Electrolysis Hair Removal - Patients ask, Dr. Ringpfeil answers
Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about Electrolysis Hair Removal or to ask Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.
Philadelphia and Mainline Center of Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery
Electrolysis
Overview: An electrical beam is sent to a vulnerable area in each hair follicle which destroys the follicle permanently. This technique can be used in white, red or dark hair and may be the only permanent option when the first two colors prevail. In dark haired areas with the occasional white hair, electrolysis is often chosen to complete the clean look after laser hair reduction.
Expected results: Permanent removal of hair in all skin and hair colors.
Pretreatment: Hair must not be plucked or waxed for 4 weeks prior to treatment. Hair may be clipped close to the skin level until the evening before the treatment. Bleaching of hair is permitted.
Post treatment instructions: None
Time to desired results: Immediate. Depending on the density of hair, many treatments may be necessary to achieve satisfactory results as each follicle must be treated separately.
Duration of desired effects: Permanent. Periodic maintenance treatment can be added as needed when previously dormant hair follicles are producing hair again.
Contraindications: None
Downtime: None
Are there side effects to treating African American skin, such as facial burns? Specifically does electrolysis work on dense gray hair? Are the results of electrolysis permanent for both dark and gray hairs?
Densely pigmented skin always requires a delicate approach during procedures. However, electrolysis is an option and works to permanently destroy white, grey and dark hair. It is recommended to use an over the counter fading agent, such as kojic acid or hydroquinone 2%, about 4 weeks prior to start of electrolysis.
Hello,
I have been wanting to get electrolysis for some time now but I cannot imagine the idea of growing out the hair for 4 weeks! I have dark black hair that grows on the sides of my chin, along with some on my upper lip. I pluck daily. I have light/olive skin. Are there any suggestions? I don’t think I can grow it out for longer than one week. It grows overnight! Please help!
Some people will indeed need less amount of time to grow out hair to enable electrolysis, and if safe and effective, treatment times can often be tailored. I recommend that you work with your electrologist to find the right timing for you.
Is it true that you can’t shave or tweeze for 4 weeks before your appointment? Is bleaching prior to appointment an option?
Tweezing and waxing must be avoided for 4 weeks prior to hair reduction; bleaching, clipping and shaving are allowed, however, shaving must be avoided 3 days prior to electrolysis.
I’m an African American female with embarrassing facial hair. I have tried laser hair treatments before which seemed to help when done on a consistent basis; however, American Laser Centers are no longer credible within various communities. According to research, electrolysis is the only process for permanent hair removal; therefore, have you had a decent success rate when treating individuals with dark-pigmented skin?
Yes, we do use electrolysis safely on dark skin.
Omg Mia you sound just like me!!! From experience the ONLY thing that worked was electrolysis. I wanted to speed up the process so I opted to do laser which didn’t work for the odor so now in the middle of stopping my treatments to get my money back. Although it did remove hair it still left my apocrine glands untouched which is a negative for me since I have a bromohidrosis aNd I either wanted them dead or partially disabled. I repeat electrolysis works for people with apocrine bromohidrosis. If you’ve tried topical antibiotics antibacterial soaps alcohol vinegar yea tree oil lemons limes or whatever else antibacterial agent then look into electrolysis. Don’t believe the doctors when they say it’s bacteria Because not everyone’s body is the same. Electrolysis saved my life as I Was seriously depressed paranoid and saddened by my odor. If my odor was a 10 at its worst I’ll say it’s about a 4 of 5 now since starting electrolysis.I still have a little problems when I wear sleeveless shirts but I just pck my deo with me in my purse. Best money I ever spent will be getting my pubic hair removed with electrolysis too and I can’t wait since I have the problem in my groin. Either way this was literally a lifesaver. Took about 2 weeks to smell results.
I was interested in electrolysis for my underarms. I have an issue with persistent underarm odor and have tried all the prescription topical deodorants, antibiotics like clindagel and I am getting no relief from the odor. I am smelling at least an hour after bathing with antibacterial sops along with using strong antispirant at night and deodorant on. Nothing has worked. I read that this treatment should help with chronic underarms odor called apocrine bromhidrosis. No matter how clean I am I still stink it is so embarrassing and have impacted my job greatly.
It seems you have not had success with the common treatments for apocrine bromohidrosis such as antiperspirants and topical antibiotics. Advanced treatments are those that destroy the sweatglands such as microwave technology (Miradry) and Nd:YAG laser treatments (Smart-lipo or similar
device) from the underside of the skin. Destruction of the hair follicles through electrolysis, alexandrite or Nd:YAG laser will work but may not be as effective as the two modalities mentioned before. Electrolysis or laser hair removal are however much less costly alternatives.
I am undergoing laser hair removal at this time on my chest. I am interested in other parts of my body, like my back, but i have a tattoo on in between my shoulder blades. My hair on my back is not alot but enough that i want it gone. I know that laser is not an option over the tattoo, but would electrolysis be possible on the tattooed area without ruined the tattoo? Please let me know as i would like to start soon.
Hair removal is not an option in an area of a tattoo by either laser or electrolysis.
I’m interested in trying electrolysis for my facial hair problem (I’m a female). I’ve tried laser twice, 5 years apart, and while I had some improvement while undergoing the treatments, the hair always returns. Do you think electrolysis would have more success? The hair is dense and coarse on my chin, and less dense from my sideburn area to my jawline. How much time do you think such an area would take?
Thank you.
Electrolysis and laser treatment have about the same success rate for dark hair but when hair is light, electrolysis is the only modality that works.
Electrolysis is however much more tedious because one hair follicle at a time is treated with the electrolysis needle. We offer 15 minute and 30 minute sessions. During a 15 minute session about between 40-100 hair follicles could be treated. As in laser hair removal, some hair follicles may have to be treated multiple times to be fully destroyed. Electrolysis can be performed every 3-6 weeks. It is difficult to quote the number of treatments needed without evaluating your hair in person but when hair is truly dense, the process typically takes a couple of years.
I’m am balding and want to permanently remove all hair from my head. Please advise on various procedures and cost.
Laser treatment achieves non-scarring permanent removal of hair. Removal of scalp hair is feasible if you can adhere to the safety precautions that also applies to laser hair removal anywhere on the body. The most important is diligent sun protection to the treated area for 4 weeks after each laser treatment. This can be achieved by wearing a hat any time you go out, or by applying sunscreen every 2 hours. If sun precautions are not meticulously followed, ensuing hyperpigmentation may be very slow to resolve (months to years). It will take about 6-8 treatments to remove 90% of the scalp hair and any residual hair is typically very fine after these treatments.
Treatments should be about 6 weeks apart. The treatment can be more uncomfortable than elsewhere on the body. We currently charge $250 per treatment of the scalp.
How is electrolysis priced? Is the fee per area or per hour for example?
We price by time: 15 minutes are $25 and 30 minutes $50.
Is this still the current price ? I’m interested in getting my upper lip done.
Yes, $25 for 15 minutes and $50 for 30 minutes is our pricing for electrolysis treatment.