Laser Hair Removal Vs Electrolysis are two common permanent hair removal methods. They both use electric currents to disrupt hair growth, but how they work varies widely.
With electrolysis, a trained electrologist inserts a needle into an individual hair follicle and delivers an electric current to destroy it permanently.
Cost
There are many hair removal options out there – shaving, waxing, tweezing and depilatory creams can all remove unwanted hair. However, they often don’t get rid of your hair permanently.
When it comes to permanent hair removal, the two most popular treatments are laser and electrolysis. They’re both effective and can be tailored to fit your needs.
With electrolysis, a fine probe or wire is placed into the hair follicle and an electrical current is delivered through it to destroy the follicle. This will prevent hair growth in the future, but it’s important to note that it takes multiple sessions to achieve results, so you might want to consider other methods before getting electrolysis done.
With laser hair removal, pulses of light energy travel through the skin’s pores and damage the melanin in hair follicles to destroy them and limit future growth. Treatments can take as few as 2 to 6 sessions, but some people will require more than that to see long-term results.
Pain
When it comes to hair removal, there are a number of options. You can shave, wax, use depilatory creams or get professional treatments like laser hair removal or electrolysis.
Lasers and electrolysis both target the hair follicle underneath your skin to delay or prevent growth, but they do so in different ways.
During electrolysis, your electrologist inserts a probe into each individual hair follicle and sends an electric current through it. This causes damage to the follicle, stopping the growth of hair.
In contrast, lasers use a beam of light to target the hair follicle’s pigment. This selectively damages the melanin in the hair follicle without damaging the surrounding skin tissue, says Husain.
Because lasers heat the hair follicle’s cells, you can expect a slight discomfort during treatment. This is offset by the use of a cooling cryogen mist.
Time
There are many reasons why people might consider switching from shaving or plucking their hair to a more permanent solution. These include gender presentation changes, undergoing menopause or having a health condition that causes excess hair growth.
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive, laser-based procedure that targets multiple follicles at once to prevent new hair from growing back. This makes it a great choice for large areas like the legs, arms and back.
Electrolysis, on the other hand, uses a sterile probe that sends an electric current through your hair follicle. When the current goes through your skin, it damages your follicle and prevents new hair growth.
In order to get the best results from electrolysis, you’ll need to have a series of treatments, typically six. After you’ve completed these, you’ll need to attend maintenance sessions spaced out every four weeks or so. This will help keep unwanted hair at bay and make your results longer-lasting.
Side Effects
Laser hair removal is a safe, effective and permanent option. However, it takes a series of sessions to achieve optimal results.
Electrolysis is also a safe and effective method of permanent hair removal. The treatment consists of an electrologist inserting a small probe that delivers an electric current to the hair follicle.
The process can be painful, as each hair follicle needs up to 20 seconds of electrical energy to respond. Pain and discomfort are common, though they can be minimized by taking a pain reliever an hour before the treatment.
Skin Discoloration: Individuals with dark skin tones may experience patchy areas of skin discoloration after electrolysis.
Infection: People with darker skin may develop a skin or blood infection due to unsterile probes used for electrolysis.
The best way to avoid these side effects is to consult a professional before getting a procedure done. For instance, a certified and board-certified professional like Elise can reduce your risk of infection by using sterile equipment and sterilized needles.
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