Electrolysis. How often can it be done, contraindications, consequences, side effects

The concept and principle of operation of electrolysis

The procedure for removing unwanted hair from the human body using electric current is called electrolysis.

The specialist works with a needle-electrode on each hair separately.

An electric discharge is applied to the hair follicle with a special needle-electrode, which is used by a qualified cosmetologist. The current causes a thermal reaction; as a result of overheating, the follicle dies, as well as the capillary system that supplies it with blood.

The method is point-based, that is, a current pulse is applied to each hair in the active stage, and the surrounding skin can be damaged: it can heat up or get burned. In general, the procedure is safe for the human body .

Technique and types of procedure

Depending on the area of ​​the body being treated, electrolysis is carried out with a current of greater or lesser power. The most popular procedures for hair removal by electric current are in the back, chest, face, armpits, legs and bikini areas.

But vegetation in the nose, ears or near the eyes can be removed with electric current only if absolutely necessary.

Depending on the parameters of the electric current, the procedure is divided into types:

• electrolysis. This method is the oldest of all other types of electrolysis. Its essence lies in a chemical reaction when the hair root dies from alkali - sodium hydroxide. The electric current is low voltage, so treatment of each follicle takes up to two minutes. Modern devices have several needles and process up to 16 hairs per pulse. But nevertheless, this is not enough, and the electrolysis procedure takes a lot of time, which reduces its popularity. But this method copes well with deep-set and coarse hairs;
• thermolysis. In this case, the current has a high frequency, as a result of which the follicle dies from overheating. The method has been used for a long time - since the 20s of the twentieth century. Devices for such electrolysis have a similar operating principle to radio devices. With local heating, the hair root and its circulatory system die within 1–2 seconds. Protection of the surrounding epidermis from burns is provided by a special spraying of the needle-electrode. Thermolysis showed the greatest effect on thin and shallowly rooted hair. If the hair canal has a curvature, then the procedure may be ineffective;
• Flash technique. A type of thermolysis, but with an electric current of a higher frequency. Due to this, instantaneous death of the follicle is ensured, since a microelectric shock lasting a fraction of a second is enough. This method requires certain skills and abilities from a specialist, because it is easy to overestimate the current power and burn the skin . If everything goes correctly, the procedure will be short-lived and almost painless;
• Bland technique. This fairly new type of hair removal combines electrolysis and thermolysis, using their advantages. First, the needle-electrode delivers an impulse to the hair follicle, then the alkali formed penetrates deep into the root, which leads to its final death. Blend hair removal takes more time than thermolysis, but the pain is lower and even curved roots are removed. The device for blend hair removal is equipped with a built-in microprocessor that controls the required power level, so the risks of complications are minimal;
• Scan method. In this case, the follicle dies from the effects of a special gel composition, which is injected through electric current. The effect will be enhanced if, after scanning hair removal, mechanical hair removal is performed: wax, sugar or tweezers.

Important: each of the described methods has its pros and cons, as well as different pricing policies. Before you decide to undergo electrolysis, you should learn as much as possible about it.

Duration of effect and required number of sessions

The armpits are a part of the body where unwanted hair bothers both women and men. Therefore, the issue of obtaining clean and smooth skin in this area forever or for a long time is relevant for everyone.

To remove armpit hair, one session will not be enough - for an ideal result you will need 5-7 sessions

Officially, electrolysis is recognized as the only way to get rid of unwanted hair forever. But only after a full course of procedures. The thing is that this method only kills hair that is growing at a given time. But on the human body, up to 80% of follicles can be dormant. Therefore, after the first session, you need to wait two to three weeks until the “dormant” hairs are activated, and repeat the procedure. And so several times, and each subsequent one will take less time. You need to be prepared for the fact that coarse and thick hair grows in the armpit area, which takes longer to remove. The total number of sessions for ideal smoothness in this area will be from five to seven.

