Maybe this has been addressed before, but here it goes.
If a hair has been destroyed by electrolysis, is it possible for hormones to cause a new papilla to form and grow into a hair?
It is my understanding that this does not generally happen. However, follicles that have been dormant for perhaps your whole life could be stimulated, so a new hair could form.
The hair that has been destroyed won’t come back. A new hair may grow in the same area but it won’t be from the exact same follicle. Mind you, hair growth like this is always a secondary symptom (i.e. if you have hormonally stimulated hair growth you will have other symptoms too. It doesn’t happen by itself).
I’ve only once seen this happen with a client who had a thyroid problem.
The hair that has been destroyed won’t come back. A new hair may grow in the same area but it won’t be from the exact same follicle. Mind you, hair growth like this is always a secondary symptom (i.e. if you have hormonally stimulated hair growth you will have other symptoms too. It doesn’t happen by itself).
I’ve only once seen this happen with a client who had a thyroid problem.
What would be the other symptoms to go along with hormonally stimulated hair? I have had blood work done a couple years ago to see if I had hormonal stimulated hair but my doc said everything came back fine and normal. I’m not over weight at all, and don’t notice anything unusual about myself other than hair all over my shoulders and upper arms. I am also male, so I hear it is less common in males?
Hormones can stimulate a hair that is already there to grow, but cannot create a hair from nothing. A hair that has had its stem cells killed cannot create new hair, however the body does have dormant hairs, which the hormones can trigger to start growing, making it look like the same hair has returned. What is possible however, is if a hair is not killed but only injured, then the remaining stem cells can replicate and eventually grow back to full strength.
I believe from my observations that is what I have seen on my clients that have had Laser. Hair growth is slowed down, but much if not all does eventually return. It is vertually certain that the hair were damaged by having the procedure done, but in my opinion, it just missed out on performing a complete job.
It is still a fact however, that when the entire hair roots stem cells have been killed, that hair will never return. Just need to make certain that the cells are dead and not just injured.
Martha Montgomery
Puget Sound Electrology
It isn’t just one particular hormone, so it could be a huge number of endocrine disorders and symptoms. If your doctor says everything is ok then you have to either trust him or get a second opinion.
http://www.pdrhealth.com/patient_education/BHG01EN13.shtml
http://www.hormonehelpny.com/column/hormoneshair1.htm
http://www.laseawayhair.com/PCOS_files/frame.htm
some good links that outline causes and even why many doctors can’t identify the proper conditions. i’m sure there are others too.
and to add to Marthajoy’s comments, that’s why IPLs and lasers used at low settings (where the hair sheds, but in reality only injured and not killed) are something consumers should be warned about when looking for laser hair removal treatments. for permanent removal, enough power needs to be delivered. one way to tell if settings are too low is if the treatments are comfortable in terms of pain without any topical numbing creams.
In regards to hormones, it is also possible that hormone levels are normal, and drugs someone may be taking can cause excessive hair growth as well. One might be surprised how many prescription drugs have hair growth as part of their side effects. I keep an up to date PDR - Physicians Desk Reference available just in case I need to double check what my patients may be taking.
Also there are the normal items like Genetics to also take into consideration as well.
I am so glad that I took classes in Medical Assisting prior to taking my classes in electrology just for these particular reasons as well. I would not want to be in this position of performing electrolysis on someone else without having all the knowledge that I gained also as part of my memory.
One really needs to know when to refer someone to check with their doctor when needed. Also, my chiropractor has also let me know that over 90 percent of his patients do not even have a primary care physician. He therefore automatically checks things like pulse and blood pressure automatically, and from habit, just from past experience of catching individuals in drastic need of Doctor’s care and not even knowing it. While maybe that is not required of all electrologists, it could end up saving someones life.
Far too many people do no give proper considerations to their own health.
Martha Montgomery