What is Electrolysis? Permanence City Explains

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Electrolysis Explained

Often referred to as Galvanic Electrolysis, electrolysis hair removal involves treating and permanently destroying the part of the follicle responsible for hair growth. At Permanence, we are proud to have developed The Permanence Method. We use our own refinement of the galvanic multi-probe electrolysis and our therapists are expertly skilled to provide the best hair removal results, and to keep your skin hair free, forever.

What is Electrolysis for?

Electrolysis is the only form of epilation, or hair removal, classified by the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) as permanent.

The discovery of Galvanic Electrolysis

Electrolysis takes its name from the electro-chemical reaction at the core of the treatment. Its full name is Galvanic Electrolysis. The galvanic part comes from the original name for what we now know as a battery – a Galvanic Cell. These Galvanic Cells, or batteries, were used to power the original Electrolysis machines back in the 19^th century.

How does it work?

Most chemical reactions take place between ingredients that readily react together to release energy and form new compounds but many useful chemical reactions require a bit of encouragement through heat or electricity. Such reactions are much easier to control by simply regulating the amount of heat or electricity applied.

In the case of the electro-chemical reaction in Electrolysis, a negative current is applied to the hair follicle and any moisture present in the follicle is gradually converted into sodium hydroxide (commonly known as lye) over a few minutes. Lye is highly reactive in the presence of organic compounds (in this case, skin). Fortunately, the amount of lye produced is miniscule and highly targeted to the area it is intended to work on beneath the skin.

How is it done?

Firstly a conductive pad is attached to the client’s arm or leg to allow a circuit to be completed between the client and the machine. The clinician slides a hair-thin metal probe into each targeted hair follicle. Contrary to the popular misconception, these probes are not needles. In fact they are completely blunt in order to prevent puncturing the skin but, at just 0.05mm to 0.15mm in thickness, they are literally the size of a human hair and cannot be felt as they slide into the follicle alongside the target hair. For several minutes, a tiny current is passed through the probe to convert moisture into lye. The probe is then removed along with the entire hair which will come out effortlessly. Today’s galvanic electrolysis machines are highly automated and run up to 32 probes consecutively allowing a good clinician to successfully treat up to 200 hairs per hour.

Why are different techniques all called Electrolysis?

Terms like multi-probe electrolysis, single-probe electrolysis, thermolysis or blend are all often found grouped under the heading “Electrolysis” and this can be confusing.

Multi-probe electrolysis is simply another name for Galvanic Electrolysis which uses up to 32 probes at once. The term came about to distinguish it from single-probe electrolysis.
Single-probe electrolysis is not truly an electrolytic process at all. It is a common name for Thermolysis. The name came about simply because the equipment and technique look superficially similar to Electrolysis. Thermolysis uses heat from microwave energy to destroy and remove hairs.
Blend is also a single-probe technique. It attempts to increase the effectiveness of Thermolysis by combining it with true electrolysis. Clinical trials have never shown any measurable difference in effectiveness between Blend and Thermolysis.