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Extra hair growth a problem?

If you notice some extra hair growth on your body in unexpected places not common for females, you might have hirsutism, pronounced (HUR-soot-iz-um).

Hirsutism, which is the growth of excessive hair and is known as female hirsutism, affects between 5 and 10 percent of all females. The percentage is even higher among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. However, women with Asian or African ancestry tend to experience hirsutism less often than women with European genealogy.

And if you suffer from this condition, you may experience an undesirable growth of hair in a male-like shape. This excessive or increased growth, which can be dark or coarse, grows on the face, back, and chest.

Females with mild hirsutism can see a significant amount of hair growth on their chin, upper lip, or sideburn area. The hair can also grow on the lower abdomen and around the nipples.

Women with advanced hirsutism can experience excessive hair growth on the upper abdomen, sternum, shoulders, and upper back. Although hirsutism often begins with puberty, the amount of hair growth differs from woman to woman.

 

 

Excessive hair growth

Woman with flowing red hair.

What causes hirsutism

Extra hair growth generally develops because of excess male hormones in females. These androgenic hormones are predominantly testosterone.

But other medical problems can lead to extra hair growth, including genetics, hormones, as well as lifestyle. Some significant causes of hirsutism are:

Polycystic ovary syndrome. (PCOS) can result in extra hair growth, often starting with the onset of puberty. It can cause an imbalance of sex hormones, according to the Mayo Clinic. Over time, PCOS can lead to excess hair growth, irregular periods, obesity, infertility, and sometimes cysts on the ovaries.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Women can inherit this condition which is identified by abnormal production of steroid hormones. These hormones, which are developed by your adrenal glands, can include cortisol and androgen,

Cushing syndrome. Excessive hair growth happens with exposure to high levels of the hormone cortisol. It can develop from your adrenal glands that produce too much cortisol or from medications such as prednisone over an extended time.

Medications. Some medications can lead to hirsutism. Medications include:

minoxidil (Minoxidil, Rogaine);

danazol, which treats women with endometriosis;

testosterone (Androgel, Testim);

dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Females can also experience excessive hair growth from topical products containing androgens. These topical products are through skin-to-skin contact.

 

Family genes and excess hair growth

 

Other factors, however, can lead to hirsutism. Among them are congenital adrenal hyperplasia and polycystic ovary syndrome, which females can inherit.

Females of Mediterranean, South Asian, and Middle Eastern backgrounds tend to experience more body hair with no clear-cut cause than other women.

Obesity is also a contributor. Excessive body fat can cause increased androgen production, which heightens hirsutism in some women.

 

Hirsutism treatment

 

Excessive hair growth in some women can cause a lot of emotional turmoil and can zap your confidence and undermine your self-esteem. Some women will feel self-conscious, and others will develop depression.

And although hirsutism is not preventable, it can be treated. Treatments include using medication, creams, waxing, plucking, shaving, depilation, bleaching, laser therapy, and electrolysis. And if you are overweight. Losing weight might help reduce hirsutism.

Laser Therapy

Many women suffering from excessive hair have turned to laser hair removal for help. Laser therapy can be a successful treatment option, but the hair can grow back. It is safe and effective.

Other treatments include:

Medication

Medication is also a treatment option for excessive hair growth. According to the Mayo Clinic, medication treatment can take up to six months, the lifespan of a hair follicle, before you see any significant results.

Medications include oral contraceptives and anti-androgens.

Topical Cream

Then there is also topical cream that your doctor can prescribe for excessive hair in women. The cream helps decrease new hair growth but does not get rid of existing hair.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis, a permanent hair removal option, is a popular option for getting rid of unwanted hair. And it has been around since the Civil War. This treatment involves inserting a tiny probe into each hair follicle and trigger a pulse of electric current to damage and destroy the follicle. You will need several treatments. There will be some pain, but a numbing skin cream can reduce any discomfort.

At Alpha Electrolysis, our trained nurse and electrolysis specialist treats men, women, and members of the transgender community who want to get rid of unwanted or excessive hair. Call us today for a free consultation.

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Truth About Permanent Hair Removal

Pros & Cons of Electrolysis

 

Electrolysis is the method clinicians use to get rid of unwanted body hair. You can have permanent hair removal on any area of your body, including the face, abdomen, eyebrows, thighs, breasts, and legs.  

Although both men and women take advantage of electrolysis services, they target different areas of the body. For example, women want electrolysis done on their bikini area, underarms, tummy, breasts, chin, brows, upper lip, arms, forehead, buttocks, and legs. Men, on the other hand, want to clean up unwanted hair from eyebrows, cheekbones, neck, backs, and shoulders.  

 

At Alpha Electrolysis in Wallingford, CT., we offer comprehensive service. We also serve the transgender community and individuals suffering from pilonidal cysts, a condition that develops over the tailbone and is caused by the penetration of hairs into the skin through hair follicles.  

Technology has made it easier to perform electrolysis, although clients for this service must invest some time into getting it done. This hair removal process is permanent, so the time investment is worth it, especially if you live in climates where you do not need a lot of clothing.  

So, this is how it works. A trained and licensed practitioner uses an electrolysis device that focuses on hair follicles. The device sends heat energy or chemical to the spot, destroying the hair, according to WebMD, an online medical website. A practitioner inserts a probe into the hair follicle and snags the dead hair out with a tweezer.  

  

Is Electrolysis a service for you?  

 

 Electrolysis has long been a component of the beauty industry. It has been around since the Civil War. In 1875, Dr. Charles E. Miche, an ophthalmologist, conducted the first successful permanent hair epilation by electrolysis, according to The St. Louis Clinical Record. 

