Why is sanitization of

electrolysis equipment
important?

Electrolysis, as a method for permanent hair removal, has been in use since 1875.
Over a period of time, it has come to be recognized as an Allied Health
Profession, and standards have been developed for the same by state
organizations as well as national organizations like the American Electrology
Association (AEA). And today, electrolysis is the only method of permanent hair
removal that is recognized by the FDA.

One of the primary concerns during the sessions of electrolysis is preventing the
spread of infections and diseases. The AEA infection prevention standards state
that A proper hygienic environment should be maintained and infection
prevention procedures followed to minimize the risk of transmission of
infectious diseases between the practitioner and the client. While the
electrolysis needle does not regularly come in contact withhumantissue, there
have been cases where the needle has been contaminated with material like
serum or blood.

Diseases that you may contract

Contact with blood can spread the Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and
Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) viruses. HBV and HCV affect the liver and can
become chronic conditions that, in extreme cases, can cause death.On the other
hand, HIV attacks specific cells of the bodys immune system called CD4 cells and
can cause Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the long term. Due to
these reasons,professional organizations put great emphasis on the sterilization of
equipment as well as the facility in which this equipment is being used.

The process of sanitization

Believe it or not, sanitization begins with the personal hygiene of the practitioner,
who is expected to be clean at all times. They should alwayswash hands with soap
and then clean them via hand antisepsis before and after wearing disposable gloves.
Washing hands with soap removes visible dirt, but it is also important to check the
growth of microorganisms on the soap used, through the use of disposable soap
dispensers. For those who dont know, hand antisepsis is the treatment of hand with
anti-microbial agents, which prevent the growth of microorganisms on the skin. The
practitioner should also ensure that gloves used for a procedure are not reused.

Sanitization of the equipment

The equipment used in the electrolysis process can be sterilized either in an autoclave or through
the use of dry heat sterilization. The word autoclave is derived from the Greek word auto and
the Latin word clavis to mean a self locking device. It is essentially a closed chamber where
equipment is sanitized through the application ofhigh pressure saturated steam for a short
duration of time. It is important to remove the air from the device before sterilization because the
presence of air will reduce the effectiveness of the sterilization process. Dry heat sterilization
works by causing the heating of equipment through the application of water vapor free hot air.
This process takes much longer than the autoclave method to achieve sterilization because it
works by the conduction of heat through the different layers of the equipment being sterilized.

Sanitization of the needle

The electrolysis needle, a key element in the process, has the potential of causing
extensive contamination. It is necessary that the needle used is disposable and a
new needle is used for each client. Needles that are disposed of should be stored in
FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers which are puncture resistant and leakage
proof. They should not be manipulated in any manner after use to prevent
accidental puncture injuries. Since the forceps used during the process come in
contact with the needle too, it is important to sterilize or better yet, use a disposable
variety of the same.

Here at Forever Bare Electrolysis, I always ensure that all the FDA approved
sanitization protocols are in place, that routine infection prevention procedures
are followed and will even display information about steps takenby them to
maintain a sterile facility.

At Forever Bare, we offer electrolysis, a treatment for

permanent hair removal in Duluth, MN in a professional, safe and relaxed
environment. We do hair removal for men in Duluth, MN as well as for women.
Treatments are scheduled by appointment to accommodate your schedule.