Electrolysis

Electrolysis is the only method of permanent hair removal that can treat any combination of hair colour and skin tones on anyone. It can also be used alongside other hair removal methods for a comprehensive treatment plan on any part of the body. 

Hair growth in unwanted areas of the face and body is the result of heredity and hormone levels. Also, some drugs, temporary methods of hair removal, and illnesses can stimulate hair growth. 

Causes of unwanted hair growth can be divided into 3 categories: 

Topical - Forcibly removed hair often grows back stronger, as these methods (such as tweezing, waxing, sugaring, threading etc.) tear out the lower follicular area, stimulating the blood supply, resulting in stronger, more determined re-growth. 

Also application of some steroid creams to the skin, for instance for conditions such as acne and eczema. 

Hereditary and genetic - Some clients may describe a family tendency toward excess hair, in which case the cause can clearly be attributed to inherited genes. Others may be pre-disposed to acquiring hair at a particular time in their life, where there is no previous family history – this is considered where all other avenues of investigation have failed to reveal a cause. Racial background has a strong influence on the presence of hair in certain areas. 

Systemic - Hair growth can be caused by a hormone disturbance or a bodily influence – this is referred to as ‘systemic’. 

Hormones are natural substances transported in the blood, they act as chemical messengers targeting specific cells and tissues in the body. Typically, hormones do the following: 

• Regulate growth and development
• Help to keep the body in a constant steady state, i.e. homoeostasis
• Help to cope with stress
• Help to regulate how the body processes food to produce energy

All women have low levels of male hormones, made in the ovaries as an intermediate step in making female hormones. Sometimes, the levels can become imbalanced, and this can manifest as excess hair growth. 

Systemic (hormonal disturbance) causes of hair growth can be divided into two categories: primary (normal) and secondary (abnormal) causes.  

Normal causes 

There are certain stages in a woman’s life when hormones become imbalanced naturally: 

• Pregnancy: women may experience sudden onset of hair growth, which can disappear just as suddenly after birth.
• Menopause: at this time androgen levels (male hormones) become disproportionally high compared to the falling levels of female hormones and new hair may develop, or existing hair may become darker. Electrolysis can eradicate a follicles ability to produce hairs, or, in cases where hormone output is not adjusted, manage the growth.
• Puberty: some pubescent females will develop a growth of darker, but usually fine, excess hair, e.g. on the upper lip and neck. This usually disappears once hormones become balanced and is not cause for concern. However, if self-conscious about this, girls may seek electrolysis treatment. Treatment of this hair is highly successful and is far preferable to other methods of hair removal which will exacerbate the problem. For girls under 16 years of age, parental or GP permission must be sought prior to commencing treatment and a parent/guardian should accompany the client on each visit.
• Stress: the endocrine system is responsible for producing and distributing hormones; it is very finely balanced and affects all other bodily systems, particularly metabolism. Stress increases adrenalin levels, which in turn affect other hormone levels – in extreme cases, prolonged stress can cause a manifestation of unwanted hair. The best solution is to remove the source of stress, though electrolysis treatment will help alleviate anxiety caused by the hair itself.
• Drugs/Medication: certain drugs stimulate hair growth. Medication containing hormones may cause hair to grow in a masculine pattern, see examples below. Where a medication clearly causing unwanted hair growth must be taken for life, permanent hair removal may not be achievable, but electrolysis can be used to manage the growth.

