When getting laser hair removal, someone with low pain tolerance will feel much more pain than those with a high pain tolerance. In that case, how will those with sensitive skin, new to laser treatments, women on their periods, or pregnant ladies get laser treatment while keeping pain manageable? One answer is numbing the skin.
In this article, we have explained how to numb skin for laser hair removal through various methods like numbing cream and home remedies. We’ve also discussed how IPL treatments prove to be far better in terms of pain and ease of use.
Table of Contents:- Part 1: Why Should You Numb Your Skin Before Laser Hair Treatment?
- Part 2: How to Numb Skin With Numbing Cream for Laser Hair Removal?
- Part 3: How to Apply Numbing Cream for Laser Hair Removal?
- Part 4: How Can I Numb My Skin With Other Techniques?
- Part 5: Nearly nearly painless Hair Removal Alternative To Laser Treatment- Ulike IPL
Part 1: Why Should You Numb Your Skin Before Laser Hair Treatment?
Numbing our skin before a laser treatment will help us keep the pain within our tolerable limits. The treatment will trigger pain but since your skin will be numb for some time, you’ll feel very less pain because the nerves that carry the pain signals will be numb and won’t be able to carry the signals to the brain as usual.
Pros of Numbing Your Skin for Laser Hair Treatment
1. It Makes the Treatment Less Painful
The direct benefit you’ll get from numbing your skin is that the treatment will be less painful for you, provided that you time numbing correctly with respect to your upcoming treatment. If you apply the numbing cream properly, you should not feel even a pinch on your skin during the treatment.
2. It Eliminates the Discomfort After the Treatment
A lot of people feel uncomfortable after the treatment, which indicates that the laser rays are working underneath your skin. But if you have numbed your skin before the treatment, you’re very less likely to feel that discomfort.
3. Pregnant Ladies and People With Sensitive Skin Can Take the Treatment
Pregnant ladies, menstruating women, and people with sensitive skin are highly likely to feel more discomfort and pain during and after the treatment. But they can still take the laser treatment by numbing their skin properly.
Part 2: How to Numb Skin With Numbing Cream for Laser Hair Removal?
If you want to numb your skin to make it ready for laser treatment, one way is to use a numbing cream. These creams come in cream or gel form and are clear. As a result, it won’t interrupt the laser treatment process, letting lasers penetrate the skin without any hurdles. They give lovely results for a short time and can keep you away from the laser treatment pain and any discomfort afterwards.
Can You Use Numbing Cream for Laser Hair Removal?
Yes of course, the numbing cream is perfectly compatible with laser hair removal. There are literally no cons and side effects of numbing cream alongside a laser hair removal treatment. But if you’re still not sure if you should use a numbing cream, you can confirm with your salon.
How to Select a Laser Hair Removal Numbing Cream?
Numbing creams for laser treatments should be clear and viscous so that it doesn't interrupt the lasers and the cream or gel should have clearly mentioned on the package that it’s compatible for laser or IPL treatments. Furthermore, you should check for the brand, material (vegan or not), and compatible body parts as per your choice.
What Are Some Popular Numbing Creams?
1. Emla Cream
Emla is a brand name for an anaesthetic cream for laser treatments, needling, and other cosmetic treatments where they need to prickle the skin. Emla creams contain 2.5% Lidocaine and 2.5% Prilocaine that numbs the skin for a short time. Anyone with an age 3 months or above can use this cream.
2. Lidocaine Cream
Lidocaine creams are anaesthetic creams that can numb the skin tissues for some time and treat the pain that causes due to laser and other treatments that include prickling the skin. It contains lidocaine HCl 3% that is responsible for numbing the skin tissues.
Part 3: How to Apply Numbing Cream for Laser Hair Removal?
You’ll find numbing creams in the market in the UK or online. The instructions are usually printed on the tube.
- Before applying, please wash your skin and pat dry it properly.
- Simply take some cream on your fingers, rub it between your palm, and apply it on the treatment area. Do this about 30 minutes before your treatment.
- After applying the cream, let it absorb under the skin.
Don’t wash your skin after applying the cream and don’t forget to time the application properly corresponding to your treatment time.
Part 4: How Can I Numb My Skin With Other Techniques?
If numbing creams are not an option for you, you can consider these techniques but they may not be as effective and efficient as a numbing cream.
Ice Packs
Ice packs can suppress the nerves for some time and discourage them from carrying pain signals to the brain. When you put ice on the treatment area, the heat on that body part quickly moves towards the ice and the area becomes numb because the body part loses all its heat. To numb your skin using an ice pack, you will need to carry ice to the salon and apply it just before the treatment begins. Once the treatment finishes, you’ll need to reapply it to numb the skin again.
Cooling Gels
Some cooling gels give a cooling sensation underneath the skin. These cooling gels are available in tubes and bottle forms and you can apply it just like a regular moisturising cream. They don’t have a long-lasting effect so you can apply it at the salon just before the treatment. It works by leaving a cool sensation to the body part and discourages nerves in that area to carry any pain signals to the brain.
Cold Compresses
Cold compresses are helpful in relieving any pain and discomfort. If you choose cold compresses, you’ll need to apply it before and after the treatment and sometimes in the middle of the treatment. You can make a cold compress by packing some ice cubes in a bag and locking it. It’s different from ice packs because in ice packs, you can apply ice directly to the skin but cold compress means applying ice while it’s packed in a bag.
Part 5: Nearly nearly painless Hair Removal Alternative To Laser Treatment- Ulike IPL
Ulike IPL technology is very similar to laser treatment but Ulike IPL remains nearly nearly painless treatment, much less than lasers. You’ll need a Ulike IPL device that is handheld and portable. When you place it on your skin and trigger the button, it’ll release IPL beams that will penetrate your skin just like lasers but IPL beams will be a lot less painful than lasers. You’ll feel like rubber band snapping your skin.
Just like laser treatment, a Ulike IPL treatment involves a series of sessions with a proper time gap between each. The treatment should last about 2 to 3 months and you’ll get hairless skin for up to a year or even more.
Salient Features Of Ulike IPL
These features in Ulike IPL make sure that the treatment remains nearly nearly painless and more comfortable than laser treatment.
1. In-built Ice-cooling Technology
Ulike IPL has in-built ice-cooling technology that keeps the skin cool and safe from the heat of IPL beams, which is absent in laser treatment. You won’t need ice packs, numbing creams, cold compresses or anything to numb your skin because Ulike IPL will keep the pain to nearly nil levels.
2. Automatic Intensity Adjustment
The intensity in laser treatments need to be adjusted manually and manual adjustment always has the potential for human errors. But Ulike IPL has in-built automatic intensity adjustment based on your skin tone. As a result, the pain will be almost nil.
Conclusion
Numbing creams and numbing gels are very popular among those who undergo laser hair removal treatment. But if these creams and gels are not a valid option for you, then we have home remedies, which are not as effective as numbing creams. So, in order to avoid pain, keep the treatment cost extremely low as opposed to laser treatment, and still get the results matching a laser treatment, you can always switch to Ulike IPL. It’s a one-time investment as you only have to pay for the device once. After that you can treat your skin as per your schedule and get hairless skin within the next 2 to 3 months.
