Laser hair removal is one of the most efficient methods in use today for getting rid of unwanted body hair. It’s relatively painless and in most cases, women are able to achieve near-permanent hair removal just by using their laser device a few times each month. DIY at home laser hair removal has exploded in popularity over the past year, for good reason! With many professional salons closed, consumers weighed whether or not laser hair removal is better than IPL, and ultimately chose to start using IPL devices for at-home hair removal.
With so many new laser hair removal products and brands on the market today, as well as a plethora of advice related to the practice, it’s understandable that there’s some confusion surrounding this and other hair removal methods.
One of the most prevalent questions related to laser hair removal is whether or not you should be using numbing cream for each laser treatment. There are a few things to know regarding this and other things when it comes to laser hair removal. Keep reading to find out more about the importance of numbing cream and what benefits it could provide for those of us who use laser hair removal devices.
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Understanding The Need for Numbing Cream In Laser Hair Removal
There are a number of different methods that have been used throughout the years for getting rid of unwanted body hair. In most cases, people have simply shaved it off going back many decades, but there are new and incredibly effective methods being developed by scientists and engineers that have an interest in the subject.
One of the most important developments in recent years is laser hair removal devices that allow people to use them at home to achieve permanent results when it comes to hair removal. Up until a few years ago, these devices were only used by trained professionals and licensed dermatologists for hair removal.
Now, these powerful and effective devices come in small, easy-to-use versions that people can easily use on themselves from the comfort of their own homes. It’s a welcome development from those who have typically gone to a spa and paid quite a bit of money for each session to get their laser hair removal treatments. With the conveniences of at-home IPL devices comes the need for instruction on how to do it effectively.
Numbing cream can be a valuable tool for those looking to invest in at-home laser hair removal.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
The laser hair removal devices work by utilizing a laser beam that’s shaped like thin line, which is applied by running the device across the area of the body where you want to get rid of unwanted body hair. The intense light from the laser effectively singes the hair follicle deep beneath the surface layer of skin, causing it to harden and either stop growing or have its ability to grow slowed considerably.
These hair removal procedures are highly effective and they usually require individuals to apply the laser for a few sessions each week for the first month or two of use. Then, after the hair follicle’s root has been burned down and the hair itself has either fallen out or been broken off, the user only needs to apply the laser a few times each month to maintain the silky-smooth skin they have thanks to the treatment.
The actual effects that one might get from a laser hair removal device will obviously vary from person to person, but overall, it’s been proven to be capable of stopping or severely limiting hair growth in areas where it’s used.
Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?
If you ask those who have experienced using laser hair removal products, you’re likely to get a wide variety of answers. For some people, they might feel pain during their first few uses simply because they’re not used to the slight sting or mild burning sensation that you’ll feel once you’re using the laser.
Most people who prefer using laser hair removal report that the sensation they feel is only slight discomfort which they described as feeling more like a mild sunburn. This feeling typically goes away within about 30 minutes to one hour in most cases but can linger around for a few hours for those who have sensitive or pale skin.
The whole process is not as painful as some might expect and the benefits far outweigh the risk of pain or discomfort that’s involved.
Alternatives to Numbing Cream for Laser Hair Removal
There are a few different ways that have become known as being effective at providing relief from the slight pain or stinging sensation that occurs when you’re undergoing a laser hair removal treatment.
These measures range from using ice packs to numb the skin and area you’re preparing to use the laser device on to applying topical creams that contain various medications which are commonly used by medical professionals to provide a numbing sensation for their patients.
One of the most interesting and effective ways to lessen the discomfort you feel from laser devices involves the use of another piece of technology that operates by providing a cooling sensation on the skin.
Similar: Laser and IPL FAQ’s
Dynamic Cooling Devices
Dynamic Cooling Devices (DCD) are commonly used at spas and professional dermatology clinics that provide laser hair removal services. These devices operate by spraying a small burst of cryogenic liquid on the area that immediately cools the skin down much faster than you would by using an ice pack or other means.
DCDs can be used to help cool the skin before and after treatment with a laser hair removal device. Experts recommend that users who employ this method apply the DCD before and after each individual laser pulse. It’s very important to use DCD for cooling and lessening the pain of laser treatments that focus on the bikini area.
One benefit of using the DCD coolant is that it allows technicians to use a more powerful laser on their patient’s skin, which works much more effectively than other at-home laser hair removal treatments.
Cold Compression and Ice Packets
Most at-home users of laser hair removal devices will use a homemade ice packet or even a store-bought ice pack to help numb the skin area they are about to treat with their laser device. This is also very effective and helps to lessen the amount of stinging or burning sensation you might feel from the laser device’s beam.
To use this method, you simply want to place the ice packet on the skin area you’re getting ready to treat and allow it to sit for a few minutes until the skin is fairly numb and cold. In most cases, it’s recommended that you keep the ice packed on for about 5 minutes or as long as you’re able to stand the cold packet against your skin.
You can also apply the ice packet once again after each run with the laser device. Doing this will help to greatly reduce the amount of burning sensation that might otherwise linger around for a few hours in some cases for people who have very sensitive skin.
