electrolysis

whitney86 · 10-05-2006, 09:50 AM

i was wondering if electrolysis works even if your hormones are not under control? Because I have read that electrolysis permanently destroys the folical completely so that a hair can no longer be produced. Do any of you ladies have experience with this? I just dont understand why the hair would grow back even if your hormones are not under control since they destroy the folical....? Any advise would be very much apreciated! thanks girls!

whitney

zorah · 10-06-2006, 12:33 AM

If the follicle is truly destroyed (which can require multiple treatments, especially for strong hormonally-driven growth), the hair in that follicle will not grow back. However, we all have many currently-dormant follicles that can be triggered by hormones to start growing hair. Does that explain it?

Antiandrogens can convert terminal hairs back to vellus hairs, which is why some people advise waiting for a while after starting an antiandrogen to begin electrolysis, as you might have fewer hairs that need treatment then. I'm not sure how common that is, or what happens to those hairs when you stop the antiandrogen. There's no harm in starting electrolysis, whether you're starting an antiandrogen drug or not. It just might take longer (which involves more expense and more pain). And if your hormones aren't under control, you'll keep getting new terminal hairs. Of course, you can just choose to keep up with the new growth with electrolysis treatments, which can be an excellent solution for someone who cannot or chooses not to take antiandrogen drugs. (Shaving is of course cheaper and less painful, but does not solve the problem to everyone's satisfaction.)

Sorry I'm being so wordy today!

MIKES JULIE · 10-07-2006, 04:36 AM

Whitney

I went for electrology for over a year and it did not help me. The hair was gone for maybe 3 or 4 days then back again. As I neared the end of one year of going my friend who is an electrologist told me flat out, not to waste my money because It was not doing well on me at all. As a matter of fact, I was really growing more and more. I quit going for about 3 years and just started shaving until recently. My friend just started offering lazer treatments in her office and I went to see her to ask if it may help me better than the other did and we gave the lazer a try. I can honestly say, lazer is the best way (for me anyway) . She did tell me however, she can not guarantee it will be as affective if hormones are not under control.

Lazer may be a bit more expensive than electrology but you can usually go longer between treatments with lazer than the electrology. With electrology I was going every week (and had just as much hair every week) . Now with the lazer I go every 5 weeks and I don't have much hair at all and I was one of the people who shaved 2x per day.

Good luck to you

Julie

whitney86 · 10-08-2006, 09:06 AM

Thank you very much ladies for your input on this. My fist choise would be for laser hair removal but the hair that bothers me the most (on my face) Is way to light to get zapped by a laser, thats why i was looking into electrolysis. Also I dont know if I have PCOS or not, I still have a lot of doctor appointments to go to. What I do know is that everything was fine w/ me before starting bcp at the age of 19 and now everytime I stop I get male hormone side effects. When I go back on this pill it goes away, but not untill about 5 months back on the pill.....so I really dont know

. I do want laser for my legs, bikini, and arms possibly. I am sorry to hear that the electrolysis did not work for you MIKESJULIE. But the laser did work?! I am happy for you! Are your hormones under control? What Meds do you find that help? Sorry so many questions. Thank you again ladies! ~whitney