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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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