Excess Hair Weighing you Down?

“Walk with Confidence” at Absolute Perfection Electrolysis

By Marge Shoemaker

Many of us, especially women, spend untold amounts of timeshaving, waxing, tweezing, or bleaching to diminish the look ofunwanted body hair. Of course, we know these methods don’t removehair permanently, but did you know that pulling your hair out damagesthe follicle itself, which encourages the hair to grow back more coarsely

than it grew in the first place? Mary Brennan, the owner of Absolute Perfection Electrolysis, knows everything you need to know about hair removal, and she can get rid of your unwanted hair for good!

When she was growing up, Mary suffered from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a condition that causes excess hair to grow on the face and body. “I was a track athlete,” she recalls, “and I had sideburns. I wore my hair down around my face to hide my sideburns until I was in the blocks. Then I’d pull my hair back to keep it out of my way when I ran. Right after I crossed the finish line, I loosened my hair and let it down again. I thought nobody would notice.”

It wasn’t until she was attending nursing school that Mary learned about electrolysis. She attended classes to get certified in electrolysis while she was completing her nursing training. Today, she holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is a certified professional electrologist (CPE) and a licensed electrologist (LE). Nebraska requires certification to practice electrolysis.

When Mary was young, not much was known about the causes of excessive hair growth. Today, we know it can be caused by insulin resistance (which may indicate prediabetes) or by an imbalance of the thyroid. Other extreme hair growth conditions include hypertrichosis (sometimes called werewolf syndrome), in which excessive hair may grow anywhere on the body, and hirsutism, which includes male-pattern hair growth on women (usually confined to coarse hair on the chin). These conditions are usually diagnosed and managed medically.

Before treatment begins, Mary asks each client to fill out a health history form. She developed the form to help determine what sort of treatment will best meet the client’s needs. “I learn what treatments have been used in the past, how long the condition has existed, and what results the client wants or expects,” she states, “as well as possible causes.” Questions on the form include those about general health, about the present hair problem, and about what treatment methods the client has already tried.

The most common causes of excessive hair growth that Mary sees are hormone or endocrine disorders, menopause, or problems with the menstrual period.

Medications for some diseases can cause excessive hair growth. Many of her female clients are bothered by hair growth on the lip or chin; men seem to be disturbed more by ear hair. Transgender clients often want to remove excess hair to bring their bodies into alignment with their identities. Whatever the cause…whatever the location…whatever the problem, Mary wants to help her clients “walk with confidence!”

Determining the probable cause of excessive hair growth and knowing how the client has dealt with the problem in the past helps Mary determine the best modality of treatment going forward. “Electrolysis has become a generic term for permanent hair removal, just as Kleenex has become a generic term for facial tissue,” she explains. However, there are actually three treatment modalities (that is, the mode of hair removal) to choose from. “Modalities include electrolysis (the use of hair-strand-fine needles inserted into the hair follicles), thermolysis (the use of a heated needle), and a blend of the two.” She also considers the client’s skin type, the condition of the skin, and what the client has done previously to treat the problem.

There’s some psychology involved, too, Mary explains. Some of her clients have a positive self-image, and some of them do not. “I listen to my clients and note what is important to each of them. I explain the process, and I’m up-front about the need for maintenance. Possible side effects, including temporary redness, are explained. For long-term clients, I keep an eye out for new or unusual hair growth that may indicate a problem that should be addressed by a medical professional.”

Mary’s advice to all of us: If you don’t know, ask. Explore! Look into all the possibilities. Only with education can you determine what works for you and your lifestyle.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call Mary Brennan at 402-398-3300. She doesn’t answer the phone while she’s with a client, so please leave a message! Mary works by appointment only, and her schedule generally includes both days and evenings, Monday through Saturday.