 Is permanent hair removal for you? That decision is personal, and you need to do your research before proceeding. Alpha Electrolysis recommends that you make the call based on how you feel.  

Electrolysis has become popular over time and the many advances in the field make it easy for you to make the decision to use this service. While there are many ways to remove hair, electrolysis offers the best option to achieve the results you are seeking.  

Another crucial point to keep in mind is that electrolysis is the only method that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved to remove hair permanently. In some cases, however, some hair may grow back, but it’s thinner and lighter. 

More than 90 percent of clients are satisfied with the outcome. But there are downsides to electrolysis. They are minor ones such as cost. Before you select a hair removal clinic, we recommend you do some comparison shopping.  

 At Alpha Electrolysis, our service typically costs $30-$100 or more per session. The range in price, of course, depends on the length of a session. The average total price patients reported paying for electrolysis was $1,189. Electrolysis is considered a cosmetic procedure and therefore not covered by health insurance. 

Back pain can be due to pilonidal cysts.

Do you have Pilonidal cysts?

 

  

Hair removal treatment sessions   

  

The length of the treatment times varies. But what is true is that the process will take several sessions to remove the hair. Some electrolysis technicians break down the treatment times into 15, 30, and 45-minute units. This approach makes it easier on the budget. Also, you can buy discounted packages to make it easier on your budget. 

The number of sessions you will need vary from individual to individual. Talk with your hair removal clinician on the options.  

Your hair growth cycles, hormone activity, and heredity influence how many treatment sessions you will need. And yes, stress also plays a role.   

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Reopening May 20

We are excited to announce that Alpha Electrolysis is reopening on May 20, 2020.  We realize the importance of taking safety precautions during this time to keep everyone safe.  Below are the list of precautions we are taking to safely provide electrolysis treatments to our clients.

Guidelines on what to expect

  1. All equipment and table are sanitized after every use
  2. All staff will wear a mask and gloves during your treatment
  3. Our sanitizing machine is shipped out every month to a third party company to make sure it is functioning
  4. We are providing enough time between clients to sanitize all areas
  5. Running an air purifier
  6. Taking only one client at a time.  Nobody will be allowed to wait in our waiting room.
  7. Asking all clients to wait in their cars and call us when they arrive.  We will contact you when it’s time to come in for your appointment.
  8. Asking clients to leave personal items (such as purses and jackets) at home or in your car
  9. Refusing anyone who shows any symptoms

This won’t go on forever, but for the time being we want to take every precaution to insure your health and safety.  We look forward to seeing you again.

Book an appointment

Alpha Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal facility located in Wallingford, CT.

For more information on our electrolysis services

To better understand why electrolysis for permanent hair removal, read our article Why choose electrolysis versus laser hair removal

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Why choose electrolysis versus laser hair removal

A common question we’ve heard many times…”why should I choose electrolysis versus laser hair removal”?

Both electrolysis and laser hair removal target hair follicles under the skin to curb or prevent growth. Even though laser hair removal is still more widely used than electrolysis, there are some clear differences when it comes to the treatments.

First and foremost, electrolysis is the only one approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal.

Laser hair removal will diminish growth but not stop it. The hair will eventually grow back. After several sessions of electrolysis, the hair will permanently be gone.

A second advantage of electrolysis is that it is far more versatile.

Electrolysis is useful for every skin type, skin color, and hair color. Laser hair removal is not suitable for all skin coloring. Laser hair removal is best for light skinned people with dark hair.

Another benefit of electrolysis hair removal is that it permanently removes both light and dark hair.  Laser hair removal is only good for removing dark hair.

With electrolysis, there is no recovery time.

There is the risk of some adverse reactions with laser. You could temporarily have discolored skin, a rash or redness, swelling, or in some small instances, scarring. Moreover, laser hair removal can leave your skin “photosensitive” for up to 6 weeks. Which means you need to avoid direct sunlight on the treated area or run the risk of permanent discoloration.

There are no chemicals used with electrolysis, and your treated area is virtually maintenance free. Read our article on Electrolysis Aftercare

Permanence, no reaction, and no recovery time. This is what you can count on when you choose electrolysis.

Alpha Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal facility located in Wallingford, CT.

For more information on electrolysis 

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For Electrolysis Aftercare

Whenever I see patients their safety and comfort is always my number one concern.  In addition to answering all their questions about their electrolysis treatment, I also provide a take home sheet with instructions on what is required for Electrolysis aftercare.  Although Electrolysis is very safe treatment for permanent hair removal, there are some precautions that you should adhere to after your treatment.

For electrolysis aftercare and smooth skin recovery, try the following:

  1. Apply an antibiotic ointment or cream twice daily after you clean your skin for 3 days. Ideal times are night and before makeup
  2. Avoid sun exposure for 2 or more days. Skin cannot heal well when exposed to sun. It is best to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect you from long-wave UVA rays which cause most skin damage. Avoid Tanning booths for at least a week after treatment if not all together.
  3. Avoid touching the treated area.   Do not remove any scabbing that may occur, it’s your body’s natural healing response.
  1. Facials are not recommended for 7 days following treatment. (this only applies if you have had a hair removal for your face)
  2. Avoid makeup for 24 hours following treatment  (this only applies if you have had a hair removal for your face)
  3. Use common sense in keeping area clean.  i.e: don’t work out immediately following appointments, be mindful of resting your face against the telephone, use clean pillowcase, etc.

Successful treatment is a collaborative effort.   Electrolysis is an allied health profession, is superficially invasive, and involves the destruction of living tissue.  Skin post-treatment instructions must be followed, in order to achieve best results with your

Alpha Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal facility located in Wallingford, CT

For more information contact us, we will be happy to answer any of your questions.

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