Hair Growth Cycles and
Distorted Hair Follicles.
DISTORTED HAIR FOLLICLES
The most common methods of temporary hair removal that pluck the hair, such as waxing, tweezing, or threading, can have unintended consequences. Each time a hair is plucked, it causes trauma to the base of the hair. This can cause the follicle to distort and result in ingrown hairs. This is most common in the chin area, underarms, bikini line, and abdomen. These ingrown hairs are not only painful and frustrating, but they can cause serious problems to the skin such as hyperpigmentation and even infection. People susceptible to keloids must be especially careful with ingrown hairs.
When the hair follicle is very distorted, special treatments are needed. Multiplex™ is the ideal technique to treat distorted hair. It is a slow thermolysis process available in the Apilus Platinum epilator. Thanks to its warming process Multiplex covers a wider zone at the base of the follicle, thereby achieving greater follicle destruction.
HAIR GROWTH CYCLES
As an electrolysis patient, it is important to understand hair growth cycles. Hairs grow and rest in cycles, so the hair you can see at any given time is not all the hair that you have in total.
Anagen: Growing stage of the hair
Catagen: Detachment from the papilla
Telogen: When the hair is at the end of its cycle.
When a hair has completed its growth cycle the follicle releases the hair and goes into a dormant stage. The dormant stage allows the hair follicle to rejuvenate in preparation for growing another hair. This stage can last from six weeks to two months before the hair is again visible.
The best time to treat a hair with electrolysis is during the active growth cycle, Anagen, because when the hair first starts to grow it is at its weakest, with a thin shaft and a shallow root. This is why it is so important to stay on a regular treatment schedule in order to achieve the best results in the shortest time frame.