Question about using EMLA on the face?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hey everyone,

From my other posts it was suggested to use numbing cream on my face for beard removal. I was checking prices and it seems to be pretty expensive considering how much of it you have to use. The directions show to cover the entire area then wrap it to seal it and leave it for an hour. To cover the face it looks like you would need tons of it, no? The other thing is how long does it last, like can I apply it at home and cover it then drive to my appointment and wipe it off in the car then go? I wouldn’t want to have to put it on there and wait an hour since I don’t have that much time to kill. Are there any other options?

#2

If you don’t mind driving over with plastic wrap covering your treatment area, you may apply prior to leaving and drive over with the treatment area marinating in numbing cream. (Hope you don’t get stopped at a police check point.) You will want to wait until you are having the treatment to remove the plastic wrap, as once the wrap is no longer retarding the evaporation and excreation process, the effectiveness will start to wear off. At that point, you will have anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours of effectiveness, depending on a number of factors.

Of course, if you are doing a beard, I hope you are already searching for an electrolysis provider, as you will need one sooner than one may think.

#3

Hey thanks for the reply. No I’m not searching yet :stuck_out_tongue: I’m not looking for 100% removal, just to get rid of as much hair as I can. I have natural patches in places so patchiness isn’t a concern of mine. Depending how the laser works though I may end up doing electrolysis depending on how much hair is left.

I don’t mind wearing the plastic wrap while driving, it’s only 15 minutes or so away, I’d start it at home awhile before. Thing is I did one beard treatment already without numbing cream, it wasn’t excruciating but if I can numb it to go to a higher setting I’d prefer to. So even if I do the cream and wipe it off in the car, even if it’s half as effective as normal then it’s still helpful! 45 minutes to 2 hours is completely fine, since once I park and go in, it’s literally 15 minutes until, so I think it should be okay…

#4

I highly recommend that you ask a pharmacist how much EMLA is safe to use. EMLA was originally designed to only used on a small area of skin.

#5

Okay cool, what I was thinking is maybe even just putting it on my jaw line where the bone is, and on immediate chin or possibly upper lip since that’s the most painful areas.

#6

Has anyone heard of Xylocaine gel? I found one on ebay that’s a spray which seems more cost effective as it goes longer, just doesn’t seem to last as long…

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Xylocaine-Spray-Lidnocaine-50ml-Piercing_W0QQitemZ320265481246QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Health_Beauty_Tattoos_BodyArt_SM?hash=item4a914f6c1e

#7

It might not be a bad idea to ask the clinic if they can offer some sort of topical anesthetic, if you haven’t already. The place I went to for laser (a plastic surgeon’s office) used a special numbing cream compounded for them (lidocaine and a couple other *caines) on me prior to treatment. If not, you can always go the emla route. Though you should ask your doctor about how much is safe to use (disclaimer), you should be fine using it just on your jawline and upper lip.

When used for electrolysis, you can apply the cream over just one area, like the upper lip or chin, and cover it. Then, as the work is being done on that area, have another area creamed up and covered for the next round of work etc.

#8

Thanks I’ll look into that, the clinic I want to go to only does laser and waxing so probably harder to get it there than an actual plastic surgeon’s office, I’ll check though. Again it’s not crazy painful but anything to help numb it a bit or let me go up a setting would be nice.

#9

BLT (does not stand for bacon, lettuce and tomato), but rather, a compounded trio of a topical anesthetic

benzocaine 20% B
lidocaine 6% L
tetracaine 4% T

Needs to be used sparenly and starts to work in 30 minutes. Should be used under the supervision of a doctor. It works very well, but can be toxic.

EMLA needs time to penetrate the skin barrier to get deep into the hair follicle where the network of nerves are located. Takes 1-2 hours to work, but doesn’t work well enough for some people.

#10

Hi:

I’ve used Emla on my face before and found it was
the most effective for me. Unfortunately it is rather
expensive, but that’s better than feeling pain in my books.

I tried buying supposedly stronger compounded anaesthetic
creams but found them less effective. Truthfully they were
not worth what I paid for them at all.

I have worn the emla and plastic wrap in the car and that
is OK if you don’t mind scaring young children or looking
like a cross between Hannibal Lechter and Freddie Kruger.

There are supposedly some numbing creams out there that don’t
require plastic wrap but you may want to ask a pharmacist
whats available.

It is cheaper to buy emla in 30gm tubes than the five gm
ones and cheaper if you can get your doctor to write you
a prescription. Drug plans won’t cover it, but you will
save on the takes.

Alicia

#11

Great thanks for your help I’ll look into that! My laser place doesn’t offer it but they told me what to look for and how to order it and so on. Again I really just want it for parts of my face but we’ll see how it goes, thanks!