Body hair is normal and should be celebrated. Still, there are some with unwanted and excess body hair and would want to permanently get rid of them. Electrolysis is a good option but you have to weigh in electrolysis hyperpigmentation.
Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method. It isn’t a painful procedure but electrolysis hyperpigmentation is a possible side effect, especially for patients with darker skin tones. Don’t worry though as this is only temporary and will fade with time, even without intervention.
Of course, you might be worried about its appearance on your skin. You may ask your technician for aftercare products and routines to help speed up the healing process.
What is Electrolysis?
Everyone deals with hair and hair growth. Some, however, deal with excess hair growth for various reasons like genetics, hormones, medications, and certain medical conditions.
Some are happy with their body hair and that’s great! Body hair growth is natural and is nothing to be ashamed of. But when some people deal with excessive body hair growth, it can take a toll on their self-confidence and mental health. And there’s also no shame in wanting to eliminate hair growth if that’s what you want.
There are various hair removal methods like shaving, waxing, tweezing, and laser hair removal. Electrolysis is a more severe approach to removing unwanted hair.
Electrolysis is a hair removal method that removes individual hair from the area. Currently, it is the only permanent hair removal method approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Unlike laser hair removal where hair has a chance of growing back, electrolysis is a method that prevents hair regrowth in the future.
Electrolysis can treat any area of your face or body where you have unwanted hair growth you’d like to get rid of. You can get the procedure on your face (including upper lips and eyebrows), arms (including hands and fingers), thighs, lower legs (including toes), back, bikini line, underarms, and more where you deal with unwanted hair.
The procedure is done by a trained and licensed electrologist to ensure that the procedure goes well without any major adverse effects.
How does electrolysis work?
Electrolysis uses a very fine needle which is typically finer than the hair. The technician or electrologist inserts this sterile fine needle or wire into the hair follicle but without actually puncturing the skin.
Then, an electric current moves down the needle all the way to the bottom of the target hair follicle, destroying it right from the root. When the hair follicle is damaged, this causes that strand of hair to fall out and prevents any future hair growth as well.
Electrolysis is not a painful procedure but can cause discomfort to some degree. Most patients will feel a light pinching or pricking sensation. But ultimately, it depends on the patient’s personal pain tolerance.
If you’re worried about the pain, you can ask your electrologist for a topical numbing cream before the procedure.
A single electrolysis treatment could take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. An appointment is typically scheduled every week or every other week.
How many treatments you would need would depend on a variety of factors but generally, it can take up to a year and a half of consistent appointments to permanently and completely get rid of hair in the target area.
Hair removal treatments: safe option for all skin tones and all hair types
If you’ve ever gone in for a consultation on a few hair removal methods but have been told you’re not a viable candidate due to your darker skin tone or coarser and thicker body hair, you should look into electrolysis.
This hair removal method is capable of permanently removing unwanted hair no matter your skin color or hair type.
Electrolysis Hyperpigmentation on Dark Skin
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a normal adverse reaction to hair removal methods like electrolysis. Patients with darker skin tones are more susceptible to this side effect.
Hyperpigmentation and dark spots after treatment are the darker skin equivalent to the temporary redness that some patients with lighter skin experience after a treatment. And just like the redness, hyperpigmentation is only a temporary side effect post-treatment.
You might notice it’s the same temporary hyperpigmentation you might get when tweezing or waxing. This is the skin’s response to trauma and only means that it’s doing its job to naturally heal the affected area. Basically, your darker skin tone means you are more susceptible to developing hyperpigmentation.
The good news is this hyperpigmentation from electrolysis treatments will fade away over time, typically within a few months or so. There are available products available to help speed up the process but patients can likely leave the dark spots alone and they will still heal.
Moreover, it’s strictly advised that you do not use a bleaching cream or lightening cream on the area. This can cause hyperpigmentation or light spots to appear instead once the area naturally clears up the dark spots.
Additionally, darker skin tones are also more prone to a type of scarring called keloids. Though this is a rare side effect, your electrologist may ask you about vaccination scars or pierced ears to make appropriate adjustments to your treatment plan.
If you’re worried about the appearance of this side effect, you can ask your technician for after-care products to help speed up the process.
Conclusion
Everyone has body hair. And while some love theirs, some would rather have theirs permanently removed. One great option to look at is electrolysis.
Electrolysis is the best option for anyone hoping to permanently get rid of their body hair. It’s safe for all skin tones and hair types. But one side effect one needs to weigh in is temporary hyperpigmentation. This is a natural reaction after treatment, especially for patients with darker skin tones. Don’t worry though as this is temporary and will go away with time.
Of course, not everyone wants to risk the appearance of hyperpigmentation so you can always ask your technician for aftercare products.
