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Happy Labor Day to all who celebrate!

Electrolysis remains the only FDA approved method of permanent hair removal. Laser hair removal is widely recognized as an effective means of hair reduction. With risks of hyperpigmentation and paradoxical hypertrichosis, how can an electrologist be sure that their client may be helped by combining the two technologies in a single treatment plan?

Ideal candidates for electrolysis + laser include individuals who
⚡️Have hair that is much darker when compared to their skin color
⚡️Have very dense hair in the area to be treated
⚡️Are not taking sun-sensitizing medications that may predispose them to hyperpigmentation
⚡️Do not have metabolic or hormonal conditions that may predispose them to paradoxical hypertrichosis

This short list is a brief overview of issues to be considered. Further discussion of this topic may be found in Chapter 6 of ""Beyond Electrolysis Basics,"" available for purchase at Amazon.com or the Instantronics Online Store:
https://www.instantronics.com

Strategies for Success: Success is not always defined by an accomplishment or goal hit. It can also come from feedback on how we can improve. Receiving feedback, both good and bad, can help refine the way you approach situations and guide you toward more successful outcomes in the future.

August ends today, and we're turning our eyes toward fall and celebrating its gifts:
*The sweetness of cooler days and less severe temperatures
*Greater regularity in scheduling (no longer having to juggle client vacations!)
*Reduced urgency surrounding daily sun protection once the intensity of the sun's rays have lessened .. AND, best of all, seeing one another again in October Electrology Association Convention! (Psst: Instantronics will have some hot conference deals- details to be posted soon!) (Photo credit: parnassusbooks.com)

Do you find that grey (non-pigmented) hairs epilate more slowly than pigmented hairs? Electrologists using galvanic or blend have reported extended time to achieve a release for grey hairs when compared to red, black, brown, or blond hairs.

As we age, the production of melanocytes, keratinocytes, and sebaceous gland secretions in our hair follicle begins to decrease, and hair produced by these aging follicles lacks pigment and tends to be dryer, wiry, and more brittle. Related changes in the epidermal cells that surround the hair follicle also occurs: skin begins to dry, sag and eventually become "crepey" for many older adults.

Galvanic epilation kills the stem cells that cause hair growth by causing a chemical reaction that produces lye (aka sodium hydroxide) using the salts (NaOH) and water (H20) found in all skin tissue. When a grey hair is epilated, extended time may be needed simply because the skin cells that surround it no longer hold as much moisture when compared to the more robust cells that surround pigmented hairs.

Iconic creator & performer; masterful businesswoman; heart that loved and respected all. How lucky we all were to have her.

Today we join with the millions worldwide who mourn the death of Dolly Parton. Beyond her outstanding contributions to the music industry, her bold spirit, entrepreneurial confidence and the clear vision she held of her own value was unprecedented at the beginning of her career. Consider:
* At a time when it was standard for record labels to own an artist's masters, Ms. Parton established Owepar Publishing Co. with uncles Bill and Louis Owens at 21 years old. Its principal holdings were Ms. Parton's lyrics and music.
* Further, at a time when exclusive control of an entertainer's images and licensing belonged to male managers, she owned her own masters, acting as a pioneer in this way and eventually amassing a catalog of more than 3,000 songs.
* Throughout her career, Ms. Parton actively cultivated a tightly controlled personal brand and believed that she a knack for what people enjoy. Before the age of 36, Ms. Parton had begun her own brand of consumer goods including cosmetics, lingerie and shoe lines, later adding items like baking mixes (with Duncan Hines), Dolly Wines, a pet accessories line called Doggy Parton as well as other apparel and beauty products. Other business ventures included an extensive portfolio of real estate and commercial holdings and a media licensing business.
* She served as Dreamer-in-Chief of her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, bringing in millions of visitors to the surrounding community each year and revitalizing the area's economic vitality.
* Ms. Parton's extensive philanthropy centered around the work of the Dollywood Foundation through which she donated millions of dollars for college scholarships, established the Imagination Library which has donated over 300 million books to children throughout the U.S. and provided $1 million for the research that helped to create the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 during the 2020 global pandemic among many other causes.
Thank you for sharing your light, Dolly! We'll miss you!

It's one month until Dr. Sara Paisner presents her talk "The Science of Hormones and Hair Growth & Removal" at the Atlanta Comfort Conference on Saturday, 9/26. This is a great opportunity to share information about the benefits of hair removal to this patients who benefit. Please let us know if you're attending so that we can give you a shout out and refer potential future patients who have questions.

This post from Electrolysis Beauty Lounge touches on a possible tension between protecting the loss of hair you want v. losing the weight that will help your clients gain a new level of health. Have any of you navigated this with your PMOS/PCOS clients?

🔥 THE HIDDEN SIDE OF GLP-1 & MINOXIDIL
GLP-1 medications have become a major part of today’s health conversation, but some patients may experience something they weren’t expecting along the way: increased hair shedding or thinning.

🔬 WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Hair shedding can occur during periods of rapid weight loss, nutritional change, metabolic stress, hormonal shifts, or other changes affecting the hair growth cycle.
When scalp thinning becomes a concern, a healthcare provider may recommend Minoxidil to help support hair growth.

💡 DID YOU KNOW?
Minoxidil is not designed to recognize which hair you want to grow.
While it is commonly used to encourage scalp hair growth, increased hair growth can also occur in unwanted areas, including the face and other parts of the body.
For some patients, that may mean more noticeable hair along the:
Face • Neck • Chest • Arms • Back • Abdomen

⚠️ THE PART WORTH TALKING ABOUT
Not everyone who uses Minoxidil will experience unwanted hair growth, and individual responses can vary.
But if you are already managing facial or body hair—or considering electrolysis—this is an important conversation to have with your prescribing provider before beginning treatment.
Understanding the full picture can help you make choices that align with both your medical needs and your personal hair-removal goals.

👩🏽‍⚕️ AN ELECTROLOGIST’S PERSPECTIVE
If new facial or body hair appears after beginning a medication, identifying what may be influencing that growth matters.
Electrolysis can permanently treat individual unwanted hairs, but treatment planning is strongest when we also understand the factors that may be continuing to stimulate new growth.

📚 INFORMED CARE STARTS WITH EDUCATION
The goal isn’t to fear a medication that may be beneficial to you.
It’s to understand the benefits, possible side effects, and questions worth asking so you can participate confidently in decisions about your care.

💬 Have you noticed changes in your hair since beginning a GLP-1 medication or Minoxidil? This is a conversation more people may need to be having.

Educational content only. This post is not medical advice and should not replace guidance from your prescribing healthcare provider. Do not start, stop, or change a medication without consulting the appropriate licensed medical professional.

Celebrating Women's Equality Day on this anniversary of winning right to vote! We are grateful to all the women who have paved our way and join with all who strive for equality and for a future where every voice is heard and valued!