Differences Between Laser Hair Removal and Electrolysis

Many of us would love to find a way to remove hair and never have to shave again. Two types of hair removal that are becoming more and more popular are Laser Hair Removal and Electrolysis. Both techniques are much different from one another and choosing which is best for you before jumping into it is very important.

Laser hair removal is done by moving a laser over the area where the hair is. As the laser is moved, the light goes through the skin and pigmentation and then is absorbed by the hair follicles. Although it is not completely understood how this damages the hair follicles, it is believed that the heat from the laser breaks apart the follicles. Over the course of 2 to 3 months, the hair will start falling out. The pain associated with this procedure is much like a rubber bank popping the skin. Laser hair removal is usually 4 treatments being eight weeks apart from one another.

There are several things to take into account before choosing laser hair removal because it does not work for everyone. It works best on people who have light/fair skin with darker hair. The darker the skin, the more likely the laser will absorb into the skin before making it to the hair follicles. If you are looking for immediate results, this procedure is not for you as it can take up to a year before seeing the full results. There is also a chance that your skin could be burned due to the laser which will cause brown spots to appear. A slight loss of skin pigmentation is also a possible side effect.

Electrolysis is the only method proven to completely stop hair growth. A very fine needle is inserted into the skin to reach the hair follicle. Once it reaches the hair follicle a small amount of electrical current is applied to the hair follicle to permanently destroy it. There are 3 different methods of electrolysis to choose from. Galvanic uses galvanic electricity which is also known as direct current (DC). When the needle is inserted into the skin it interacts with the bodies salts and moister and a minute quantity of lye is produced. The lye destroys all the hair and tissue it contacts. Thermolysis also known as high frequency (HF) uses alternating currents that completely kill hair growth cells with heat. The follicle tissue is agitated by heat which is hot enough to destroy the area around the agitated follicle. Blend is the third choice and it combines both Thermolysis and Galvanic. The pain associated with Electrolysis has been described as a warm sensation or a hair being plucked. The length of the process depends on many things such as skin type, amount of hair and medical conditions.

There are a few things to consider before deciding on Electrolysis. If you have a pace make or an IUD, it may be required that you have a written note from your doctor to giver permission for this procedure to be done on you. The reason for this is because a pace maker and an IUD both have metal in them which already produces a small amount of electricity and that electricity along with that produced from the procedure could be dangerous. The rates of Electrolysis can vary from place to place and most places charge by the hour or half hour. There will be skin irritation afterwards and scabbing is possible, if this happens you should not scratch the area. There is usually no permanent damage caused from this procedure.

As stated before the only procedure that will guarantee complete hair loss and completely stop the growing of hair is Electrolysis. For more information on either of these procedures you can call your local doctor or spa to be pointed in the right direction.