Question about using EMLA

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hey everyone. I know it seems like most people say you put EMLA on for an hour usually wrapped in Saran wrap and then do the treatment. I had my second electrolysis session today on my stomach and found it incredibly painful. She said if I can handle the pain she can work really fast. It was fine but wasn’t pleasant.

I asked her if 30 minutes is enough to clear the patch of hair on my lower back and she said it is BUT that it’s a very sensitive area and that I’d really need numbing cream. She told me EMLA from her is $10 and I asked if I’m supposed to come an hour early etc. She said no that I buy it and put it on at home, that I RUB it in an hour before. I always thought you didn’t rub EMLA in but just caked it on thick on the surface. Is that a bad idea? Area is probably 5"x5". Thanks!

#2

Last time I reviewed the instructions for EMLA, it is to be applied 1/4" thick and occluded. You are not supposed to see the skin below, only the white cream. You can peruse the manufacturers instructions online. When I get another break, I’ll see what I can find. Maybe she meant to rub a little on the skin before you apply a thicker coat?

#3

I don’t think so, because she was like you put it on an hour before your appointment. And I asked her oh should I come before my appointment then and she was like no no you put it on at home it rubs in.

I guess for back it’s not too bad I can do as directed put it on thick and cover with saran and tape over it, then just be careful how I sit in my car and what not. Can just take it off when I get there. IT’s more if I did my upper lip or something it’s kind of hard to walk around downtown with saran wrap on my face lol.

#4

This site I found says rub it into your skin until it’s completely absorbed: http://www.livestrong.com/article/17771-use-emla/

#5

Okay. I found this information on drugs.com:

HOW TO APPLY EMLA

"How to use EMLA Cream:

Use EMLA Cream as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

An extra patient leaflet is available with EMLA Cream. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
[color:#FF0000][size:11pt]Wash and completely dry the area to be treated. Apply a thick layer of cream to the affected skin. Do not rub EMLA Cream int[/color]o the skin.[/size]
EMLA Cream should only be used on normal, unbroken skin. Do not apply to damaged skin."

This is cool, too: Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFAsWYIrTHg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

#6

Perfect thanks! I think I’ll just apply it like that an hour before and then put the saram wrap on it and tape it good and just take it off in the elevator or something when I get there.

#7

Okay.

It is actually in your best interest to go in with the plastic wrap on and have her peel back the plastic wrap as she works and advances. Don’t take it off in the elevator. Wishing you a painless experience!

#8

yikes, lower back.

be prepared.

You may want to try this. I think Barbara recommended it and I recommended it to my friends. Seems to work just as good as EMLA but only takes 10 mins to work and doesn’t need occluding. You can arrive 10 mins early, apply on the area she will start at. Then when she starts treatment, she can apply another strip on the area she will advance to, and so on.

http://www.pfbvanish.co.uk/products/56.htm

The problem with EMLA is when it is occluded, if the area gets squished, the EMLA will move away from where you have applied the pressure. So that area will no longer have the thick layer covering it. From experience, you need a THICK layer for at least an hour for decent numbing. Anywhere where the EMLA is a bit sparse and you will definitely feel the difference.

#9

For areas like this, the pfb product is GREAT! Drops can be applied as the electrologist is working. The only obstacle might be that the electrologist is prevented by law from applying it.

#10

Hi Barbara, really, thank you so much for suggesting it. My friend had a consultation and then another 15 min session a week later and really felt she could not handle more than that. She desperately wants to get her eyebrows cleared after growing them out for 2 months. She then used this and has scheduled 45 mins for her next appointment, so she’s very happy.

What is the law? I am wondering if it applies here too. Laser technicians apply EMLA before treatment here, I’m wondering if they have any special license that electrologist’s won’t have.

#11

She gave me a thing of EMLA for free at my last appointment and again told me to rub it in which is strange. I did my chest last week and the only place I really had any bit of hair was on my nipples. So I took some EMLA that I had and lightly rubbed in a very little amount on them like hardly any at all. Then I put a layer of it over them not super thick, like they didn’t turn white or anything but enough that there was some on the surface then covered it with a piece of saran wrap and tape about an hour before. Then when I got there I took them off, and when she treated the area I felt absolutely nothing at all like couldn’t even tell when she touched the skin. I think what I might try is rubbing in just a very tiny amount, and then with the rest just try to put it on as thick as possible over top and then cover it with the saran wrap and tape it and just see what happens. There’s not that much hair there it’s just in the middle, she said 30 minutes was plenty to remove it all so we’ll see!

#12

Well I did around my nipples with no numbing. Let’s just say that from what I know the lower back is whole other ball game.

I’ve never heard of rubbing it in though :confused:

#13

Okay so just went for the treatment. I used the EMLA she gave me. It was in a small little jar so either she made it herself from a larger batch or it’s something else. It seemed thinner than regular EMLA. I rubbed a bit in since she was adamant to rub it in. Then I put a thick layer on with saran wrap and covered it for an hour.

I found the odd insertion I felt almost nothing but most of the time it was pretty painful. So not sure if it’s just normally extremely painful and the EMLA reduced that a bit or if the stuff she gave me wasn’t that great. Either way wasn’t that pleasant but definitely not unbearable that I couldn’t handle it.

#14

I believe it is usually extremely painful. This is what Josefa told me.

#15

It’s a weird sensation. On stomach and what not you feel it for sure but lower back feels more like a red hot needle or something! Definitely was watching the clock that whole session counting down lol. After 30 mins I nearly died when she said there’s no one after me so she’ll just finish all the rest of the hair. Was good and nice of her to do it but I was just about at the end of my threshold lol.

#16

So, first time you applied EMLA to those areas, you did not feel pain, but this time when you applied her EMLA out of a jar and it didn’t work as much and you felt pain? I say it’s something with her EMLA. Never heard of EMLA being in a jar too.

#17

I’ve never used it on that area before. I bought EMLA maybe 2 years ago on eBay and it came in a tube and was official EMLA. I forget why I even bought it to be honest. So when I did my chest last week, I rubbed a little in on both nipples and then put a layer of it on them covered with saran wrap as I assumed they would hurt more. When I got to the appointment an hour later they were so numb I felt nothing.

It was just when she gave me her EMLA cream it came in a jar. Like it looked like she buys it in bulk and then repackages it herself into smaller jars. It just seemed like a different consistency maybe even watered down I don’t know. She said that she treats doctors and they always prefer using her EMLA cream because it’s stronger. Maybe she just calls the numbing cream she uses EMLA even though it isn’t. Like I said though it could be the area as I rubbed a bit in on my back then put a layer with saran wrap but it’s my lower back so sitting in the car driving downtown it might have moved around and what not. I’ll test it on my nipples maybe to see how it compares.

#18

Can this be used around the bikini area??