EMLA Cream - Causes Problems?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi everyone,

I recently went to my dermatologist and asked her to prescribe some EMLA (numbing) cream because I am thinking about getting some additional electrolysis on my beard to thin it out.

The dermatologist said that she does not believe in prescribing it because she said she has read a lot of literature suggesting that the EMLA cream can cause seizures and other medical issues; instead she said she would only prescribe it if used in front of her care.

Is there any truth to what she said or is she being overly conservative? I’ve heard that the cream is helpful in reducing pain from facial electrolysis but wouldn’t want to do anything that causes other/worse medical problems.

Also, would using Retin A on my face make my electrolysis sessions less effective or more painful?

Would be curious to hear what others have heard about this.

#2

I asked my own dermatologist to prescribe to me a numbing cream which is similar to EMLA but different for my clients and she would not prescribe it to me. Her reasoning was that if used in large areas on a regular basis it can and will enter the blood stream and could possibly cause issues. She also told me that using it in small areas such as the face, underarms, bikini ect… that it would be ok.

#3

Interesting - so what does one do if the EMLA cream is becoming tougher to get?

#4

Compounded numbing creams are stronger than EMLA and LMX and indeed there was one death that I know of that happened because the patient loaded her legs with a prescribed compounded cream, wrapped them in plastic wrap and drove to her laser appointment. The cream absorbed into her skin, into her circulatory system, thus, she had seizures and went into a coma, that resulted in death.

These higher concentrated compounded creams are more risky than EMLA or LMX, but your doctors are risk averse because they don’t want to live on that “gray area” where they can be sued.

#5

DFahey: So how does one get the EMLA cream then if doctors aren’t prescribing it?

#6

The topical numbing cream related death is always reported as being a woman who covered both legs, wrapped them in plastic and died. The things that are usually omitted from the reports are that she had the stuff on for 2 hours prior to her arrival to the practitioner’s office, and more importantly, she also covered and saran-wrapped her, um, how do we politely say this in the US these days… oh, let’s just say full midsection and legs, fully involving the reproductive organs. The problem was not only the amount of numbing cream used (how did she get that much at one time anyway?), and the duration of the exposure, but additionally the different rate of absorption from the mucus membrane tissue of the vaginal area and the more normal skin of the legs.

#7

I’m not scared to use it but I seem to be having difficulty finding a doctor who will prescribe it… My dermatologist didn’t want to.

#8

You only have 1 dermatologist in your state? You don’t even need a dermatologist to get EMLA prescription; an internist can also prescribe it. or every 1 dotor who refuses to give specific prescription there are 5 who are willing. If EMLA is so dofficult to obtain, just buy non prescription LMX 5% from Prestige Electrolysis. LMX is just as potent.

#9

Walk in your local CVS or Walgreeens pharmacy and ask for LMX 4% or 5%. They may not have it on the shelf, but can get it for you by the next day. Get instructions from them on proper use and make sure you understand how much can be applied.

#10

ok