Drugs and unwanted hair growth

The following are some drugs where instances of unwanted hair growth are reported as a side effect. Please note, only a small minority will be affected by these drugs and caution should be exercised before attributing blame to the drug: 

Hormones 

• Oral contraceptives – if hair growth has arisen since starting them
• Oestrogen or progesterone therapy (Provera)
• Cortisone (Cortisyl)
• Prednisone and its derivatives (Deltacortril, Prednisolone, Precortisyl, Prednesol)
• Dexamethasone (Decadron)
• Topical steroid creams (Hydrocortisyl, Betnovate)
• Testosterone (Restandol, Sustanon, Testoviron Depot)
• Clomiphene (Clomid, Scrophene – both are fertility stimulators)
• Thyroid hormones (Synthrosis, Eltroxin)
• Growth hormone (Norditrophin)

Anti-Convulsant 

• Clonazepam (Rivotril)
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Temporol)
• Phenytoin (Epanutin)

Anti-Depressants 

• Fluoexetine (Prozac)
• Clompramine (Anafranil)
• Sertraline (Lustral)
• Venlafaxine (Efexor)
• Bupropion (Wellutrin)
• Trazadone (Molipaxin)

Topical Skin Preparations 

• Topical steroids (as above)
• Topical anti-bacterial (Neosporin)
• Topical anti-fungus (Nizoral, Daktarin)

Miscellaneous

• Roaccutane – anti-acne agent
• Fenfluramine – weight loss agent (Ponderax)
• Minoxidil – blood pressure reducer and hair growth stimulator (Regaine) 

Secondary/abnormal causes - Abnormal causes are where there is an imbalance of hormones caused by a glandular disorder or disease, such as: 

• Cushing’s Syndrome
• Adrenogenital Syndrome
• Achard Thiers Syndrome
• Stein Leventhal Syndrome, better known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – the most likely abnormal disturbance to be encountered in electrolysis clients.

Polycystic Ovaries (PCOS) 

This condition can affect any woman of reproductive age, where the ovaries contain many small cysts, lying just under the surface of the ovary, made up of the remains of egg follicles that have not grown large enough to release an egg. Polycystic ovaries tend to produce too much male hormone, which can cause hair to grow in a more male pattern. Excess male hormones (androgens) also increase the activity of the sebaceous glands, sometimes causing acne. Other symptoms include heavy, irregular or no periods. In severe cases, drug therapy is administered to block the production of male hormones, which, in conjunction with electrolysis therapy, has very favourable results. 

It is estimated that up to 20% of women have polycystic ovaries to some extent and it can be hereditary. Being overweight can affect the balance of hormones and trigger or exacerbate the symptoms of polycystic ovaries. Carrying out treatment on someone with PCOS can take twice as long and still may not produce the desired results as well as the additional to be considered should a treatment plan be carried out.  

Electrolysis uses diathermy (heat) current to create destruction in the hair follicle. The process works by inserting a fine probe into the skin. It uses shortwave radio or direct current in hair follicles to stop new hair from growing. This procedure damages your hair follicles to prevent growth and causes existing hairs to fall out. 

The total number of sessions needed to remove hair permanently from a particular area will vary from person to person. Most clients return once to twice month or as needed.  Each treatment lasts between 15 to 30 mins in a sterile environment. Treatment plans require a minimum of 12 months and in some cases can take up to two years depending on the individual. 

Number of treatments is influenced by the following factors:

• Your skin – Skin type and sensitivity of the treatment area.
• Skin hydration – Caffeinated or alcoholic beverages can dehydrate your skin, making it more sensitive and more prone to irritation. It can also cause sweating, which will make the procedure more difficult and can make you feel more uncomfortable.
• Hair thickness – The thicker the hair the longer it takes to remove it.
• Quantity of hair – Hairs near each other take more time than hairs that are spaced further apart.
• Pain tolerance – Electrolysis can be a mild uncomfortable procedure. Pain is highly subjective, however the general sensation is of a mild warming sensation of heat . the slight discomfort varies according to area, previous method of hair removal, hair type and clients pain threshold.
• Your cooperation, making sure the treatment plan is strictly followed.

• Anywhere on the body  
• Lip, chin, naval, underarm, bikini as well as nipple area 

Below is the current Sterex guide to contraindications, however bear in mind the effects of medications and the management of conditions do change.   

