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Electrolysis is the only option available to patients with light or white hair who seek permanent hair removal. However It is very effective at permanently removing all hair types and all skin tones. 

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1. This is a pore and inside is its hair follicle in a simplified view of its structure. For our purposes there are two important structures in it and destroying them is essential for permanent hair removal. It is also worth noting that Hair follicles exist in different phases. In electrolysis we can only properly treat hairs in the anagen stage. As this is when we have full access to the necessary structures we want to destroy. This unfortunately means that permanent hair removal is a long and slow process, as previously treated areas may suddenly start sprouting "new" hairs that were in fact hidden in their resting phase or that were disturbed and awoken by the sudden influx of blood flow caused by treatment itself. The good news is regardless these can be treated and removed permanently as well - and they can't all hide forever.  

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2. In the first step, the area is cleaned with alcohol. So as to minimise infection.

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3. A blunt filament, or wire known as a ‘needle’ is inserted into the pore. This filament is less than the width of a human hair and comes in different  lengths, materials and  'gauges' or sizes depending on the size of the target follicle. Thick hair typically benefits from a wider needle, while small pores benefit from a thinner needle. Your electrologist will match the needle gauge, material and design to the targeted area each session.  Please note that although it is called a needle, it does not pierce skin easily and in the hands of a skilled electrologist it will not cause you any harm. 

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4. This wire follows the channel or the pore down to the root and adjacent to the root that sit low in the pore. The root resembles a bulb that connects the follicle to its blood supply which is necessary for growth and an area of connective tissue called the papilla. There is some proliferative potential of the cells in this zone, however eliminating this blood supply is essential as surrounding this bulb in the papilla are  the more proliferative hair matrix cells themselves, and the inner and outer sheaths that support them. 

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5. Adjacent to these structures in the outer sheath are the bulge cells, another essential target. These are highly proliferative, multipotent stem cells that regularly reproduce when provided with sufficient blood supply. These cells are responsible for hair cells for growth and maintenance. As there will always be some small amount of blood supply to the follicular structures it is essential to target the Bulge cells. Inadequate destruction of these cells typicallly results in under treatment or later development of thin pale velus-like hair.

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6. This destruction is achieved by several methods. At Live More Ethical Beauty. We specialise in 3 methods. Thermolysis, Galvanic and Blend. Contrasting this with Laser and IPL services which use focussed light to cause the pigment in the hair matrix to heat up and damage the nearby structures, the insertion of a probe is much slower, but does not require pigment and allows greater control of destruction within the follicle. 

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7. Thermolysis. Thermo (Heat) Disintegration (Lysis). In thermolysis a low amp current is passed through the probe, causing it to rapidly create heat- much like how a toaster or electric heater works.  This heat causes damage to all surrounding tissue within the pore. With the goal being adequate burning and destruction of the nearby Follicle root and bulge cells. The upside of this method is that it is the fastest method, typically lasting only 1-2 seconds per hair. Although it can at times be intolerable to some patients.  This method is quick to heal from and usually only presents with a bit of post care redness that subsides within hours. The downsides of this method are that it is a little more likely to undertreat an area (requiring repeat treatments for the now weakened hair). This method is also more prone to cause discolouration or hyper pigmentation on darker skin types. If a patient with a darker skin type wishes to continue with thermolysis, we have a range of insulated probes, wherein much of the filament is shielded, preventing heat transfer and damage to the skin at the surface of the pore. This method is excellent for reducing hyperpigmentation and allows for the speed of the Thermoflash procedure, but does increase the risk of under treatment and can be a little more uncomfortable for the patient when the probe is inserted.  

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8. Galvanic. Galvanic is the older method of electrolysis hair removal. A current is passed through the probe and into the hair follicle cells themselves. This current causes a separation of the chemicals inside the hair matrix that produces oxygen (O2), hydrogen (H), water (H2O) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) also known the corrosive Lye used in drain cleaners. This liquid Lye burns and corrodes a small area of local tissue, breaking down into less corrosive substances before becoming inert. Gravity allows the liquid lye to move within the pore as the corrosion destroys the root of the follicle and the bulge cells. The advantage of the galvanic method is is continues to work for some time after treatment and is very good at avoiding undertreatment. The skin on the surface also recovers quickly as very little of the destructive lye leaves the base of the pore and it is comparatively the least painful or uncomfortable. The downside is it is a much slower method, requiring as high as 10 seconds per hair, and in darker skin types there is a higher risk of hyperpigmentation - And unlike Thermolysis, insulated probes cannot be used to reduce this risk.

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9. Blend. Blend, as the name combines Galvanic and Thermolysis in an effort to get the best of both worlds. In principle it is very much the same as galvanic, in that a current is passed into the follicle to cause a chemical separation that results in caustic liquid. Only in Blend a small amount of heat is also applied, with the aim to promote the activity of the liquid, allowing it to spread more easily inside the pore. This cuts down the longer wait times  of the galvanic method, without fully accepting the lesser treatment effectiveness and complications of the Thermoflash method. This is in exchange for a procedure that is just a little bit more painful than Galvanic. Blend is the recommended starting point for most patients.

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10. After the hair  has been properly lysed, it is removed from the pore. A successful destruction of the regenerative parts of the hair can be confirmed if: - The hair can be removed without traction, as this indicates a high probably that all proliferative and connective tissue has been destroyed and - the root bulb, with accompanying outer sheath has been disintegrated as well. It is worth noting that if these bulbs and sheaths are not present, the area may be undertreated and may regrow, albeit a  lot weaker than before,. In the case of Galvanic methods, the pore is still being treated after the hair has been removed as the Lye slowly breaks down.

 

It is important to recognize this undertreatment is normal, and not every hair can be completely destroyed the first time every time.. Hair follicles come in many shapes and sizes and resiliencies and as such perfect treatment every time is not possible. What can be guaranteed is that over time, the hair will eventually be destroyed  for good.

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Destroyed hairs, even un-plucked will eventually fall out, epilating the hair is not necessary but beneficial for monitoring undertreatment and reducing infection. At a patients request, the electrologist will not pluck hairs and instead focus on lysing follicles as quickly as possible. Note however that although this covers more area more quickly, the lack of feedback increases the possibility missing undertreated follicles.  

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11. After the procedure a layer of cooling Aloe Vera Gel is applied over the area. This forms protective barrier and taking away some of the heat.

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12. Immediate after treatment you may notice.

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  • Bruising - All methods may cause some small bruising, as damage to the pore may also cause damage to small local blood vessels and cause them to rupture. This is very normal and will resolve quickly within days. 

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  • Redness and swelling - The heat and the trauma causes blood vessels in the treated area to dilate, this is very normal and will resolve within hours. Panadol, cleaned icepacks and pressure is recommended to help reduce this.

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  • Welts - Galvanic methods may also produce small unsightly welts that are not seen in thermolysis, but these resolve quickly and are a result of oxygen gas carrying lye up the channel and causing local swelling. Please refer to our "is this right?" page for further guidance.

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13. After a few days you may notice.

  • Some latent scabbing. - Scabbing is normal and common in uninsulated Thermoflash treatment. It represents the body healing itself, although if there is too much scabbing it is indicative of overtreatment burning the entry to the pore, having very sensitive skin or poor adherence to aftercare protocols. 

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  • Some dark spots of  discolouration. This can occur during galvanic and blend treatments where the patient has particularly tough follicles or sensitive skin. It can be a little worrying to some patients, but is very normal and always resolves, usually within 4 weeks. Please refer to our "is this right?" page for further guidance.

So What do you think is right for you?

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