After this, you will forget about the vegetation, but after 3-6 years, correction may be required. But it will go away quickly and will take 1-2 electrolysis sessions.

Possible consequences for the body

If preparations for electrolysis are carried out incorrectly or if the technician makes a mistake, negative consequences may occur:

• white pimples;
• burns;
• blisters;
• scabs or crusts;
• swelling;
• ingrown hairs;
• hyperpigmentation;
• scars and scars.

To prevent such complications, you need to:

• choose the right current power and time of its exposure to the skin;
• apply an antiseptic to the area affected by the needle;
• after the session, lubricate the dermis with an antibacterial drug;
• Cool the treatment area with ice cubes.

Usually, the consequences after hair removal are considered normal and disappear within a week. But for long-term complications, it is better to consult a doctor. The duration of negative processes indicates the appearance of a secondary infection. Find out whether hair grows after laser hair removal in this article.

The problem of ingrown hairs - why do they grow in?

Quite often complications can arise - hairs can grow in. In this case, the hair shaft curls up in the middle of the follicle and does not grow to the surface of the skin. The result of the problem is suppuration in the pores. A cosmetologist can remove ingrown hair during subsequent procedures. After the session, you can use a special anti-ingrowth product. But it can be applied only 2-3 days after hair removal for 7 days.

Hair grows bigger and faster

Some clients claim that their hair began to grow faster after hair removal. This effect is created by follicles that were in the sleep phase during the procedure. On smooth skin it becomes quite noticeable. Sometimes the problem occurs for the following reasons:

• insufficient qualification of the master;
• incorrectly set current power;
• low exposure to electricity;
• inaccurate hit in the center of the follicle;
• device malfunction;
• plucking hair with tweezers after the procedure.

After electrolysis, the area of ​​hair removal in the deep bikini area and on the face is swollen - swelling

It can often swell in the deep bikini area or on the face. These areas are sensitive and may experience pain during the procedure. Before the session they are treated with a local anesthetic. Sometimes the client experiences swelling after Lidocaine. It is worth saying that the problem goes away on its own after 2-3 days. To relieve swelling, it is recommended to use cooling compresses. For example, you can use ice cubes wrapped in a cloth. Or wipe the area with calendula tincture.

For swelling that does not go away on its own within the specified time, you should consult a doctor.

Post-traumatic pigmentation

Post-traumatic pigmentation may appear due to improper skin care after hair removal. The problem can be corrected only in the clinic. Sometimes sun tanning and traumatic removal of crusts lead to pigmentation. Pigment spots appear due to the individual characteristics of the skin and allergies to exposure to electric current.

Chance of hyperpigmentation:

• decrease in the concentration of folic acid in the body;
• liver dysfunction;
• the presence of freckles, which indicates a tendency to pigmentation of the dermis.

Burns and blisters after hair removal - healing

Incorrectly selected power of the device affects the hair follicle longer than required according to the instructions. Therefore, burns with blisters may occur. This can be avoided if you go to clinics with certified equipment and qualified specialists. Immediately after epilation, you should carefully lubricate the epidermis with wound-healing agents.

If the burns do not go away within 4-5 days, and you feel pain and discomfort in the treated area, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist.

Marks and scarring – treatment with special creams

Traces and scars can occur due to violations of the technique of the procedure or due to a malfunction of the device. Sometimes scars appear due to the removal of scabs from the skin left after the electrolysis procedure, or due to insufficient care of the treated area. It is possible to remove the problem using special creams recommended by a specialist.

The pain does not go away after the procedure

According to doctors, pain can be a subjective sensation. This is a temporary factor, so it is quite difficult to predict how the client will feel during the procedure. Some are able to fall asleep. Others cannot complete epilation without painkillers. Still others endure the pain quite steadfastly and consider it quite tolerable. In each individual case, sensitivity is determined after the first sessions. However, if the pain persists after several hours, you should take a painkiller and lubricate the skin with a soothing cream. Also find out what laser hair removal is and how long its effect lasts by following the link.

