Electrolysis

From Susan's Place Transgender Wiki

This article is either incomplete or a placeholder. You can help Susan's Place Transgender Wiki by expanding it.
Please read the site rules first.

Electrolysis is either of two electrical depilation (often spelled "epilation") methods for the permanent removal of human hair. A practitioner of electrolysis as the term is used in epilation is called an electrologist (or sometimes electrolysist in the United Kingdom).

In 1875, Dr. Michel was successfully using a battery-powered needle epilator to treat ingrown eyelashes (trichiasis) since 1869. The battery powered method was called electrolysis because it caused a chemical reaction in the hair follicle that caused sodium hydroxide to form, which in turn damaged the follicle. This type of electrolysis, sometimes called Galvanic Electrolysis, continued through to the early part of the 20th century.

In 1924 after many years of experimentation successful hair removal using AC electricity, which causes thermal damage within the follicle, was reported in medical literature by Dr. Henri Bordier. This method was called diathermy and is also called thermolysis, short-wave, high-frequency (HF), radio-frequency (RF), etc.

Improvements in the equipment and technique continued through World War II, until Arthur Hinkel and Henri St. Pierre patented their blend method of electrolysis in 1948. During the later part of the 20th century improvements to equipment continued that included such things as computerized controls, and disposable probes.

Electrolysis still remains highly dependent on the skill of the technician. However regulations regarding electrolysis vary from country to country, state to state and province to province. Therefore is is so important carefully research and select an electrologist, and an important part of that selection is references from customers.

[edit] Types/Methods

One method really is electrolysis, using a person's body as an electrolytic cell. This method is known to electrologists as galvanic (after Luigi Galvani). The other method does not involve true electrolysis, and is known as thermolysis, radio frequency (RF), shortwave or diathermy. Galvanic and thermolysis are often combined in a method known as the blend. All three of these methods use a metal probe 50 to 150 µm (0.002 to 0.006 inches) in diameter which is inserted into hair follicles to the depth of the dermal papilla or hair matrix, which is the site of formation of hair from highly mitotic and keratinized cells.

Galvanic electrolysis was first reported in the medical literature by ophthalmologist Charles Michel in 1875 to remove ingrown eyelashes in patients with trichiasis. A galvanic epilator is essentially a positive ground power supply that delivers 0-3 milliamperes through the body. The follicular probe is the cathode of an electrolytic cell. Sodium hydroxide formed at the cathode burns out the hair matrix cells. Modern galvanic epilators automatically adjust the voltage to maintain constant current.

Thermolysis was developed in the 1920s. A thermolytic epilator is essentially a radio transmitter, usually with an output of about 0-8 watts at a frequency of 10.56 MHz. RF energy emanates from the probe to tissue within about a millimeter. The idea is to heat the hair matrix to about 48°Celsius, causing electrocoagulation.

Thermolysis allows more depilations in less time, typically 1-4 seconds per insertion, compared to 15 seconds to several minutes for galvanic. On the other hand, the galvanic method is more thorough, and leaves fewer follicles capable of regrowing hair. A third method, called "blend", was developed by Arthur Hinkel in 1948 and combines RF and direct current, combining many of the advantages of both methods.

[edit] How it works

Simply put; the technician slides a thin metal probe into an individual hair follicle, alongside the hair. The probe does not puncture the skin but is actually inserted into the hole that the hair grows from. Once in position an electrical pulse is delivered through the probe into the hair follicle, damaging the area that produces the hair. Generally the hair follicle is damaged with the first treatment, however, regrowth may occur from follicles that are not, and may require a second treatment.

[edit] Applications

Electrolysis can be safely used to remove hair on all parts of the body from in grown hairs in the eyelids to hairs growing in the pubic area. However the skill of the technician often determines the success of the hair removal.

[edit] Advantages

The big advantage of electrolysis is that if applied skillfully by a trained technician the hair removal it is permanent. The other advantage is that has been in use in some form since 1875, so it has a proven, safe track record.

[edit] Disadvantages

The three big disadvantages of electrolysis is the expense, the time required, and the pain.

It's expensive. Depending on where you live sessions can run from $50 to $100 per hour, and while you can shop around for the cheapest price, you should be shopping for the best technician.
It takes a long time. Depending its density, it can take from two to four years to clear the male beard, with three years being the average. Again this depends on the skill of the technician.
It's painful. While the pain, and the tolerance for pain depends on the individual, and the area being treated, electrolysis is painful. Pain can be eased by the application of topical anaesthetics, if the location permits, or even having facial areas frozen by a dentist when the beard is being removed.

The other disadvantages depend directly on the skill and training of the technician. Done improperly, electrolysis can cause skin damage and even spread infection that is why it is so important to shop around for the best.

[edit] Side Effects

While electrolysis has been practiced safely for years there are possible side effects that can occur, and these can be greatly reduced or eliminated depending on the skill of the electrologist:

Scarring - As there is heat generated at the probe there is the chance that a small red scar may form around the site of the hair follicle.
Superficial veins can be damaged causing minor bleeding.
Tissue swelling around the site that was treated. However this usually diminishes in one to two days.
Short term tenderness.
Tiny white scabs may form over each of the follicles, making the skin feel bumpy.

