Analgesic methods (EMLA alternatives)

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

EMLA works great, however quite expensive, annoying to put and keep on with plastic seals. Sadly doesn’t work too long after exposed to air and gives me a several hours long headache if I apply to more than a small area. Willing to find a better alternative, if it actually exists.

  1. OTC Lidocaine Creams

Tested without success. Maybe it would be more effective by sealing it in plastic just like EMLA? Has anyone ever tried it? What was the concentration?

  1. Ibuprofen

Just looked up this one, apparently an oral pill that you take to hopefully minimize the pain, I don’t think it’ll be effective but I might try.

  1. Analgesic shots (not sure what drug)

Not available for electro in Canada from what I can gather, NEXT.

  1. BLT Cream

‘‘EMLA on steroids’’ as my dermatologist liked to call it. Simply apply and wait 15min without plastic seals and seems to be more effective than EMLA. Apparently not sold without prescription (or at all), a bit vague. I’ll personally try to get it if possible whenever I restart my electro!

  1. Alcohol & Weed (where it’s legal)

Controversial. Has anyone ever tried this?

#2

I’ve been wondering why people don’t take codeine for electrolysis pain management (tablets are often a mix of codeine and paracetamol).

Admittedly it does carry a risk of dependence and so it is best if used in ‘one-off’ type circumstances or where there is ‘adequate’ time between uses. A max of 5 continuous days use is the guideline advised here. Taking a smaller dose (e.g. 15 mg) probably helps avoid dependence as well.

I was prescribed codeine after an op earlier in the year. The thing about it, is that it’s so enjoyable! Thus I suspect to avoid dependence, it is important codeine is only taken in a particular context (and one which doesn’t make up part of everyday living).

Codeine is an extremely effective pain reliever, because of it being metabolised in the body to morphine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codeine#Pharmacokinetics.

#3

Ibuprofen is very popular here (in the EU), probably more commonly prescribed than paracetamol.

I’m not keen on it myself, I never feel quite right after taking it (compared with say paracetamol).

Ibuprofen at high dose is associated with cardiovascular issues: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibuprofen#Cardiovascular_risk.

#4

Thanks!
After a small research, those seems to be OTC like Tylenol and those ‘‘migraine’’ fixing drugs. Is this what you’re talking about, or a stronger version?
What’s the degree of effectiveness compared to EMLA, if you’ve personally tried?

#5

Presuming you are in the US, it looks like codeine is available, though it appears to be more controlled then it is over here in the EU. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codeine#United_States. It mentions a version of Tylenol.

I haven’t tried it yet for hair removal pain as I only very recently came up with the idea. But I am going to try in the next month.

I don’t particularly rate EMLA cream. It’s such a hassle to apply and the pain relief doesn’t seem to go that deep. And over here it’s not just the cream which is expensive but the tegaderm dressings - they are frighteningly expensive!

I’ve never known a pain reliever quite as powerful as codeine. I haven’t taken it much as I haven’t had the need, and when I have taken it I tend to soon get paranoid that I will get addicted (which is probably a healthy concern!). However, as I mentioned above, I’ve always been amazed at it’s potency as a pain reliever. It’s in a totally different class to paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen.

Actually, 15-20 years ago, high doses of codeine were freely available here, even in local newsagents, (say for female period pain). One brand was called Feminax and many women were taking it every month for a week or so. But in recent years codeine has become far more controlled. I don’t actually think there were many problems with it - only with certain characters prone to addiction who took to taking for recreational purposes.

#6

“Tylenol” with codeine (in the US) in very limited quantities, is prescribed to manage pain after surgical
procedures. Even if you found a physician or oral surgeon who would allow it, you wouldn’t be able to drive to and from your electrolysis session.

Migraine medicines won’t work for electrolysis pain as they work via different
pathways. “Imitrex” for example, works by constricting blood vessels in the brain
and cardio- vascular system.

#7

I live in Canada. EMLA works extremely well for me however it’s relatively expensive (around 38 USD for 30g), that’s why I’m asking. I found out rolls of plastic (one side sticking) are much less expensive than patches and work the same, just need scissors! https://imgur.com/1CQVajI

#8

Any pain medicine to have full nerve blocking effect would have to be Rx and runs higher risk of addiction with prolonged usage. No responsible doctor would prescribe such oral pain meds for non surgical procedure in an era where medical community is coming to grips that it has created a generation of addicts where 65,000 people die annually in U.S. alone in an overdose epidemic linked to prescription pain meds usage.

EMLA/LMX topicals are the closest thing you can have access to with pretty good pain control that’s safer. It’s tedious process. You don’t need expensive occlusive like Tegaderm. Glad press n’ seal wrap that has a sticky side works absolutely perfect!

#9

zapmyface Emla works reasonably well, but yes it is expensive. Here it costs me over $70 for a 30 gram tube at shppers or rexall. I’ve used xylecaine with some success . One topical that is getting some good reviews of late is Zensa . It’s a 5% lidocaine and yes you would use occlusion (plastic wrap) to cover the area and keep it from . I know I can get it fairly reasonably ( $25 for a 30 gram tube) at intercosmetics, and I’m headed down there at some point this week to pick up a few tubes for clients who have asked.Glad press n seal makes awesome occlusion because it seals around the area and sticks to skin.

You’re correct that injected local anesthetic isnt available to us for the purposes of electrology in canada. Those that can do so include dentists, and medical doctors but they would have to bill it though OHIP ( or the quebec equivelent) and it wouldnt be allowed. I’m lookng into whether a Nurse Practitioner is able to do so, and if so that may be an option.
Tylenol/Advil will help
as will reducing caffeine intake, keeping hydrated but not over hydrated, and reducing stress of all kinds. Also note that forms of distraction like a stress ball,relaxing music over headphones, can help greatly. One of my most comfortable sessins ever, took place while my partner worked on my neck ( which I hated) and I had my labrador retriever right next to me for petting. Obviously this isnt possible in anything but a home environment.

#10

I could start some EMLA smuggling business because my grocery store sells it for 45$ CAD! All other places I’ve checked were 60$ or more.

I asked just yesterday about a 5% lidocaine cream/ointment and it was 12$ for 30g I believe. My brain is telling me that there’s a catch, since it’s 1/4 of the price of EMLA for hopefully the same result… Anyway, I’ll definitely try once my EMLA runs out (if it ever does).

I should bring my cats for petting during my treatments lol.

#11

There is only one significant detriment to electrology; and the only aspect that keeps this sad little profession in the 1800s. Pain! Only pain, it’s the only issue.

There are many advanced places using techniques that are still unheard of mostly because the rank-and-file in the profession go into full-blown hysteria at the mere mention of techniques with which they are unfamiliar.

I would like to see a place where these pioneers could explain their processes without being fully attacked. So many processes … and I don’t know what they are doing exactly. But I would like to know.

But this is not going to happen, because of the rock solid reactionary mind-set that permeates this little “profession.”

#12

A lot of helpful techniques have been discussed in this forum already (talking during treatments, mental wellness, sleep, etc), but I’d like to add a few that I haven’t seen yet.

Pinching the skin was a bit helpful but it comes down to the electrologist and not the patient, however not sure if it’s worth it if the whole process is slowed down.

Walking (more than 20min) or running (not too long) before my treatments appeared to help with the pain quite a bit, but only for a short time. I’m assuming it has to do with blood flow, but sadly after 15min the body slows down and the normal pain level comes back.

Not-so-advanced techniques but free and easy to do.