White bumps and pimples appeared

If pimples appear after an electrolysis session, do not pick them off or squeeze them out. Such actions will certainly lead to infection and inflammation of the dermis. Pimples form for several reasons:

1. Sensitive dermis type. Aggressive influence of external factors leads to its irritation.
2. Failure to comply with sterility and hygiene standards after the session. After applying electric current to the follicle, the pores remain open, which facilitates the penetration and reproduction of microbes into them.
3. Allergic reaction.

Presence of contraindications and side effects

Since electric hair removal is performed using a needle and is an invasive method, it has a number of limitations.

The procedure is contraindicated:

• if there is an acute disease of the skin of the armpits;
• expectant mothers and nursing women;
• teenagers under eighteen years of age;
• for oncological tumors and diabetes mellitus;
• pacemaker wearers;
• if you are allergic to electric current;
• if purulent pimples and warts have appeared in the armpit area;
• for psychoneurological diseases, for example, epilepsy;
• carriers of hepatitis, HIV infection;
• people susceptible to coronary heart disease or hypertension.

In some cases, after electrolysis of the armpits, there may be consequences that are unpleasant for a person. There may be several reasons for this: from the individual characteristics of the body to the low qualifications of the specialist.

The most common consequences:

• pigmentation of treated skin areas;
• formation of scars and scars due to damage to the epidermis;
• feeling of irritation and itching;
• inflammation of the skin pores after an accidental infection.

For pregnant women, electrolysis may carry the risk of miscarriage in the early stages, premature birth and disturbances in fetal development in the later stages. This is due to local thermal effects, which can lead to a chain reaction of the nervous or hormonal systems. There are many nerve endings and lymph nodes concentrated in the armpit area, so you need to be extremely careful with it .

For women during lactation, electric hair removal of the armpits may result in a change in the composition or amount of milk produced.

In adolescents under 18 years of age, active hormonal changes occur in the body, so the body’s reaction can be completely unpredictable. And after an electrolysis session, purulent pimples may appear, getting rid of which will take much longer than the entire course of hair removal.

How to prepare the skin of your armpits before the procedure

The good thing about electrolysis is that no special preparation is required. You can do a gentle exfoliation of your armpits in a couple of days to open the pores and remove rough cells. Avoid mechanical hair removal, that is, waxing, sugaring, a month before the session.

Also, if possible, take a warm shower or bath immediately before the electrolysis session.

How to reduce pain during electrolysis

The feeling of pain during electric hair removal depends on the power of the pulse applied, the thickness of the hair and the electrode needle. The first session is always more painful than all subsequent ones. This is due to the fact that after each epilation the hair becomes thinner and grows more slowly.

But still, in all salons, before the procedure, a painkiller is applied to the skin of the armpits. This can be a spray or cream, for example, Emla. To make the product last longer, you need to apply a cellophane film over the composition on the skin.

Before electrolysis of the armpits, Emla anesthetic cream is applied to the treated area.

Also, modern devices are often equipped with special cooling devices, which, when applied to the skin, emit a cooling gas.

Required hair length for removal with a needle-electrode

To make it easier for a specialist to determine the direction of hair growth and insert the electroepilator needle, they should be 2–4 mm long.

To make it easier for a specialist to determine the direction of hair growth and insert a needle, its length should be 2–4 mm

Therefore, it is important to shave a few days before the procedure with a regular razor. Plucking is excluded, as this damages the follicle. Each person's hair grows at a certain rate, so you need to independently calculate when to start preparing.

Features of the manipulation

Electrolysis is carried out in three stages, proceeding in the following sequence:

1. preparatory, during which the patient prepares the skin and hair for exposure to electric current;
2. the procedure itself, carried out in a cosmetology salon;
3. rehabilitation, which includes caring for the skin on the epilated area after completion of the manipulation.