NOTE: Remember to always have a trial treatment on a small site within the area you plan to have treated. This will determine how your body will react.

[edit] Personal Experience

I am a MtF Transsexual, who is presently living full time as a woman. When I decided to start my transition one of the first things I needed to start was to get rid of my beard. I had considered laser, but based on the facts available on laser and electrolysis I decided to go with electrolysis. As I had no one locally to get references I started my search for an electrologist with the phone book. Listing all the names, I contacted each by phone, making an appointment for a consultation. In my initial contact by phone I explained who and what I was and asked them if they would have any problems treating me if I selected them. To be honest I would say that 50% of the establishments contacted declined.

I narrowed my list to four, and set up appointments for a consultation, and a trial hair removal session. Each explained how it was done, the costs involved, and an estimate of the time it would take for complete treatment. Except for the one I selected, they all pushed after care products. The one who I selected had a private business out of her home, she was the most professional of them all. During her consultation she started out with showing me around her establishment, the waiting area and what amenities were available while I waited. It was a very clean, clinical environment. She took me into the room where she did the procedure and again it was very, very clean, sparkling white actually. Then she sat me down and gave my face and examination, and she had me complete an extensive form recording my medical history, allergies, medications I was taking etc... and using this information she questioned me on the medications. From that she determined that there shouldn't be a problem for her to continue, and using medical diagrams showed me how follicles produce hair, general information on hair, how it grows, and their cycles etc...

She then went on to explain the equipment she used, showing and demonstrating the different probes and how they work. She uses a microscope to magnify the area she works on and she let me look through it for a better idea. The view of the skin was great and the hairs looked as though they were about an 8th of an inch wide. So I was confident that she was going to be able to see what she was doing, which greatly relieved some of the anxieties I had. She then showed me the actual electrolysis machine she used (See photograph) and when that was done she asked if I was ready for a trial application. I lay on the bed and she tilted it back and then raised it to a comfortable height. Then she wiped down a small area with a solution of some kind, and she started. I didn't know what to expect. The first was the sensation of the probe being inserted into the follicle, and then the there were two audible beeps accompanied by a quick, sharp pain. Ouch! She did about 10 hairs and we were done. She applied some ointment and sat me up. We chatted about how it felt, and what to expect in the future, and she told me to wait and see how my skin reacts to the trial before making further appointments, if I was going to use her services. She recorded the power settings she had used for my session and that was it.

At home I checked the area that she had worked on and noticed it was a little tender, and red, with just the hint of a swelling. However most of this had disappeared by the next day. As there seemed to be no complications and I seemed to heal well I decided to book further appointments and got started on getting rid of my beard. It's been a year since I started and the results have been very good. At first it was hard to tell that any hairs were being removed other than the obvious signs of redness and swelling. But eventually with each session the beard is going and it's hardly noticeable now.

I think that I have an average beard as far as density goes and I'm presently going every two weeks for a one hour session, at $50.00 Cdn per hour. At this pace I can see that it will be at least another year, possibly 18 months to achieve removal. As far as the pain is concerned, it depends on the area she is working on. On the side of my face the pain is tolerable over the one hour session, but I'm afraid there have been times when I've had tears in my eyes when she has been working on my chin as the hair is so dense and coarse there. To help with the pain I use a topical anesthetic that I spread on the area to be treated approximately one hour before my session. Topical anesthetics are available over the counter at most drug stores or pharmacies. It doesn't kill the pain but it does take the edge off.

One of the advantages of using a microscope over a magnifying glass, as many do, is that I only have to let my beard grow for one day. In other words, my sessions are always in the evening after work so I just skip shaving that morning and there is enough growth for her to work with. I don't have to worry about walking around looking like a woman with a 5 o'clock shadow. Also as far as the hair removal itself, the dark hairs come out really easy, but the grey or white ones are much harder as they are a lot coarser on my face. I'm leaving my top lip until last, then I shall make arrangements to have a dentist freeze that area because I know how much that is going to hurt.

Just remember that every ones experience with electrolysis will be different. You may have a higher tolerance for pain than me, and your beard may be heavier or lighter etc... the big thing is the skill of the technician. Mine is great, she is fully qualified and accredited, and I would highly recommend her services should I be approached. Shop around, get references, make sure you get a one on one consultation with a trial application.

[edit] External Links

A list of Electrologists by State
The American Electrology Association electrolysis in the U.S.
The British Institute and Association of Electrolysis electrolysis in the U.K.

[edit] Discuss

Readers may use this email link to report errors and/or omissions they have discovered, or to add additional material or comments regarding this article "Electrolysis"
Wiki Staff should discuss this article in the Wiki Staff Forum
Susan's Place Transgender Resources Forums
Susan's Place Transgender Chat

Browse: All | CD | IS | TG | TS | HRT | GRS | Gender | Standards of Care
Psychology | Transitioning | Family&Friends | People | Books | Abbreviations