Eventually, I hope to link up glossary terms with corresponding pages, but for now, please use this glossary in combination with the search feature.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
Calamine: a pink ointment sometimes used to treat skin irritation
Calcium thioglycolate: the active dissolving ingredient in many cream depilatories
Capillaries: tiny hair-like blood vessels, some of which carry nutrient to the hair growth matrix.
Candela is a laser manufacturer of GentleLASE
Carbon dioxide laser: also known as a CO2 laser, these are commonly used to perform skin resurfacing
Catagen: a brief middle stage in the hair growth cycle, between active (anagen) and inactive (telogen) stages.
Cataphoresis: the forcing of substances into the skin from a positive to a negative pole. It is sometimes used after electrolysis to firm skin and reduce redness.
Cathode: a negative electrode in a cell or circuit
CDC: Centers for Disease Control
CDRH: Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Center for Devices and Radiological Health: The branch of the FDA which regulates medical devices used for hair removal
Centers for Disease Control: a government agency which puts out guidelines for preventing the spread of disease during procedures such as hair removal
Cheek an area of the face where some men and women opt to thin or clear hair.
Chemical depilatories: powder or cream preparations that dissolve hair above the surface of the skin. Some find these products very irritating to the skin.
Chest: a common area for unwanted hair in men
ChillTip: a patented contact cooling device used in laser hair removal
Chin: a common area for unwanted hair in women
Chromos 694 is a ruby laser made by MEHL/Biophile
Cilia: medical term for eyelashes. Ingrown eyelashes should never be removed except under the supervision of a trained medical specialist
Clareblend: manufactures a professional electrolysis machine
Clearing: a method of hair removal in which all hair in an area is removed at once, as opposed to thinning
Cleopatra’s Secret/Cleopatra: a brand of sugaring solution sold on television
Club hair: a non-living hair in the last stages of the hair growth cycle, it is detached from the follicle but has not yet shed.
CME: Certified Medical Electrologist, a credential given by SCME
Collagen: a protein that holds all connective tissue together under the skin. Collagen is sometimes damaged by plucking or electrolysis, which can lead to dimpling on the skin. Collagen is also used to fill in scars and augment lips, often with temporary results
Cold cream: an ointment for cleansing and softening skin
Cold sore: a viral infection that appears around the mouth. Hair removal, especially electrolysis and lasers, should not be performed around visible cold sores
Cold wax: A type of wax that is spread on at room temperature and used to remove hair by pressing cloth or paper on it and yanking the cloth or paper. This takes the wax and hair with it. Often used in home waxing kits.
Comedogenic: causes blackheads (Comedones)
Comedones: a medical term for blackheads
Congenital: a condition that is hereditary. Excess hair often runs in the family.
Contact cooling: a method of cooling the epidermis immediately prior to laser irradiation in hopes of reducing or eliminating damage to the skin’s surface.
Continuous Stimulation Technique: a pain reduction method in which the client is distracted by something during treatment (music, etc)
Cortisone: an anti-inflammatory sometimes linked to hair growth when taken internally.
Cosmetics: certain types of cosmetics (especially liquid foundations and powders) an be used to conceal but not remove hair. Some women and men use this method in conjunction with a hair removal method. Some methods of hair removal require you not use cosmetics immediately after in speed skin recovery.
Cortex: the soft center of a hair
Cotton swabs: the transdermal electrolysis devices use electrified Q-tips, which are touched to a gel spread on the skin. There is absolutely no evidence that this can result in permanent hair removal
CPE: Certified Public Electrologist, a credential given by the AEA
Crusting: Dried fluid that seeps from skin in some clients following hair removal such as laser, electrolysis, and depilatories. It’s best to keep these crusts clean and not pick them to avoid infection and scarring. These crusts are also called eschars
Current: the flow of electricity, either alternating (AC like a wall outlet) or direct (DC like a battery)
Curved follicles a relatively rare condition which makes certain hair removal methods more difficult and can lead to ingrown hairs.
Cushing Syndrome: a disease caused by a tumor on the adrenal gland, which can cause excess hair growth
Cutaneous: relating to the skin
Cuticle: the hard outer part of a hair
Cynosure: a laser manufacturer of Photogenica
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
Share this:
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
