Best Numbing Cream For Electrolysis Pain Relief

Many of my clients manage the pain of electrolysis without any pain relievers. Some find the sensation hypnotic and can actually fall asleep, while others admit it hurts but they can 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 are EMLA and Maxilene.

Emla vs Maxilene: Which Is Best For Electrolysis Pain Relief

Emla vs Maxilene – numbing cream for pain relief during electrolysis

Maxilene is more difficult to find than Emla. Most drug stores don’t stock it all the time so you may have to special order it. The benefit of Maxilene is that you do not have to cover it after you apply it. Maxilene is designed to numb the skin without an airtight seal. I have never used Maxilene myself so I don’t know whether the numbing sensation is stronger than Emla but I know that my clients appreciate not having to walk around with saran wrap on their face. I’ve never had anybody use Maxilene on the body but many people use it to numb the upper lip. The drawback of Maxilene is that it sticks to the skin so it interferes with the treatment ever so slightly. The cream does not wipe away from the skin easily and I have to use my tweezers to pick it off the skin sometimes.

Emla vs Maxilene- numbing cream for pain relief during electrolysis.

I have a lot of personal experience with Emla and I found that once I figured out how to use it I was able to get to a point where I didn’t feel a thing. (reapply a thick layer once an hour starting 2-3 hours before treatment time, wrap in plastic, cover it with a tensor bandage and don’t move!). Emla is great from my point of view because it is very easy to remove with a tissue and it doesn’t interfere with the treatment. The drawback from the client’s point of view is the effort it takes to get numb. And the potential embarrassment of being seen in public with plastic on your face because Emla needs to be covered to be effective. Mind you one of my clients used the tegaderm patches and it was barely noticeable unless you were right up in her face. Emla is also widely available. It is stocked by every Shoppers or Rexall that I’ve visited.

Maxilene, on the other hand, is more difficult to source. It is not available at every pharmacy the way Emla is but it can be ordered if you ask. Maxilene is best to use in small areas – under the nose, the eyebrows or sides of face. It just doesn’t lend itself to a large area because it isn’t as strong as the emla, not to mention it’s too difficult to remove to treat the area. When you use Maxilene you will have some crumbly product left on you face after the treatment most of the time.

Both Emla and Maxilene are similar in price – around $60 CAD for a 30g tube.

Further reading about electrolysis pain relief:

Emla: Application For Electrolysis or Laser Treatments

Is Electrolysis Painful? – Pain Management For Electrolysis Treatments