The results obtained depend not only on the actions of the master, but also on how correctly the patient followed all the cosmetologist’s instructions at the preliminary and final stages.

Preparation for the procedure

The method of solving the problem of unwanted armpit hairs by exposing them to electric current does not require any special preparatory measures. Experts recommend the following:

• Refusal from sunbathing and visiting a solarium to avoid weakening the epidermis by tanning. This may cause increased pain during manipulation in the cosmetologist's office.
• Preparing hairs for the procedure requires removing them two to three days before using a razor. It is necessary that their length reach 3 millimeters by the beginning of the manipulation. This helps to increase the efficiency of electrolysis. It is not advisable to remove hair shortly before visiting a specialist using other methods such as waxing or chemical depilation, as they can damage the hair and reduce the effect of the equipment on the follicle.
• On the eve of the procedure, it is advisable to peel the area to be epilated using a scrub. Thanks to this, dead epidermal cells will be eliminated, which will facilitate the penetration of the needle during the procedure.
• Those with oily skin should use a special lotion, since oiliness can interfere with the manipulation. With normal skin, just taking a shower is enough.
• Before electrolysis, it is advisable to take care of moisturizing the skin by drinking water or juice. It is better to avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks.

A few days before the electrolysis session, you should shave your armpits.

Carrying out electrolysis

Once in the beauty salon, the patient sits comfortably in a special chair. She will need to hold in her hands during the manipulation a neutral electrode that does not conduct current and does not cause pain in the palm. It is necessary for normal operation of the active electrode.

The sequence of actions when a specialist performs electrolysis is as follows:

1. A specialist treats the skin of the armpits using an antiseptic.
2. Anesthesia is administered. For this purpose, an injection of an anesthetic drug is given.
3. After the anesthesia takes effect, the doctor begins to treat the hair with electric current. He inserts the needle under the root of each hair one by one and waits for some time necessary for its destruction. Then the hair is removed using tweezers.
4. The final stage is treating the epilated area of ​​skin with an antiseptic drug, followed by the use of an anti-inflammatory soothing agent.

In my opinion, you should choose a specialist and salon as carefully as possible. Real professionals, as a rule, practice only in specialized clinics, and do not receive appointments in a regular beauty salon and, moreover, do not come to your home. It is better to carefully study all the reviews about cosmetology clinics in the city in order to choose the most reliable one. Having decided on the place where the procedure will be performed, it is worth visiting the website of this institution on the Internet to find information and reviews about practicing specialists and choose the most qualified cosmetologist. Another important aspect is the behavior of medical personnel and doctors. All employees of the institution must comply with existing sanitary and hygienic standards. Before the procedure begins, pay special attention to the electrode packaging. It must be new, unopened. Reuse of a needle or tweezers is unacceptable. Everything must be sterile.

Video: carrying out the electrolysis procedure in a cosmetology salon

After the procedure

As soon as the manipulation is completed, it will become noticeable that the skin is red and slightly swollen. It is even possible that hematomas may appear on it. This is a normal phenomenon that goes away within a week.

Redness of the skin immediately after the procedure is normal.

The recovery period after the procedure takes several weeks. It requires the patient to comply with certain rules to ensure rapid healing of the epidermis. These include the following:

• wearing loose-fitting clothes to avoid chafing under the armpits;
• refusal to use anteperspirants for several days immediately after the procedure;
• abstaining from visiting a bathhouse, sauna, swimming pool, or taking hot water procedures for the first three days after electrolysis. Allow only a lukewarm shower;
• refusal of physical activity to avoid increased sweating;
• You cannot sunbathe or visit a solarium for seven days.

Compliance with the above recommendations will ensure rapid skin restoration and prevent complications.

Pros and cons of electrolysis of the armpit area

Like any cosmetic procedure, armpit electrolysis has its advantages and disadvantages.