Definitive Contraindications 

• Blood Thinning Medication
• Cochlear implants
• Dermographia
• Haemophilia
• Keloid Scarring
• Pacemaker
• Pregnancy (1st Trimester)
• Recent Scar Tissue (in treatment area)
• Rosacea [active] (in treatment area)
• Skin Diseases/Disorders
• Sunburn (in treatment area)

Restrictive Contraindications 

• Asthma/Respiratory Disorders
• Auditory Devices apart from Cochlear implants
• Circulatory Problems i.e. Phlebitis/Thrombosis (in treatment area)
• Dermabrasion (medical) within 6-12 months (in treatment area)
• Micro Dermabrasion within 4-6 weeks (in treatment area)
• Diabetes with GP permission
• Epilepsy with GP permission
• ‘General medication’
• Heart Conditions with GP permission
• Blood borne viruses with GP permission
• High Blood Pressure with GP permission.
• Laser/IPL (recent treatment in area to be treated)
• Local Bruising/Swelling
• Loss of Tactile Sensation (in treatment area)
• History of Cancer – GP advice
• Lupus – GP permission
• Minors
• Metal plates
• Nervous Client
• Skin Diseases/Disorders
• Steroids
• Swelling/Oedema
• Tattoo (in treatment area)
• Pigment disorders or ethnic skin colouration

It is safe to treat a pregnant lady, but it is advisable to wait until the first trimester has passed, also written consent from the client’s GP is advised for insurance purposes. 

To remove hair from an area with a tattoo, the tattoo must be at least 12 months old and fully healed, there is no guarantee that the tattoo may not be damaged during a course of treatment and the client undertakes the treatment knowing the risk.    

Here are some useful ways to prepare for treatment to help you achieve maximum results and feel most comfortable. 

DO: 

• Grow - hair needs to be long enough to tweezer out - 3 days should be enough. Trimming is allowed in between treatments but remember to allow time to grow them before your appointment
• Hydrate - drink plenty of water
• Moisturise - 2-3 nights before your treatment to hydrate the skin
• Arrive make up free
• Exfoliate a week before to prevent/reduce ingrowns and expose the hair
• Nourish - eat nutrient rich food and limit sugar - this contributes to successful healing

AVOID:

• Acids and retinols - any chemicals, abrasive products must not be used one week before treatment, and one week after
• Tweezing, waxing, threading - or anything that pulls the hair out from the root. Only trimming is allowed in between appointments
• Alcohol and caffeine - 24 hours before your treatment. These are dehydrating and will also affect pain threshold levels
• Sun exposure - 24 hours before and after your treatment - please also share if you have any holidays in the sun planned!

If opting for numbing cream, please note this needs to be purchased and applied by you, the client, before your treatment. This must be applied 20-30 minutes before your appointment time. 

Please ensure you keep the area meticulously clean and dry for the first 48 hours post treatment, note - it is normal for the area to retain some redness for up to an hour after treatment due to the heat produced from the procedure as well expecting some swelling and sensitivity. 

DO NOT: 

• Sunbathe, use saunas sun beds solariums or steam treatments.
• Self-tan
• Direct sunlight
• Cleanse the skin using products
• Use retinols or acid for one week after
• Have any other treatment in the area
• Take hot showers/baths
• Swim
• Apply make up to the treated area
• Apply soap or perfumed products to the treated area
• Wear tight clothing (for body areas)
• Touch the area with dirty hands
• Avoid picking any scabs or pustules that form - this is a normal and expected reac-tion. Picking these prematurely can cause scarring and hyperpigmentation.

DO

• Apply Aloe vera liberally with a clean cotton pad in the treated area. You can keep this in the fridge for additional soothing.
• Recommended Pure Witch Hazel this will help with any white spots/pustules that form – also apply this with a clean cotton pad
• Vaseline can be especially useful to use on scabs that form.
• Optional - Appling a cold compress or an ice pack (ensure the outside is sterilised/clean) to the treated area or taking an antihistamine to bring down redness and bumps.
• Apply min SPF30

Considerations

If you would like to bleach the downy hair growth between treatments, you can do so 48 hours after treatment.  

