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February 10, 2012

Electrolysis Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Electrolysis article.

Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and the pelvis. The abdomen is separated anatomically from the chest by the diaphragm, the powerful muscle spanning the body cavity below the lungs.
See the entire definition of Abdomen

American Medical Association (AMA): The AMA. The AMA's mission statement proclaims:
See the entire definition of American Medical Association

Anesthetic: A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness. A local anesthetic causes loss of feeling in a part of the body. A general anesthetic puts the person to sleep.

Chin: Medically, the mentum. The lower portion of the face below the lower lip including the prominence of the lower jaw and the line of fusion of the two separate halves of the jawbone (mandible). This line of fusion (called the symphysis menti) encloses a triangular area at tip of the chin (termed the mental protuberance). On each side, below the second premolar tooth, is the mental foramen, an opening for the passage of blood vessels and a nerve that supply the chin.

Electrolysis: Permanent removal of body hair, including the hair root, with an electronic device. While it is billed as a permanent process, many people find that hair does grow back (albeit slowly) after electrolysis. Electrolysis may be done by a dermatologist, by an electrolysis technician, or in some cases by a facial technologist or esthetician.

Essential: 1. Something that cannot be done without.
2. Required in the diet, because the body cannot make it. As in an essential amino acid or an essential fatty acid.
3. Idiopathic. As in essential hypertension. "Essential" is a hallowed term meaning "We don't know the cause."

Eyelash: One of the familiar stiff hairs that project from the margin of the eyelid.
See the entire definition of Eyelash

Food and Drug Administration: The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Public Health Service, which is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
See the entire definition of Food and Drug Administration

Hair follicle: A sac from which a hair grows and into which the sebaceous (oil) glands open. The follicle is lined by cells derived from the epidermal (outside) layer of the skin.
See the entire definition of Hair follicle

Heredity: Genetic transmission from parent to child.

Probe: (1) In surgery, a probe is a slender flexible rod with a blunt end used to explore, for example, an opening to see where it goes. (2) In molecular genetics, a probe is a labeled bit of DNA or RNA used to find its complementary sequence or locate a particular clone like homing in on a needle in a haystack.

Topical: Pertaining to a particular surface area. A topical agent is applied to a certain area of the skin and is intended to affect only the area to which it is applied. Whether its effects are indeed limited to that area depends upon whether the agent stays where it is put or is absorbed into the blood stream.

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Electrolysis

Hair Removal Strategies

There are several ways to remove your unwanted hair, including over-the-counter methods and those administered under a doctor's care. With most of these methods, the hair eventually grows back.

Shaving

Your hair growth rate will determine how often you have to shave the affected region. Shaving is best for legs, arms or facial hair. However, this hair removal method can cause ingrown hairs in the pubic region.

Plucking

Plucking is the most painful method, but may be the most worthwhile when there are just a few hairs you want to remove. Examples include reshaping your eyebrows or pulling out those few stray hairs that may appear on your face, especially for a woman. You should not use this hair removal method for large areas because it can cause ingrown hairs or scarring.

Depilation

Be cautious when selecting hair removal creams over-the-counter: All creams are not the same....

Read the Hair Removal article »




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