Hi:
I have been using Emla which is lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%. I found that if you apply it for an hour with the occlusion layer of saran wrap it does work.
It is messy though so you need to wipe it off well with
paper towels prior to your electrolyis treatment. I find the numbing effect wears off after about an hour.
Once someone recommended a specially compounded mixture which had much stronger concentrations of anesthetics. It was thick and sticky and did not get absorbed as readily into the skin as Emla. The Emla actually worked better.
I agree with not using extra strong compounds over too large a body area, since some deaths have occurred by doing that.
Alicia