The technique has a number of disadvantages:

• quite a long procedure. Compared to modern hardware hair removal, for example, photo and laser, electrolysis takes the longest time. This is due to the fact that the cosmetologist must treat each hair separately, insert a needle into the follicle, and wait until the device supplies the current. Modern devices work much faster, but still the average armpit treatment session lasts about an hour;
• high sensitivity is due to a large accumulation of nerve endings, thin skin of the armpit area, as well as pinpoint pain from current pulses. You can use a lower frequency current, but it will be less effective on thicker hair. This disadvantage of electrolysis can be easily corrected with anesthesia;
• the risk of complications in the form of damage to the epidermis, residual red spots, scars is quite high;
• the possibility of infection entering through micropunctures from the needle-electrode. Of course, modern cosmetology strictly adheres to the rules of hygiene, but you need to be as careful as possible;
• Greater dependence of the final performance on the skills and dexterity of the specialist. The effectiveness of destroying the hair follicle depends on the correctly inserted needle with a precisely selected diameter into the right place.

Despite the disadvantages, the procedure has clear advantages, which is why its popularity has not declined for a long time.

Advantages of electric hair removal:

• this is the only officially recognized method known that removes hair permanently;
• the current destroys hair regardless of the melanin pigment, that is, any color for all shades of the skin;
• Hair hormone dependence does not affect hair removal. The action of hormones sometimes leads to the degeneration of vellus hair into terminal hair, that is, hard and dark;
• sessions are carried out on areas of the body where vellus and coarse hair grow together;
• the ability to remove hair in areas with benign moles that are carefully avoided;
• The risk of trouble in the form of ingrown hairs is practically absent.

Compliance with safety measures

The electrolysis procedure requires compliance with safety measures by the cosmetologist.

Safety precautions for electrical hair removal are as follows:

• electroepilator needles must be sterile, since through them accidental contact with blood can occur with all the attendant risks, for example, hepatitis infection;
• the cosmetologist must always use disposable medical gloves;
• before and after the procedure, the skin must be thoroughly disinfected;
• the medical salon must have the appropriate license allowing the provision of such services.

How to care?

More detailed information about how to care for your skin after electrolysis should be obtained from a cosmetologist. In this case, it is not recommended to follow the general rules, since in some people the effects of the drugs described below cause an allergic reaction, which results in increased swelling of the skin and other unpleasant consequences.

To remove mild redness, specialist cosmetologists treat problem areas with Chlorgesidil several times a day in the first 1-2 days after the procedure. This drug is a local antiseptic. Chlorhexidil solution is used to destroy pathogenic microflora and prevent infection of skin tissue. An important feature of the product is that it retains antimicrobial activity even in cases of suppuration of the dermis.

The use of Chlorhexidil should be discontinued if the following phenomena occur:

• dry skin;
• skin itching;
• rash;
• dermatitis.

To enhance the antiseptic (disinfecting) effect, it is recommended that after applying Chlorhexidil, treat the skin with baby powder or talcum powder.

Starting from the third day, calendula tincture should be applied to the epilated area. This product contains tannins, flavonoids and saponin, organic acids, essential oil and other components that accelerate the restoration of damaged tissues, suppress microbial activity and relieve inflammation. Alcohol infusion of calendula should be used to treat the skin in the morning and evening.

About a week after electrolysis, the crusts begin to peel off. During this period, it is recommended to use other drugs in addition to calendula tincture. In particular, damaged areas are treated with aloe juice, which softens the dermis well.

The skin also needs to be treated every day with one of the following medications:

1. Zinc ointment. The product disinfects tissues and dries out crusts, thereby accelerating skin restoration.
2. Salicylic-zinc paste. It has a similar effect as zinc ointment.
3. "Levomekol". This ointment effectively fights staphylococcal, streptococcal and other infections. The substances that make up Levomekol quickly penetrate into the deep layers of the skin, eliminating inflammatory processes and promoting rapid healing of the epidermis. The effectiveness of the drug remains in cases where the treated area suppurates.
4. "Methyluracil". The ointment stimulates regeneration processes, eliminates inflammation and creates protection against infections.

