Electrolysis is the process of permanently removing hair by means of electricity. It has been around since 1875 and is an FDA approved method of permanent hair removal.
Hair follicles are a mass of epidermal cells that extend down into the dermis and form a small tube. During electrolysis, a small fine needle is gently inserted into the base of the follicle, the structure that forms the lowest part of the hair root. The lower part of the hair bulb fits over and and covers the derma papilla, with contains the tissue and the blood vessel necessary for hair growth and nourishment of the follicle. Electrolysis destroys the tissue within the derma papilla using electricity, resulting in permanent hair removal.
Electrolysis has come a long way since 1875, new technologies have allowed the process to evolve into a quick, permanent, and relatively painless way to get rid of unwanted hair.