Just wondering if anyone has tried using orajel as a topical anesthetic for laser treatment. Is this safe? Please explain why and/or why not. Just thought it might be cheaper than getting a prescription topical anesthetic.
I found it completely useless when I tried it early in my treatment. Not enouigh absorption. Better to get EMLA or the non-prescription ELA-Max.
There are many different local anesthetics.
One of the most popular is benzocaine, which is the active ingredient in Orajel.
However, benzocaine is slow to cross the skin to the nerve endings beneath. That is, it doesn’t penetrate well. It works okay in the mucous membranes of the mouth, but doesn’t work well on the skin.
The creams Andrea mentioned contain lidocaine, which is more effective at pentrating the skin. It also lasts longer.
Don’t get too excited about them being “prescription”, as I understand the only reason EMLA was prescription was because it didn’t have a child safe cap. You can get 5% lidocaine creams without a prescription.
- Eric