability. Recurrent visits to beauty clinics may be required for treatment and each session is spread between 20 minutes to an hour. Initially, clients come once or twice a week and later the frequency is reduced gradually.
 

Myths about Electrolysis
There are many myths associated with the electrolysis treatment. Many people are of the opinion that the treatment is unbearably painful. It is important to derive information from informed sources. Electrolysis is an easy, precise and comfortable hair treatment procedure when compared to other methods of hair removal.  There are others that are of the opinion that Electrolysis is not permanent and that the electric tweezers method is a permanent remedy for unwanted hair growth. However, premier organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) recognizes electrolysis as being a permanent and safe method for hair removal.

Choosing an Electrologist- Basic steps 

Choosing a skilful Electrologist is like choosing an artisan who has the capability of creating a masterpiece. One wrong step will not only cost you time and money but might cause irreparable losses in long run. While attempting to hire the services of a trained Electrologist, you must definitely look for certifications. A trained Electrologist should have the following certifications: AEA (American Electrology Association), IGPE (International Guild of Professional Electrologists), SCME (Society of Clinical and Medical Electrologists) amongst others. You can also find an Electrologist by asking your friends for references and keeping an eye out for advertisements from leading Electrolysis treatment centers. Newspapers, magazines, radio broadcasts and infomercials often carry tidbits on Electrolysis. So keep your eyes and ears open! 

The method of Electrolysis treatment kick started in 1875, when a St. Louis Missouri ophthalmologist, Dr. Charles E. Michel made a major break through in this direction when he discovered the method of curing Trichiasis – a disease that results in ingrown eyelashes. 

The method became famous as Electrolysis or Galvanic Electrolysis, uses a small DC current to induce a chemical reaction on the skin, which results in the formation of NaoH or Lye. The acidic action of Lye destroys the dermal papilla or the nourishing agent of hair follicle. This stops the growth of unwanted hair. Electrolysis gradually increased in popularity in the late nineteenth century and it was deemed as the most effective method of controlling unwanted hair growth. This was during this time that Dan Mahler established his own Electrolysis practice, which is today known as the Instantron Company. 

The method of Electrolysis treatment further received a boost when Paul N. Kree and his Kree Company based at New York, USA developed the ‘six-needle probes’ technique for Electrolysis in 1916. He was among the frontrunners that instituted this method to be used commonly by Electrologists. Kree Company also played an important role in educating and training people in North America in the 1970’s. In 1924, Dr. Henri Bordier, of Lyon, France, developed the method of Thermolysis, which was also known by other names such as short wave, diathermy, or high-frequency methods. However, the medical records also indicate that Dr. Eitner of Germany first attempted Dr. Henri Bordier’s method, way back in 1910. This was yet another addendum to the development of the Electrolysis technique. 

In 1925, Dr. A. Rostenberg brought the term Thermolysis in the ambit of the North American medical journals; whereas in 1928, Dr. Mildred Trotter publishing her acclaimed article, which stated that shaving, had no affect on hair growth. 

The technique of Electrolysis once again made waves in 1940’s when the crude Spark-gap Diathermy machines were replaced by new a type of vacuum tube based Electrolysis machines, which provided improved performance. In 1945, Arthur Hinkel and Henri St. Pierre jointly manufactured the Blend machine and thereafter applied for the patent, which they received in 1948. 

In 1956, the publishing of the Gordon Blackwell’s Electrolysis Digest, added a new saga to hair treatment and the digest remained in production until 1986. The book listed various reviews and articles that were indispensable to Electrologists across the world.   

Continuing the success saga, in 1968 Arthur Hinkel and Richard Lind started excessive promotion for their Blend machine in the document, “Electrolysis, Thermolysis and the Blend.” Furthermore, the work of Hinkel and St. Pierre gave a new dimension, conceptually and technically, to the understanding of Electrolysis. Thus, although Electrolysis has seen a gradual increase in popularity, it has developed favor across generations and continues to do so today. 

Electrolysis works for people all of skin types and colors.

Next to Electrolysis the laser technique of hair removal, is considered as the second best. But this technique has several disadvantages, the foremost being its non-permanent nature, the next being its selective approach for delivering different results for different skin types. 

It may or may not be a very widely proclaimed fact, but laser technique of hair removal is not a suitable technique for people with dark skin. At least this is the situation at present until technology advances more and widens our circle of present knowledge and understanding.  A lot of literature is available on the suitability of candidature for Electrolysis but none of it can be considered as a dictum. There are varied opinions from several experts on this. Some claim to have treated almost all skin types while others have reservations about certain skin types.

One thing is absolutely certain that with the advancement in technology more hidden knowledge in this sphere is bound to surface allowing more and more people to take advantage of the Electrolysis treatment. Electrolysis is found to be useful for white-skinned gray haired individuals also, who form poor candidates for the laser technique.