Exploration of Electric Stimulation for Decreasing Pain during Mechanical Hair Removal

This master thesis was written for Philips Consumer Lifestyle in Klagenfurt. The topic is triggered by the fact that available mechanical hair removal solutions do not satisfy the consumer's wish for a pain free application. There are already implemented solutions (thermal and mechanical), but none is focusing on the topic of pain relief due to electric stimulation. The role which electric stimulation can play for pain relief due to mechanical removing of hairs is discussed in this work.

First physiological basics are discussed before the relevant theoretical aspects are described. This information combined with a literature study helps to narrow the available electric stimulation methods to those which can be used in combination with mechanical hair removal. Finally a set of relevant parameters for having a successful application is explored.