In order to prevent skin infection while hair is not growing, it is recommended to treat the problem area with Methyluracil with Miramistin. The latter substance inhibits the activity of the following types of pathogenic microorganisms:

• gram-positive and gram-negative;
• aerobic and anaerobic;
• spore-forming.

To relieve skin pain, relieve inflammation and speed up wound healing, use Panthenol in the form of an ointment, spray or cream. To calm the dermis, the following are recommended:

• olive oil;
• aloe leaves mixed into a paste;
• tea tree oil.

Skin care after the session

In order for the results to last longer, as well as to minimize side effects, you need to ensure proper skin care.

Important: immediately after the procedure, you need to apply a special protective cosmetic composition.

On average, the rehabilitation period takes from one to two weeks, during which redness, pinpoint burns and skin irritations disappear. At this time, it is imperative to treat this area with Panthenol or Bepanten two to three times a day. Panthenol spray is more convenient to use.

Restrictions before and after electric hair removal

It must be remembered that there are a number of prohibitions before and after electrolysis of the armpits.

To carry out the procedure more effectively, there are the following “don’ts”:

• During the first 24 hours it is forbidden to wet the armpits; during the first hours it is better not to touch the delicate area of ​​the armpits at all;
• a week before and three weeks after, you should not visit a solarium, bathhouse, sauna or sunbathe, as heat and ultraviolet exposure can lead to burns of the epidermis or pigmentation;
• two weeks after hair removal, you should not swim in the pool or open water to avoid infection;
• It is forbidden to wear clothes that are tight around the armpits;
• visiting the gym is prohibited for two weeks after electric hair removal, as sweat will cause unnecessary irritation and inflammation of the skin pores;
• do not use antiperspirants and deodorants for a week after the procedure;
• Do not pull out emerging hair with tweezers or perform other types of hair removal. To remove all hair permanently, you need to wait until your next electrolysis session;
• It is forbidden to peel off the scabs on your own; they must be regularly lubricated with healing agents, after which they should come off on their own.

The essence of the procedure

Electrolysis is based on the action of electric current on the hair root, as a result of which it is destroyed and can be easily removed. The needle-electrode is inserted into the skin one by one to each hair, and after the reaction is completed, the hair is removed with tweezers. Unlike other hardware methods for removing unwanted hair, electrolysis allows you to get results immediately, and not a week after the procedure.

There is an opinion that electrolysis should not be performed in the armpit area, since there is a large accumulation of lymph nodes, damage to which can lead to complications. However, there is no official contraindication to the procedure in this area. If you look at the reviews of girls who have already undergone the procedure, you can see that in most cases everything goes without complications. The result of the impact directly depends on the skill of the specialist who will carry it out. Electrolysis of the armpit area is a complex procedure for a beginner, but for an experienced doctor it will not be more difficult than any other, so it makes sense to choose just one.

Reviews from doctors

Lucinda Nersisyan: Approximately how much time and money will it take for the armpit area and bikini area completely?
Natalya Sergeeva: Lucy, on average it takes 2 hours for each armpit. In order for hair to stop growing there completely, you need from 3 to 5 procedures. But, of course, the amount of hair also plays a role. That is, it may turn out to be less, or maybe a little more. For now the price is 15 rubles/min. Next will be the average for St. Petersburg -20 rubles/min. Natalya Sergeeva https://vk.com/topic-74364263_30685373?post=36

Electrolysis is effective during a course of sessions.
If you have a low pain threshold, I do not recommend this method of hardware hair removal. Svetlana Sergeeva, cosmetologist https://ladyspecial.ru/krasota/uxod-za-liczom-i-telom/kosmetologiya/elektroepilyatsiya-protivopokazaniya-i-posledstviya