Pain Management

Topic 1: Numbing Creams (Topical Anesthetics) for Electrolysis Hair Removal Treatments

(Please avoid using both numbing cream & oral pain killer when having laser/diode/IPL, u may not be able to detect/feel when u r being overtreated.)

Please avoid using the numbing cream unless you really need it. Risks can be fatal, so please follow instructions carefully.

*** For clients who require to use anaesthetics, must do test patching by applying recommended amount of anaesthetic over small intact skin area if it's their 1st time to test whether they experience any of the side effects or adverse reactions ***

 

Where to buy?

By law, anyone who isn't Medical Practitioner is not allowed to sell & apply the numbing cream on their customers. All clients must buy & apply it themselves at their own risk.

The common ingredients found in topical anaesthetic include Lidocaine (Lignocaine), Tetracaine (Amethocaine), Prilocaine, Benzocaine, Epinepherine (Adrenaline) and few others.

S2 & S3. Single compound on their own, or in combination, in concentrations up to 10% are over-the-counter (OTC)  and behind the counter just asking pharmacist. They can be purchased directly from many pharmacies or compounding chemists without prescription. Please contact a compounding pharmacy to make a formula for you.

* Please note prices, compositions, and qualities vary among different compounding chemists. Some r more effective & work better in numbing than others.

Examples where to buy them:

-- Emla cream 5% (containing lignocaine 2.5% & prilocaine 2.5%) around AUD 40 for 30g is available at Chemist Warehouse & etc. It may NOT work effectively for many individuals for the purpose of electrolysis hair removal treatment.

-- Made-to-order (10% or higher active ingredients) is available from many compounding pharmacies such as Elixir in Ferntree Gully VIC whose prices are 10g for $28, 30g for $45 and 60g for $70 plus Postage or FREE pick up

OR other compounding chemists, such as Amcol and etc., near you

S4. A single compound on their own or combinations of topical anaesthetics in concentrations greater than 10% require the supply of a medical prescription before you can order it from any pharmacies. Sometime, topical numbing are cheaper if you can obtain free prescription from your bulk bill doctor and then buy it from compounding pharmacy. For example, BLT cream containing:

Benzocaine 20%, Lidocaine 4%, & Tetracaine 1%    OR

Benzocaine 20%, Lidocaine 7%, and Tetracaine 3%

What are differences among different active ingredients?

For examples,

- - Comparison of speed when their effectiveness start to kick in: prilocaine is the quickest acting followed by lignocaine then tetracaine.

- - Comparison how long the effectiveness last: lidocaine & prilocaine may last up to 2 hrs. Tetracaine may last up to 3 hrs.

- - Benzocaine & prilocaine associates with the risk possibility of methemoglobinemia

 

Which formula is for you? That depends on how long you want to spend for each electrolysis session. For short session maybe get 10% lignocaine without tetracaine. Or an ointment formula of 5% lignocaine + 5% tetracaine (= 10% active ingredients in total) for a session of 3 hrs or longer.

 

They are available in many forms: spray, cream & ointment. But get non-ionised, mild alkaline (sodium bicarb added) & fat-soluble ointment for better absorption through skin.

 

Storage: Store in air-tight, cool (2-20° C) & dry place such as in fridge, away from the light and not in the car.

Oxygen/Air deteriorates the numbing active compounds.

 

How to use? & What must be strictly avoided?

-- Do not apply numbing cream on injured/irritated (rash) skin.

-- Stay way away from & around the eyes. Do not apply numbing cream around this area.

-- Very small & young children, individuals with heart diseases, liver diseases, kidney diseases & individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding or unable to metabolise anesthetics should avoid using numbing cream.

 

“The FDA strongly advises consumers NOT to:

• Make heavy application of topical anesthetic products over large areas of skin;

• Use formulations that are stronger or more concentrated than necessary;

• Apply these products to irritated or broken skin;

• Apply heat, such as from a heating pad to skin treated with these products.

• When skin temperature increases, the amount of anesthetic reaching the blood stream is unpredictable and the risk of life-threatening side effects increases with greater amounts of active ingredients in the blood ...

• Do not apply the topical anesthetic to broken or irritated skin; ...”

 

How to apply/use a topical numbing cream for the purpose of electrolysis hair removal?

-- Patch test of less than 2cm in diameter at least 4 hours before use. If u have experienced any reactions to the product, u must not use it.

-- After patch test with no any reactions, apply very thick layer of numbing cream on intact DRY, CLEAN & bare skin no bigger than 80 square cm (or no bigger than area of your palm in total). Rub/massage it in for few minutes. (Optionally, apply a 2nd heavy layer of cream over the area.) Wait for around 4-6 minutes till cream absorbed into the skin, then wrap with glad wrap (air tight) for at least around 30-45 minutes before starting the session.

If leave cream and wrap it in place for around 1 hour before the procedure of electrology, the cream may produce anesthesia to a depth of around 3 mm.

If leave cream and wrap it in place for around 2 hrs before the procedure, the cream may produce anesthesia to a maximum depth of 5 mm.

 

 

 

 

What is our business safety plan in place?

We don't recommend our clients to use anaesthetics unless they really need to because of life-threatening risks.

All clients who require to use anaesthetics, must do test patching by applying recommended amount of anaesthetic over small test patch intact skin area if it's their 1st time to test whether they experience any of the side effects list.

Every single time therapist must keep asking every client who is on the drug if they experience any of the side effects (list given verbally) during the treatment.

In case that clients experience adverse effects, the therapist must either send them to the nearest hospital emergency or call "000" for emergency services.

https://www.easternhealth.org.au/services/item/610-emergency-department?fbclid=IwAR3-7e8gy_EfCJhZ3XZdvCV0raUmmYWNLHtI-qajQWGV25jRBwBLyiEdZiY

 

For additional/more info, please see comments under the following post (Click here) Some comments mentioned fatal cases from overdoses, anaphylaxis, toxicity (doesn't matter of what quantity applied) & etc.

 

 

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Topic 2: prescribed, short-acting anesthesia inhaler

 

Must Watch (Click to watch)

One of its risks: methoxyflurane, a volatile anesthetic agent, is associated with serious, irreversible, and even fatal nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in humans.

 

Must Read (Click to read)

Device Preparation (Click to watch)

How To Use (Click to watch)

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Topic 3: Oral Relaxants

 

Instead of diazepam, have a look at this kava (Click here to watch)

 

Important info & its risks: click here to read!

Example of where to buy:

Link:

-- First Aid

-- Go back to starting page, click here.