Avoid plucking, tweezing threading depilatory creams and waxing if its not part of your treatment plan between electrolysis as this will interrupt the hair cycle growth. It’s safer to trim any noticeable unwanted hairs with a small scissors and when wash-ing the area use gentle unperfumed cleanser, never use wipes or soap as this will fur-ther dry out the skin. Gently pat the area dry to avoid dislodging any fine scabs or crusts.  

Electrolysis treats each hair follicle individually with a very fine, disposable, sterile probe to permanently destroy the follicle’s ability to reproduce, thereby eradicating hair growth on completion of the course of treatment.  

Laser tends to treat large areas of skin using a laser or light-based lamp which can reduce hair growth, but not remove all the hair permanently. It is termed hair reduction rather than hair removal. Both electrolysis and laser can work well in conjunction with each other in some circumstances. Permanent hair removal with electrolysis requires a longer course of treatment but results in complete, permanent removal of all hair treated.  

Laser/IPL treatment requires further treatment when the hair grows back. 

Laser and IPL can provide a permanent reduction of hair. Up to 85% of the hair can be permanently removed. Unlike electrolysis they cannot permanently remove all the hair in any given area.  

In addition to this, many people and hair types are not suitable for LASER and IPL e.g. fair, blonde, red or grey hair; people with a tan or on certain photosensitive medication. During treatment with LASER or IPL intense pulses of light are applied to each section of the area to be treated. The light is attracted to and absorbed by the melanin [pigment] in the hair causing the cells which stimulate hair growth to be heated and destroyed. This process is called selective photo thermolysis and a course of treatment is required. 

Shaving the area before each season is also required to carry out the treatment. 

Vellus hair is the fine downy hair covering the whole body with exceptions of the soles of the feet and palms of the hands.

Expectations of permanently removing this type of fine hair is underwhelming as its likely the skin will scar due to the intense heat received in the treated area. 

Speak with signature beauty Marlow to discuss alternative ways of hair removal. 

Please see price list available on the website. 

Please let Signature Beauty Marlow know of any change of circumstances/medications introduced into your lifestyle from your initial consultation to keep records up to date and for the effectiveness of your treatment.   

It’s a treatment that uses a thermolysis current and a very fine needle to either cauterise or lift away blemishes.

Electrolysis is a common name for hair removal using an electrolysis device while advance electrolysis requires the therapist to be trained in milia, red vein and skin tag removal using the same machine.

At the studio we can treat facial red veins, milia, skin tags, spider naevi and cherry angiomas.

A skin tag is a harmless growth of epithelial tissue, they are benign and vary in shape and size. They appear in areas that are prone to friction like underarms the groin, neck and under bra straps.

They do not pose any direct risk and are not contagious.

Broken capillaries usually found around the nose cheeks and chin.

There are many possible causes to red veins, circulatory issues, diabetes, high or low blood pressure, hormonal imbalances, some other triggers can also be spicy food alcohol, smoking and being overweight, sun damage, aging, allergies as well as over exfoliating.

A white cyst containing keratin that is trapped beneath the epidermis, an undeveloped sebaceous gland found around the cheek bone and eye area also referred to as milk spots.

Spider naevi, as the name suggest it looks like a spider as it has a little red middle with a few veins coming off it, causes are usually from direct trauma to the skin.

Also known as Campbell de morgan spots or blood spots they are benign vascular blemishes typically related to aging and are found on the trunk of the body.

With short wave diathermy where an electrical current is passed though a tiny probe that coagulates the blood supply.

The probe is insulated so protects the surrounding skin from the heat produced therefore only treating the area of concern.

Metal allergy, high or low blood pressure, blood thinning medication, diabetes, Pacemaker, tumour, hepatitis, herpes Hodgkinson’s disease, seizures and cancer.

Retin A, you would need to stop using 2 days before and leave off 2 days after treatment.

Accutane users must be off their usage for a year.

