Galvanic Current

Vickie Mickey, CT,CLHRP

What is Galvanic Current?

• Galvanic (electrolysis) is a modality of permanent hair removal using direct current with the positive and negative poles that causes the production of caustic lye in the hair follicle, which in turn causes the hair’s destruction

History

• 19th century women inserted unsterile needles into the hair follicle to remove, tweezed the hair, in order to produce inflammation that they believed would seal the hair follicle

• Sulphuric acid applied to the skin and hypodermic injections of carbolic acid were attempted to removal hair

• Twisting of a bulb needle in to the follicle was another attempt to remove hair

History

• 1875 Dr. Charles Michel introduced galvanic current into a ingrown eyelash

• From this day forward electrolysis (including thermolysis and blend modalities) has been the only permanent hair

• Galvanic current is basically a chemical process

How Galvanic Electrolysis Works

• Galvanic current is DC, that is current that moves in only one direct

• DC in a saline solution causes the separation and rearranges of chemical components

• Water (H20) and sodium chloride (NaCL) become sodium hydroxide or lye

• The galvanic machine is turned on, the AC is turned into DC with the rectifier when the needle is introduced into the hair follicle

Effects of Galvanic Lye on Tissue

• Skin is not affected in the same way as the experiment we have just completed

• The tissue is only affected where the where there is moisture

• The moisture gradient is best in the lower portion of the hair follicle where the blood supply is connected to the follicle

• Additionally, the sebaceous gland protects the upper portion of the hair follicle with sebum

Needle Depth & Current Intensity

• The reading on the millammeter will vary according to the depth of insertion into the follicle

• Deeper insertions permit higher intensity of galvanic current

• With the information – what would be the best type of hair to treat with galvanic current

• During multiple needles treatments all needle must be the same length and inserted into the deepest point of the follicle to be effective

Components of the Galvanic Epilator

• Rheostat – controls current levels• Milliamperemeter – indicates current level in

tissue• Power source – AC • 2 electrodes – needle holder is the negative

pole and the ground is the positive pole

How it works

• When the needle is inserted into the tissue negative pole produces alkali, sodium hydroxide

• The positive pole produces an acid – hydrochloric acid

• Student should not be concerned about reversing poles with modern equipment, it will not permit tattooing

Concentrated Effects

• Needle diameter is of importance to the reduction of hair growth

• Use a needle that is the same size as the hair to be removed during the treatment, it reduces pain and affords proper flow of current a the tip

• Select a needle that will reach the depth of the follicle

Procedure for Setting Up Equipment

• Place clean sterile needle in sanitized needle holder – do not touch needles while inserting in machine

• Area of tissue to be treated should be disinfected with alcohol

• Select a needle of proper length and needle size – usually you will use .004 - .006

• Set galvanic rheostat control to zero

Procedures for Setting Up Equipment

• Step on galvanic footswitch, advance rheostat until current read 2/10 0f a millampere

• Continue the current until testing of hair with tweezers releases hair from follicle

• DO NOT TWEEZE HAIR - SLIDE• Remove needle from follicle as you have

reached your desired destruction of follicle tissue

Procedures for Setting Up Equipment

• Examine the root of the epilated hair• Do you need to adjust depth of insertion?• Reinsert the needle into a like type of hair, if the

patient found the first application tolerable, advance the current to 3/10, reduces time of treatment per hair

• Current X Time = lye production • Further steps may permit increasing current in

increments – the more current the patient can tolerate the faster the hair can removed

Remember!

• To destroy tissue and achieve proper treatment, naturally pain will occur

• No pain indicates – no issue destruction• Find a working point that is tolerable to the

patient• Constantly communicate with patient in

regards to comfort level

Interpreting the Epilated Hair

• The first hair may not be perfect – one with bulb and root sheath intact

• Remember this is only your first attempt!• You must find your working point or setting

Types of Hairs

• Every hair is in a different growth stage• Hairs can only be treated in anagen• Hair that is epilated properly the hair will side

out of the follicle without resistance