Electrolysis Pain Managment?

[Guest phxbrising]

Hi Ladies!

My mate has gotten into the process of removing her beard. We've been going to the electrolysis for six weeks now and any time the electrolysist gets anywhere near her upper lip or jaw line the pain gets to be a bit too much. So we were looking around for topical numbing agents and I've found many but...I've never ordered from any of these sites before and I'm always hesitant to just throw my money out there. Ya know? So has anyone used anything to help with the pain of hair removal? Thanks in advance!!

[Guest AshleyRF]

Emla cream is pretty good, but you probably need a script for it. I used that and downed a loricet about an hour prior to for mine. I slept through a lot of it.

[Guest Donna Jean]

Honey.....

I do electrolysis....I've got 35 hours done so far....

I take some ibuprofen before my appointment...

A topical is used on my upper lip and it is 5% Lidocaine...that is prescription strength...

And it STILL hurts like helll!

Last week my electrologist said that some dentists will give Novocaine injections before an electrolysis session...

You could call around and see if you could find one that will accomadate...

Good luck, Honey....

Donna Jean

[Guest Nelly]

Hi,

does ibuprofen realy helped you? I was allways thinking that this help you to remove existing pain and not to hide new incoming pain. I was allways wondering that it istill hurt if you hit your thumb with a hammer while on ibuprofen. I think electrolysis is the same.

I am not a big fan of using pain killers often. You can addicted to them. I would try something different, maybe meditation or so.

The last time I went to a hole body waxing session the master of pain (ups sorry master of wax ;-)) was wondering about my pain level. The funny thing was, that I was completly relaxed. Maybe this would be a solution. Don't be afraid about the pain it will went away after it.

Grettings

Nelly

[Guest Donna Jean]

Hi,

does ibuprofen really helped you? I was always thinking that this help you to remove existing pain and not to hide new incoming pain. I was always wondering that it istill hurt if you hit your thumb with a hammer while on ibuprofen. I think electrolysis is the same.

Grettings

Nelly

Nelly, Honey....

I'm not really sure if it works that way or not as I have always taken it before I go....

I know that it helps existing pain because I use it for that....

But, in any case, electrolysis can be painful...there are so many nerve endings on one's face that one poke can sting like heck and the next one right next to it ...you'll feel nothing!

Many times I just grit my teeth and take my mind somewhere else!

HUGGS!

Donna Jean

[Guest viv]

Hi Ladies!

My mate has gotten into the process of removing her beard. We've been going to the electrolysis for six weeks now and any time the electrolysist gets anywhere near her upper lip or jaw line the pain gets to be a bit too much. So we were looking around for topical numbing agents and I've found many but...I've never ordered from any of these sites before and I'm always hesitant to just throw my money out there. Ya know? So has anyone used anything to help with the pain of hair removal? Thanks in advance!!

Hi Phxbrising,

Ive also heard of getting upper lip numbed . Upper lip and jawline are really a pain. I thought things were bad with laser. I start electrolysis

in Jan,. so if you hear of ANYTHING , please post. Best of luck, viv.

[Guest krisspykriss]

You can purchase over the counter ointments with benzocaine. It is one of the most widely used topical anesthetics.

For laser treatment, I just take an aspirin. It dilates the blood vessels which increases the cooling of the skin which helps keep the skin from burning. It also helps me tan rather than burn.

[Shannonline]

I spoke to someone about dentist injections recently as I was thinking the same thing and they told me how the face has clusters of nerve endings so if you get an injection anywhere on your face it will only numb that small area. I don't know how true it is but that and the cost is enough to consider other opinions.

This shows the difference between the two most common creams used by the TG community, EMLA like Ashley mentioned and ELA-max 5:-

Below are two letters I received, showing that the same product can be considered ideal by one consumer and worthless by another:

Letter #1

I appreciate your site. However, the information on Ela Max 5 in your topical anti pain section is misleading. After using EMLA for almost a year, I tried Ela Max 5 in my last electrolysis session based soley on the information you provided on your site, rating Ela Max as (or almost as) effective as EMLA. Not only did Ela Max 5 not work nearly as effectively as EMLA, but it DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. This cost me pain, and over $100 for the product and an electrolysis session which I had to cut short by 45 minutes because the pain was unbearable. My electrolygist informed me that of all the clients she's had, only one found Ela Max 5 helped at all. Everyone else who used it found it of not help whatsoever. While I think your intentions are good, you are doing a disservice by providing such misinformation which causes people pain and expense.

Letter #2

The ELA-Max 5 worked great! It was just as effective as EMLA and it had several advantages. First, ELA-Max 5 does not need a plastic covering like EMLA does. And secondly, you only have to put the ELA-Max 5 on about 30 minutes before treatment. I began to feel its numbing effects in about 15 minutes with the full benefit in about 30 minutes. When I used EMLA, I had to put it on at least 1 hour before treatment to get the full benefit. Another secondary benefit of the ELA-Max 5 is its effects seemed to last longer on me. So there was no worry about losing protection before a session was over. One caution though, make sure you put the ELA-Max5 on thick. If you are too stingy, it will not work as well.

Source: hairfacts.com/tips/pain/

I get the feeling one small factor it not considered and that it the amount of power each operator and client use, I've heard ranges from 200ma to 900ma.. could be something to discuss deeper...?

The quote suggests that everyone reacts differently and could be an idea to try a few different products to find the one that is best for your situation, I plan on trying the ELA-max 5 first as it seems to be the least fussy. If you follow some of the links on that site it shows the difference of the ingredients of each!! Quite a good website actually

I still haven't decided on a pain killer though, I've never taken one that actually works yet...lol!

Oh yeah this is all from reading not from experience, I plan to start electroysis soon as well, very soon ....eek!

Sha~

[Guest Jean Davis]

Hey honey

You could also try "Liquid Orajel Severe Pain Formula" it has 20% Benzocaine.

I got some on my outer lip and it was num for about a half an hour.

You can find it in with the tooth Paste in most stores, I got mine at Target.

Hope this helps.

LUV

Jean