Cold compression is an effective part of using ice packets to cool your skin and prepare it for being subjected to the laser beam. Through compression and the ice-cold packet, you can effectively numb your skin enough so that the normal level of pain and discomfort you might expect from the laser hair removal device will be greatly reduced.
Related: Best Cheap IPLs and Laser For Hair Removal
Using Numbing Cream To Reduce Pain During Laser Treatment
Last, but certainly not least on our list of ways to help reduce pain and discomfort that typically are associated with laser hair removal devices is the application of numbing cream beforehand. These creams are highly effective and are considered standard in dermatology practices and spas that utilize lasers to remove body hair.
For most people who visited a spa or dermatologist to have laser hair removal procedures done, they have probably experienced the use of certain numbing creams before the laser was applied. These creams are quite effective and vary in their overall makeup and how they work with the laser hair removal device themselves.
Numbing cream is a great way to help reduce feeling in your skin and alleviate the usual pain and discomfort you might have come to expect with the typical laser treatment to get rid of hair on your bikini area, legs, underarm, and other areas of the body.
Since laser devices have started being produced in small and compact, at-home versions, certain beauty companies and brands within the beauty industry have begun releasing different types of numbing cream that are typically a great addition for most users.
Different Types of Numbing Creams
These numbing creams are simply a topical anesthetic that are usually made of everything from natural and organic elements to pharmaceutical materials that you might only be able to purchase from certain sources.
In some cases, people have been known to use certain numbing creams and topical anesthetics that can be purchased over-the-counter at any pharmacy or drug store. Thankfully, the FDA has relaxed certain restrictions on some of these types of topical anesthetic creams and numbing concoctions so that the average customer can purchase them for at-home use along with their laser hair removal device.
There are a few major brands that produce topical anesthetic cream or numbing creams which are known to work very well for most people. One such product is Dr.Numb Maximum Topical Anesthetic Cream. This product is very highly-recommended for those who have sensitive skin and usually have to rely on more drastic measures for pain relief after using their laser hair removal treatment.
The Dr Numb is one that’s widely-recognized and easily purchased at most stores or online and is known to be fast-acting and a great asset when it comes to pain relief from laser burns.
Another sought-after product among those who regularly use laser hair removal methods is known as BLT creams, which is also known as a triple anesthetic cream. The triple anesthetic cream is made up of three main ingredients that are each considered to be some of the best numbing products and fast-acting numbing elements available to us.
What is Lidocaine?
Lidocaine creamtopical anesthetic
This powerful non-prescription topical anesthetic has been used in everything from dental surgery and ointments to procedures involving tattoo removal and other applications. Doctors and dermatologists are known to use lidocaine as an effective means to numb just about any part of the human body.
Doctors know that lidocaine numbing creams work by blocking the path of pain signals our bodies send to the brain, alerting us that we are experiencing pain through certain nerve endings. It’s very easy to apply and is capable of allowing you to have a relatively pain-free laser treatment in most cases.
There are many different brands and products that are basically topical numbing cream versions that work using lidocaine to slow or stop our pain signals from reaching our pain receptors. Be sure to purchase one that’s a non-greasy version so that you won’t have to work too hard to clean your laser device after use.
To find the particular product that provides you with the best numbing sensation for your own skin, be sure to experiment with quality brands and products to get the right one that’s the most effective and best numbing cream for your personal needs.
Ebanel 5% Lidocaine Topical Numbing Cream
Lidocaine is one of the top ways to reduce pain after laser hair removal, whether it's done by a professional or at home yourself. Liposmal Numb 520 is our #1 best selling Laser Hair Removal Numbing Cream.
Check Price at Amazon
We may earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
How to Choose the Right Numbing Cream
As we’ve noted already, Dr Numb is a great product that’s one of the more highly-reviewed numbing creams out there today. There are numerous other brands and numbing creams that might work better for you, so be sure to thoroughly read each product description and also check out the product reviews as well.
Aside from Dr Numb, there are plenty of other brands out there you can try. Be sure to purchase a numbing cream that’s fast-acting and that offers effective pain relief through lidocaine and other effective elements and ingredients.
It’s highly important that you choose a fast-acting cream since you’ll need the effects to begin working to numb your skin as quickly as possible so you can continue the laser treatment. Also, make sure that the product description denotes that it’s a non-greasy topical numbing cream so you won’t have to worry about getting any type of cream on your skin or device that might be hard to remove or clean.
Conclusion
There are other numbing agents out there, but none are as effective as lidocaine. Be sure that your fast-acting, non-greasy cream contains lidocaine and that it’s proven to ensure that your skin will be pain free so that you can finish the procedure as quickly and as painlessly as possible.
It’s important that your cream is capable of giving you quick relief that’s lasting and will eliminate any discomfort related to the laser treatment. By using the right combination of numbing creams with your laser hair removal device, you can eliminate your unwanted body hair with very little or even no pain and discomfort throughout the entire process and end up with the smooth skin you’ve always wanted.
Cath Mae Paisley
I’m originally from the Philippines but currently living in Japan, a new mom to a beautiful baby girl. I have a Fitzpatrick Skin Type IV. I am currently treating my underarms with Remington iLight Ultra, a home IPL hair removal device. I got tired of waxing my whole life.
