Hair removal terms: E

Eventually, I hope to link up glossary terms with corresponding pages, but for now, please use this glossary in combination with the search feature.

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Ears : a common place for hair removal in older males. Only hair on the outer ear should be treated, and never inside the ear canal due to risk of infection.

Eccrine gland: a medical term for sweat gland. These tiny pores do not contain hair follicles.

Eczema: also called contact dermatitis, it’s a mild inflammation of the skin.

Edema: a medical term for swelling

Efficacy: a term meaning how well or effectively a hair removal device works

Electric tweezer: A device that removes hair by grasping hairs above the skin’s surface with an electrified tweezer. FDA has stated that no electric tweezers have shown evidence that they can perform permanent hair removal.

Electrocoagulation: the use of heat generated by electricity to change tissue from a fluid to a semi-solid, similar to cooking an egg. Electrocoagulation is the operating method behind flash thermolysis.

Electrode in hair removal, a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves the body. An electrolysis needle is an electrode.

Electrology the practice of hair removal through the use of electrified needles, invented in the 1870’s.

Electrologist a practitioner of electrology.

Electrolysis in hair removal, the practice of epilation with electrified needles. Electrolysis was originally the name for hair removal with direct current only (also called galvanic), although the term is generally applied to all three modalities of epilation with an electrified needle.

Electrolysist a variant name (esp. British) for an electrologist.

Elite makes a needle electrolysis machine

Elysee is a brand of electric tweezer

Emjoi Gently Gold is an electric epilator

EMLA is a prescription topical anesthetic used by some clients of laser and electrolysis to reduce and eliminate pain.

Endocrine system: a group of glands which maintain the body’s internal environment through the production of hormones. Imbalances in this system can sometimes lead to increased or decreased hair. Glands in the endocrine system include the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, ovaries, and testes

Epidermis the thin outer layer of skin, on top of the the thicker and deeper dermis.

Epilady makes an electric epilator, home wax kit, and shaver

Epilation: the removal of hair below the skin’s surface (as opposed to depilation). Epilation methods include plucking, waxing, electrolysis and laser.

Epil-Stop is a topical solution

EpiLaser is a brand of ruby laser made by Palomar

EpiLight is a brand of flash lamp made by ESC

EpiTouch is a brand of both ruby and alexandrite lasers made by Sharplan

Erythema: a medical term for the redness that sometimes follows hair removal.

ESC makes flash lamp hair removal products PhotoDerm HR and EpiLight

ESNE Electrology Society of New England

Eschar: a small temporary scab that occurs sometimes after electrolysis, especially after overtreatment.

Estrogen: a female hormone sometimes linked to increased hair growth.

Exfoliation: the removal of dead skin cells to reveal softer skin underneath.

Eyebrows: a common area for hair removal in women. Men sometimes remove hairs between the brows. The most common method is plucking or waxing, although some also use electrolysis.

Eyelashes: protective hairs on the eyelid. Some people get ingrown hairs here, which should only be treated under a physician’s care, preferably an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

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