cluding the texture, the mois- ture gradient (i.e., dry or moist), the vulnerability (hypo- or sensitively) of the skin, and an understanding of the texture and nature of the hair, the age of the person being treated, the area to be treated, and a multitude of other constantly variable factors.

One can readily understand how all of the aforementioned would be important criteria for the electrologist to evaluate before beginning treatment - as well as throughout the treatment itself.

Other complicating factors that may be of concern to both the electrologist and the person having hair removed are the conditions of pilimultigemini, two or more hairs sharing one follicle (see Fig. 2), and multi- follicular patterns, two or more follicles in close proximity to one another (see Fig. 3).

THese conditions are not uncommon.

Unfortunately, they do not. The hair follicle unit is a tube- like depression of the skin which contains each hair. As can be seen from Fig.4, the follicles may well be distorted, twisted, curved, spiraled, and even "L" or "U" shaped. Since the instrument itself is straight, these follicles have to be treated, and as a result, straightened somewhat, before the cauteriza- tion of the entire dermal papilla can take place. It may take two or more treatments on some follicles to accomplish this, and completely cauterize the hair matrix.

CAUTERIZING DEEP,

COARSE HAIRS

DISTORTED HAIR FOLLICLES

DISTORTED

HAIR FOLLICLES

Electrolysis would be be a simple, straightforward process if all hair follicles grew as straight and clean as the one shown in Fig. 1.

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FIG. 4