Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9505020001
SECTION: NURSES PAGE: N-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH COX
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But according to Patricia Crockett, RN, CPE (certified professional electrologist), it makes perfect sense.
"At age 35, I realized I'd spent most of my life in hospitals, and I wanted to do something a little different,'' she said. Her nursing background, particularly in oncology, made her aware of issues such as quality control, pain management and self-esteem, so the transition to hair removal and making people feel better about their appearance was natural.
Evaluating the skin and its reactions and tolerances, as well as the various causes of excessive hair growth such as hormonal imbalance or medications, are issues health-care professionals are educated about, she said. "Nurses in general have a much better understanding of related problems,'' she explained.
Crockett said she and another nurse opened the business, Professional Electrolysis Clinic, Inc., in 1988. Crockett bought her partner out two years later, and now has expanded to three clinics - in Salem, Valley View Mall, and a Forest office near Lynchburg.
Crockett said she knew there were not a lot of nurses involved in this field, "but it's basically cautery,'' she said, and infection control is therefore something electrologists need to be aware of.
Nurses, naturally, are trained in infection control. She employs six part-time nurses, and said she thinks between 12 and 20 percent of the electrologists in Virginia are nurses.
Electrolysis, according to Crockett, is a century-old process developed by a physician trying to take care of patients' ingrown eyelashes. She said the basic idea behind this method of hair removal is to apply enough damage to the blood supply of the hair to prevent regrowth, but not so much to cause scarring or pitting. It's actually not very painful, she said.
There is some discomfort involved, which she described as a warm and tingly feeling, but they use sophisticated machines that can be programmed so pain is decreased and the process made more tolerable.
It's important to go to a professional electrologist because end results could be dimpled skin tissue and scars.
"You walk a fine line. The procedure is similar to starting an IV,'' said Crockett, who is president of the State Association of Electrologists. It's also important from a health-risk standpoint.
"Superficial skin infection is a risk. The electrologist must wear gloves, and health-care people know to do that. Our standards of quality care are higher,'' she said, adding that consumers should know there are no regulations concerning this business in Virginia.
Crockett said nurses can approach the process from a medical as well as cosmetic standpoint, evaluating the causes as well as taking preventative health-care measures. Women who carry a small amount of additional hormones can carry facial hair Ovarian cysts can cause excessive hair growth. So can birth control pills, and other medications, according to Crockett. And nursing, she said, is a problem-solving discipline.
Crockett said that although she misses the acute care setting of a hospital, a lot of her clients and contacts are from the health-care profession so she manages to stay in touch.
On the other hand, the atmosphere of her business is "much more upbeat. It is not a destructive or threatening environment. The clientele is positive and appreciative and they are here because they choose to be,'' she said.
Crockett said she has tentative plans to expand her business, maybe into a related health-care/cosmetic arena. But what's important, she said, is that it be at the highest level of quality possible.
by CNB