How many times have you heard "No pain, no gain"? When it comes to laser hair removal that's almost everyone's mantra. But it doesn't have to be painful thanks to a variety of techniques and numbing creams on the market. So, we took the time to do the research and let you know which methods and tips are most effective!
NUMBING CREAMS | Be careful how you use the creams - some might cause damage and irritation to your skin. Topical numbing creams (ie. Emla, Lidocaine, NumbFast, Dr. Numb) may be applied to the area prior to doing laser as they will not change the effectiveness of the treatment. Make sure to time the application appropriately as you don’t want it to wear off by the time the lasering starts and some may also take a while to kick in. Many numbing creams recommend applying 20 or 30 minutes prior but all creams are different. Be sure to read and follow the directions accordingly. This is by far the most popular method of preventing any laser hair removal pain. Below are some popular creams that are being used: EMLA is a very strong prescription-only numbing cream, has been successful for laser hair removal in sensitive individuals. We highly recommend this brand. |
Ice Packs | A alternative technique that is safe and inexpensive is to simply use ice packs. Bring them with you to your session and apply them to the area right before you are lasered. Ice packs work in two ways. First, the cool temperature directly numbs your skin. Second, the lowered temperature of your skin makes it less sensitive to the heat generated by the laser, which is one aspect of what causes pain. |
Local | Some people experimented with having local anesthetics administered right before treatment. This will eliminate all pain, however, it is expensive and requires a willing doctor and careful timing. It also results in the risk that you will be over-treated. This is because laser technicians often rely on feedback from you to gauge the strength setting of their equipment. If your technician is not familiar with your treatment plan, you run the risk of getting treated at too high a setting and not being able to indicate so because you are unaware of the damage being done to your skin. |
PACE | Ask the technician to experiment with pace. Technicians all have their own technique when it comes to using the laser. Some perform in quick bursts, while others use a slow, continuous pace. One technique may feel better on your skin than the next. Determining what pace feels the best for you can help reduce laser hair removal pain. If the laser hair removal pain becomes intolerable, you can easily ask the technician to stop. They can give you some time to recuperate before you are ready to proceed with the rest of the procedure. |
HORMONES | For the ladies, try not to schedule your session when you’re premenstrual or menstruating as your hormones may greatly increase your sensitivity to pain. |
AVOID | Avoid coffee and anything else that contains caffeine the day of your treatment. Caffeine has been said to increase sensitivity. |
SHAVE | The length of the hair makes a difference. The longer the hair, the more painful it is going to be. Technicians will advise you to shave the area a day or two prior to your appointment. To avoid more pain, try to have the hair as short as possible, but still visible. |
Keep in mind that the ‘snapping hot elastic band’ sensation only lasts for a millisecond while the laser is making contact with the skin and is produced at regular intervals. The duration of the treatment depends on the size of the area which can range from a matter of seconds up to 30 minutes. After the treatment, you may experience some general soreness over the entire area that won’t last long. Try several of the above methods if you can to prevent any pain. The more comfortable you are, the more you will enjoy your laser hair removal experience.