Electrolysis is a method to remove hair permanently.

During electrolysis, a very thin probe is placed in the hair follicle and an electric current through the probe destroys the ability of that follicle to grow hair. A laser also can be used that uses heat to destroy the growth center of the follicle.

Removal of hair using electrolysis can take a long time because each hair follicle usually must be done one at a time. The process may be painful and difficult to do for large areas of dense hair.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	C. Dale Mercer, MD, FRCSC, FACS - General Surgery
Last Revised	January 29, 2010