Laser Hair Removal Versus Electrolysis

Compare Electrolysis And Laser Hair Removal With This Overview

Compare electrolysis and laser hair removal: electrolysis is the only proven method for permanent hair removal, laser hair removal is only proven to reduce hair.

Compare electrolysis and laser hair removal: laser hair removal only works on dark hair, while electrolysis works on any color of hair.

Compare electrolysis and laser hair removal: electrolysis has been used for over a hundred years while laser hair removal still does not have any long-term data regarding effectiveness.

How Electrolysis Works

Very fine metal probes are inserted into the hair follicle. A small electric current is then applied which destroys the hair root. Each hair has to be treated individually. (See item above for description of various electrolysis methods.)

How Laser Hair Removal Works

Laser systems emit a gentle beam of light that passes through the skin to the hair follicle. The hair absorbs it, the energy from the laser is transformed into heat and the hair follicle is disabled.

It should be noted that both methods might be slightly painful when we compare electrolysis and laser hair removal.

One similarity noted by those who compare electrolysis and laser hair removal is that different people will have different success rates.

Compare electrolysis and laser hair removal:

Electrolysis Time Factor

Electrology: The time needed for electrolysis treatment varies greatly from person to person. Factors such as the size of the area to be treated, the curvature of the hair follicle, the level of skin sensitivity, hormonal balance and heredity all have an effect.

Electrologist Fino Gior, author of Modern Electrology, gives these estimates:

Upper Lip 4-10 hours
Chin 2-12 hours
Sideburns 4-8 hours
Eyebrows 3-8 hours
Underarms 4-12
Arms 5-10 hours
Bikini Line 8-16 hours

Laser Hair Removal Time Factor

Laser Hair Removal: This of course varies from person to person with skin, hair coloring and coarseness of hair all affecting the time.

Here are some estimates which can give an approximate guide.

Back 1½ -3 hours
Shoulders 10-20 minutes
Underarms 1-2 minutes
Bikini Line 8-10 minutes
Upper lip less than 1 minute
Chin 2-3 minutes
Legs 1½ -3 hours

At least 2 or 3 treatments are necessary, and hair that has been waxed or removed with tweezers could need from 5 to 8 treatments.

These estimates are based on averages taken in the U.S.A. and Canada at clinics performing electrolysis treatment. They will vary from person to person and should only be taken as a rough guide.

Background. Different techniques have been used for hair removal. Electrolytic epilation is a widely accepted method for this purpose. Recently laser hair removal was introduced.

Objective. To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of long-pulse alexandrite laser hair removal with electrolytic epilation.

Methods. Twenty-four areas of unwanted axillar hair in 12 patients were included in the study. The right axillar area of the patients was treated by electrolysis with an intensity of 48 mA, and the left area was treated with long-pulse alexandrite laser with fluences between 30 and 50 J/cm2. Electrolysis was performed four times at 3-week intervals, and laser treatment was performed three times at 4-week intervals. Before each session, the hairs in a 4 cm2 area centered in the axilla were counted. The last evaluation was done 6 months after the initial treatment. The pain, time, and cost of each procedure are compared.

Results.The average clearance rate of the hairs was 74% by laser and 35% by electrolysis 6 months after the initial treatment.

Conclusion. Alexandrite laser hair removal is a more reliable and practical solution than electrolysis. Laser hair removal is more expensive than electrolysis, but is 60 times faster and less painful than electrolysis; also fewer sessions are needed with the laser with better results.

Source: Dermatologic Surgery
Volume 26 Issue 1 Page 37 - January 2000
doi:10.1046/j.1524-4725.2000.99104.x

Metin Görgü, MD,* Gürcan Aslan, MD,* Tayfun Aköz, MD,* and Bülent Erdoan, MD*