Facts About Electrolysis

It takes approximately 8-12 weeks for a hair to grow from the papilla to the surface of the skin. Each hair has it's own individual cycle. One can appreciate why electrolysis is required over a period of time. There can be as many as 500 to 1000 hair follicles in any square inch, but only 10% of the active follicles can be showing above the surface at any one time. It is hard to believe the only place we can't have hair growth is on the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet! It is VITAL for permanent hair removal that clients return on a regular basis so hairs can be treated as they break the surface of the skin.

Treated hairs will not return. However, there are many dormant follicles that will not be activated unless special conditions within the body cause change. These newly activated follicles appear to be in the same place as the previously treated hairs.

Excessive hair growth can be attributed to many causes such as heredity, stress, hormonal changes or even some medications (i.e. birth control pills or anti-rejection drugs used after organ transplants). For example, females during puberty, pregnancy and menopause can activate dormant hair growth cycles because of hormonal changes.

Successful treatment requires the skin to be well hydrated. Smokers, diabetics and age-skinned persons can expect slower results due to the lack of water in the skin.

Not even a doctor can predict exactly how long it will take to completely and permanently remove hairs from the activated follicles.

  1.  The Anagen stage -- The new hair is growing and the follicle is expanding. There is a short window of time for the hair to be showing above the skin and still be growing. This is the only stage that the hairs can be permanently removed.

  2.  The Catagen stage -- The hair remains, but the germative cells separate from the follicle. The germative cells retreat into the dermis becoming dormant until it their genetically and hormonally controlled cycles are reactivated.

  3.  The Telegen stage -- This is the sleeping stage. That is, the germative cells are dormant and the follicle is dehydrated and reduced in size. The hairs, themselves, can remain showing above the skin up to two years, just sitting in these diminished and dehydrated follicles.