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The
History of
Electrolysis
1875
The first person to use
electrolysis for hair
removal was Dr. Charles
E. Michel (1833 - 1913),
a St. Louis, Missouri
ophthalmologist (eye
doctor) who, in 1875,
reported the results of
his use of electrolysis
in trichiasis (ingrown
eyelashes) (St. Louis
Clinical Record,
October, 1875,
2:145-148). He had been
performing electrolysis
since 1869.
Dr. W.A. Hardaway, a St.
Louis, Missouri
dermatologist, gave the
credit for the first use
of electrolysis to Dr.
Michel (Transactions of
the American
Dermatological
Association, 1878,
4:337-340.) In this
paper, Dr. Hardaway
described his own
results and those of
others; an indication
that numerous other
physicians were also
performing electrolysis.
1880 - 1900
The use of electrolysis
became well known in the
latter part of the
nineteenth century.
During this time, Dan
Mahler established an
electrolysis practice,
and subsequently, an
electrolysis equipment
firm. The family
business exists today as
the Instantron Company,
which has been operating
continuously for over a
century and is one of
the world's largest
suppliers to the
electrolysis profession.
1916
Paul N. Kree, of New
York, developed the
multiple needle
technique for galvanic
electrolysis. He was
instrumental in the
increased marketing of
electrolysis services to
the general public.
Electrolysis spread from
the medical profession
to lay electrologists.
The Kree Company
dominated the
performance and teaching
of electrolysis in North
America until the late
1970's.
1924
Dr. Henri Bordier, of
Lyon, France, developed
the method of
thermolysis (also called
short-wave, diathermy,
high-frequency etc.)
Medical literature of
this period indicates
that thermolysis was
probably attempted as
far back as 1910, in
Germany by Dr. Eitner.
1925
Dr. A. Rostenberg
introduced thermolysis
into the North American
medical journals.
1928
Dr. Mildred Trotter
published her classic
article proving shaving
does not affect hair
growth.
1940's
New equipment eliminated
the crude spark-gap
diathermy machines,
which provided an
unpredictable
performance. Thermolysis
became more widespread
with the use of the
simplified and more
consistently reliable
vacuum tube machines.
Arthur Hinkel and Henri
St. Pierre applied for
the patent of their
blend machine in 1945
and received it in 1948.
1956
Gordon Blackwell began
publishing Electrolysis
Digest, and continued
until 1986. His reviews
and critiques were vital
to the dissemination of
helpful information to
electrologists
throughout the world.
1968
Arthur Hinkel and
Richard Lind widely
publicized the blend in
their text,
Electrolysis,
Thermolysis and the
Blend. Hinkel formalized
the concept of intensity
x duration = units of
lye (treatment energy),
which is fundamental to
a better understanding
of electrolysis. The
work of Hinkel and St.
Pierre was brilliant,
conceptually and
technically, and of
great assistance to a
better scientific
understanding of
electrolysis.
1970's
Electrolysis equipment
became much more
reliable and simple to
use with the development
of transistorized
equipment. In November,
1979, the Copperwaites
of Toronto established
International Hair
Route, a publication
which continues to print
articles of interest to
all electrologists.
1980's
Computerized
electrolysis equipment
became smaller, more
reliable, and easier to
use. Mr. Mark Van Orden,
of the Fischer Company,
was able to incorporate
Hinkel's formula into
programmable
computerized epiltors.
The AIDS virus
stimulated development
of pre-sterilized,
disposable needles. In
the early 1980's, Drs.
Toshio Kobayashi and
Shiro Yamada described
their technique of
high-powered
thermolysis, using an
insulated needle.
1990's Present Day
Standardized training
and improved equipment
are making electrolysis
more popular and more
accessible to people
around the world. It is
still the only method
recognized by the FDA as
Permanent Hair Removal.
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