Numbing creams like EMLA and other techniques are commonly discussed options for minimizing pain during electrolysis. Over the counter “numbing cream” is effective for minimizing pain during electrolysis provided you use it correctly. The creams is quite pricy so it’s important to you use it properly to get the maximum benefit. You need a tube of EMLA, saran wrap, a tensor bandage and surgical tape.
Apply a base layer 2-4 hours before your treatment time. Once EMLA is applied, cover the area with plastic wrap. Wrap tensor bandage around the area so that the plastic wrap stays in place. EMLA is effective for about 20 minutes after you remove it. That’s why I recommend the strips of plastic. It’s much easier to expose a small area to work on, while still leaving the rest of the area intact.
How clients experience electrolysis pain and varying relief options
Many of my clients manage the pain of electrolysis without any pain relievers. Some clients can actually fall asleep during electrolysis treatments. Other clients admit it hurts but they get through it with just a little wincing. Every one else has to experiment with a variety of methods to relieve pain. The 2 most popular numbing creams for electrolysis pain relief are EMLA and ZENSA. Both are great from my point of view because they are very easy to remove with a tissue and neither Emla nor Zensa leaves a residue.
Clean skin to be treated. Cover area with plastic wrap or a Tegaderm patch. Apply a tensor bandage or some type of extra pressure to keep the dressing in place. Is Electrolysis Painful? Numbing shots for Electrolysis
Comparing topical numbing creams with injections
In addition to numbing cream for electrolysis, we are also able to offer numbing injections for electrolysis. With numbing shots, we are able to numb the skin even better for electrolysis. This is because the numbing shots both numb the deeper layers of the skin, and lasts for a longer period of time for most patients. The numbing deeper is especially effective, as numbing cream is not usually able to offer pain relief all the way down to the hair root like numbing shots can.
For numbing shots for electrolysis, we most commonly use articaine with epinephrine - similar to numbing injections at the dentist. We use articaine because it kicks in quickly, and lasts just long enough for electrolysis. Articaine takes 1-9 minutes to kick in, and lasts 2-4 hours for most people.
Finding the best numbing cream for electrolysis
Are you looking for the best numbing cream for electrolysis? While it can be hard to say what the best numbing cream or strongest numbing cream for electrolysis is, we do have many options. Most over the counter lidocaine creams for electrolysis are 4% or maybe 5%, and only contain lidocaine. Here at Lavender Spectrum Health, we are able to prescribe numbing cream with multiple numbing agents for a more comfortable electrolysis experience.
1) Benzocaine/lidocaine/tetracaine cream - commonly prescribed by providers for electrolysis, this custom cream can offer better and longer-lasting numbing than over the counter creams. We are able to prescribe this for our patients. 2) Benzocaine/lidocaine/tetracaine/bupivacaine cream - this custom cream has a fourth numbing agent, bupivacaine, that is known for being both strong and long-lasting. By adding this fourth compound to our cream, we can increase the time and effectiveness of prescription numbing cream even further.
Other options for relief and supportive care
Other options for relief We also offer oral medications for pain or anxiety on a case by case basis that work together with the numbing injections to give you the most comfortable experience! One option we like to use is propranolol, because it reduces the physical symptoms of anxiety but most people are still able to drive while taking this medication. Other options may include alprazolam (xanax), clonidine, and hydroxyzine.
At this time, we are only providing services on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but we may add hours or additional providers in the future!
Pricing and insurance considerations
Pricing Our current cash pay rate is $100 per session. We are currently able to bill Washington Medicaid/ Apple Health (Molina and Community Health Plan of Washington) and are in process of being able to bill other insurance companies for numbing injections for electrolysis.
Administrative requirements and letters of support
Requirements Prior to Scheduling a Letter of Support for Electrolysis WA Medicaid requires some documentation to approve covering hair removal. Surgery Prep For surgery prep/genital electrolysis, that would be a letter from a surgeon that is signed and dated, states approximately when someone is planning on having surgery, describes or shows a diagram of where the hair needs to be removed, and explains that hair removal is medically necessary prior to surgery. Once we have that letter, that's all we need for genital/surgery prep. Face and Torso (chest, stomach) Letters - 2 doctors letters one from your PCP has to be MD, PA, NP or Naturopath and the second one has to be from Lavender Spectrum Health - The Letter from your PCP has to say the following - For face and body hair, you'll want to ask the doctor that manages your HRT and a second doctor for a letter that states that you have gender dysphoria, that electrolysis hair removal is medically necessary to treat your dysphoria, lists how long you've been on hormones (at least a year), and that you have thick male-pattern face/body hair growth that cannot be adequately managed by other methods such as shaving (their words not ours, they really like that specific phrasing for whatever reason). The letter will need to be signed and dated, and then can be either uploaded here on the portal or faxed to us at 888-842-8152. One of the doctor letters must come from a doctors office or provider affiliated with us. For that letter, Lavender Spectrum Health is the clinic to go to. You’ll want to call them, ask to schedule an appointment for an electrolysis letter, and let them know that it needs to be a letter from a nurse practitioner. Their number is 360-727-1641.
Pictures - 6 total for face - 2 for body parts The before shaving pictures should be taken after letting the hair grow out for as long as it takes for the hair to be visible. This could mean 1 day, it could mean 2 or 3 days. Feel free to grow it out for the amount of time that is best for you. As long as the hair is mostly visible it will work just fine. For the face, they want a picture of the left side, right side and the front of the face, 3 pictures each before and after shaving, 6 total. The pictures should be far enough away that we can see your entire head and neck. For chest, stomach or back, one picture each before and after shaving should suffice. Pictures need to be far enough away that we can see the entire torso. You’ll then upload all those photos here on the portal.
- EMLA cream and plastic wrap technique for targeted numbness before electrolysis
- Comparison with ZENSA, removal convenience, and residue considerations
- Numbing injections as a deeper, longer-lasting alternative
- Prescription multi-agent numbing creams for enhanced relief
- Non-pharmacological and supportive care options
- Practical steps for scheduling, documentation, and patient education
Electrolysis Pain Relief BLT Cream vs EMLA Cream
tags: #emla #cream #electrolysis