Pre-arranged social occasions may affect the patience ability to undergo treatment.

• Increases self-confidence
• Leaves the skin smoother and softer
• Leaves appearance of the skin clearer
• Application of make up more even 

• Improved appearance of the skin
• Non-surgical procedure
• Reduced redness 
• May give confidence to wear less make-up

• Stop obscuring vision if near the eye
• Relieve embarrassment if its viable on the body
• Stops the worry of them snagging or catching on jewellery or clothing

A full consultation would be required to advise, the following is a guideline only.

• Skin tags - most often just one visit, but then additional visits may be required if others pop up in different areas
• Milia - one to two visits depending on the amount, several visits over time if your skin is prone to them reoccurring
• Red vein- depending on the amount and their severity up to 3 visits
• Spider naevi - one visit 
• Cherry angiomas - one visit

Consultation - between 15-20 minutes

Treatment time - 15-30 mins depending on one or many of the skin concerns being removed.

Usually, a separate appointment is required for each skin concern wanted to be treated.

More time can be added if needed especially to thoroughly cover aftercare advise.

Temporary warmth is felt in the area being treated, not every area on the body is equal to the same degree of discomfort. Certain spots, such as the upper lip, are known to be more sensitive but overall, the treatment is very bearable and tolerable.

• Keep the area out of the sun for a minimum of 2 weeks 
• Avoid tanning creams
• Stop using products containing AHS 1 week before for treatment of Mila and red veins on the face.
• Ensure the area is clean shaven if there is facial hair
• For face come in with no make-up present
• If it’s for skin tags, wear loose clothing
• Loose clothing for treatment of cherry angiomas and spider naive on the torso 
• Discontinue the use of aspirin ibuprofen or other a anti-inflammatory/blood thinning medication 3 days prior to reduce the risk of bruising
• No smoking or vaping the day of the treatment

• If possible, rest after treatment without stimulation for 30 minutes
• The area will remain red, possibly mildly puffy, due to the heat from the treatment
• You may experience mild itching in the area, aloe vera can be applied and or antihistamines taken
• The area will need to be protected from the sun for 3-4 weeks to avoid dark spots developing, wear a minimum of SPF 30
• For 48 hours post treatment avoid getting the area wet such as hot baths, showers, saunas as well as any heat treatment
• Make-up can be applied 48-hour post treatment preferably mineral based
• After 48 hours cleanse twice a day with clean cotton pads soaked in witch hazel followed by reapplying aloe vera gel for up to 7 days, please ensure products contain no alcohol
• To avoid infection, points to remember are for the first week to avoid abrasions of any kind like scrubbing, exfoliating creams or even rough towels
• Note, it is extremely important that you don’t lift or pick the fine scabs as this will increase any risk of scarring pitting and the success of the treatment
• If the fine cauterised vein breaks open and starts to bleed place a clean sterilised compress on the area, hold until the bleeding stops then start the process of caring for the area from the beginning
• Always contact the studio if your concerned or email over a photograph of the stages of healing for reassurance
• Wear loose clothing if treatment was carried out on the torso

• Post treatment erythema or oedema may be present in the area
• After a few days small scabbing will form where the treatment was carried out
• Apply soothing aloe vera or Vaseline
• Avoid heat treatment and direct sunlight 
• Avoid swimming or getting the area wet
• Avoid picking rubbing or knocking the small scabs as this may cause potential scaring 
• Apply SPF30+
• Mild bruising can occur
• Healing can take up to a month if many have been removed

• When at home keep the area clean
• Don’t pick, let the scabs fall off independently
• Avoid direct sunlight to the area 
• Avoid fitted clothes or jewellery to the treated area
• It's uncommon to need pain relief
• Skin tag removal has minimal side effects or risk
• Average healing time is 7-10 days
• If the tag is still attached it will reduce in colour and size, then drop off
• Should an infection, bleeding or swelling present during the healing process please contact the studio with no hesitation