FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ELECTROLYSIS
As always, speak directly to yourElectrologist to answer questions about your specific situation and treatment plan.
TREATMENT QUESTIONS:
+ PRE-TREATMENT
Avoid caffeine 24 hrs before your appointment, it can make the treatment area feel sensitive.
Always stay hydrated but it is especially important prior to your Electrolysis treatment.
Take an over the counter pain reliever prior to your appointment to help minimize any sensation. Although, this is not typically needed.
Apply any topical anesthetic to the treatment area prior to your appointment. Follow the instructions on the package for proper use and effectiveness of the product.
Wear light or preferably no makeup the day of your treatment.
Stop shaving the treatment area 48 Hours prior to your appointment. The hair needs to be just above the skin for effective treatment.
+ POST TREATMENT
After your appointment, be sure to follow these tips and tricks to ensure a speedy and comfortable recovery!
Drink lots of water and stay hydrated.
Use a gentle non abrasive cleanser on the area treated, and pat dry.
Apply Witch Hazel and 100% Aloe Vera Gel to the treatment area.
Moisturize the skin with an oil free moisturizer.
Avoid excessive sweating.
Avoid the sun for 24-48hrs and apply a sunscreen with SPF 30+.
Avoid perfume and alcohol-based products as these products can irritate and dry out the treated area.
Keep hands clean and away from the treated area.
Minimize use of makeup 24hrs after treatment. If this cannot be avoided then try to wear light oil-free makeup.
Avoid deodorant for 24hrs if you had treatment to your underarms.
+FOUR THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A QUALITY TREATMENT FROM ELECTROLYSIS:
Permanent hair removal results depend on the skill, accuracy, and judgment of the electrologist.
In most instances, you should not feel the hair being pulled out during the treatment. The hair slides out easily if properly treated.
Following a consistent series of treatments, you should see a change in the texture of coarse hair within 3 to 4 months and also a reduction in the amount of hairs.
By six months, the frequency and length of time per treatment should be reduced.
Within a year, your appointments should be spaced much further apart, possibly of shorter duration.
Other considerations that have an effect on your permanent results include: hormonal imbalances, medications, and the client's compliance between scheduled appointments.
+ IS ELECTROLYSIS SAFE?
Yes. We sterilize the same way doctors and hospitals do and pride ourselves on maintaining a clean and sanitized environment along with sterile supplies for each treatment. We use pre-sterilized disposable probes that are for 1 time use and then disposed of in a medical waste container after each treatment. Stacey is also Certified in OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard for proper infection control. We strictly adhere to the Infection Prevention Standards written by the American Electrology Association which is based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
It is important to note, Electrolysis is a minimally invasive treatment and has a 130-year history of safety and effectiveness.
+ DOES ELECTROLYSIS HURT?
Most people describe it as a slight warming sensation, and that it is very tolerable. Different parts of the body have a different number of nerve endings. Some areas might be a bit more sensitive than others. At Barely There Electrolysis, we use the latest technology and special techniques to minimize sensation.
+ ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS TO ELECTROLYSIS?
Minimal. Since electrolysis destroys the dermal papilla of a hair (hair root), it is normal to see some slight redness and/or mild swelling associated with the electrolysis treatment. In most individuals, this will disappear in half an hour to several hours.
+ CAN I BEGIN ELECTROLYSIS IF I AM PREGNANT?
Yes, unwanted hair can be brought on by hormonal changes during pregnancy. While we aren't aware of any issues with Electrolysis during pregnancy, it is best to seek advice from your physician prior to starting any treatments.
+ BETWEEN ELECTROLYSIS SESSIONS
After you have begun your Electrolysis treatment do not tweeze or wax the area being treated. These methods of temporary hair removal will undo the work that has been done and may stimulate more hair growth.
Cutting or shaving the hairs are the only acceptable methods to minimize the appearance of hair between appointments.
+ ELECTROLYSIS TIME LINE
Did you know Electrolysis works best when treatments are done on a regular basis?
Electrolysis takes an average of 18 months of treatments with full clearances for hair follicles to permanently die. A single hair grows for 10 to 12 weeks, falls out and then starts the cycle all over again. Because of the nature of the hair growth cycles, it can take up to 3 months before all the hairs come to the surface of the skin to be treated. Following your first treatment, there is still a collection of hair below the skin that has not been treated. This is referred to as the undergrowth.
The best time to come in for your next treatment is when the hairs are first appearing at the surface of the skin. This is when the hair is in the active growing stage and we have complete access to the dermal papilla where the energy is most needed.
The graph below illustrates the growth cycle of a hair.
