OTC Pain Management

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
21

Hi Mantaray,

I used the Tricaine today for the first time and it worked very well for me. While upper lip work does smart, the biggest problem I’ve had is triggering of the sneeze reflex in some areas of the upper lip. This did not happen today and it was the most comfortable treatment to date.

BTW… The doctor upped my HRT by 60% about 3 weeks ago. The electrologist I use told me that I was getting a lot more skin reaction than usual, but I did not feel it. I guess that I would have to say that, for me at least, this is a really good option. It’s also a lot cheaper than LMX 5.

Good luck,
Joanie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

22

Your electrologist needs to take into account that some topicals are suspended in a water based gel, which would react with the treatment energy. Those suspended in oil based creams or ointments would be less reactive to the treatment energy. Modifications to treatment protocols may be needed. Of course, it may be as simple as fully removing the topical product in the space being worked on while leaving other areas under the topical until one is ready to work that area. Many electrologists tend to work through the topical instead of removing the layer or coating resting on the skin when they begin treatment.

23

Hi James,

Thanks for the info, however she does remove the topical from the area she is working at my request - and did use a slightly lower power level as well. However, today the skin doesn’t look that much different than usual so I am going to assume that it is the hormonal influence more than the effect of the topicals. I had basically the same reaction to the areas of treatment that didn’t involve any topicals. The only place that I use the topical is on my upper lip. I hate it when the pulse triggers a sneeze when the probe is still in my skin!

I guess that the main problem is devolving to the basic precept of electrology that the toughest treatments are to deep, coarse hairs in moist skin. That seems to be my typical scenario nowdays. I guess that I’m just taking too good of care of myself! lol

Joanie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

24

Joanie,
I’m glad it works for you. Moist skin, deep hairs, yup that’s an ordeal, but think of how much character your building <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You should have quite a bit of character and nice smooth skin in the months ahead.

real_sore and ericajoy,
For sure, just the other day I told my electrologist that I was tired of having goop all over me for one reason or another. It’s cumbersome, but for the extent of hair I remove on my own and what the pro does, I need to lessen the pain. If I feel too much pain too frequently, I start to think about cancelling sessions and procrastinating on my own sessions, so I do what I can. I have experimented with breathing, but I have no formal training in that so I’m not sure if I’m even doing it right. Of course I’ll try what you posted, I mean, going through hours of this, I have plenty of time to try something new. Generally, what I do is this: Talk at a rate of about 300 words per minute about anything and everything to distract myself. The other day I was talking about the calender on the wall and the sharps dispenser. You know, it keeps my electrologist fairly entertained. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

James,
So you’re taking away my Coke Zero now? By any chance do your clients have to pay you in exact change? Or you say, “No electrology for you!” <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Mantaray

25

My information suggests that the most effective breathing method is to be breathing IN as the treatment energy is discharged. This can make slower methods like blend and galvanic a little more difficult (how do you take a breath for that long) but it is even more effective at lessening sensation, and you don’t kill brain cells.

Hmmm, now let’s see, when do I say “No Electrolysis For You!” … When the client’s skin is totally dehydrated and therefore unpredictable (just ask the client who drove from Syracuse for treatment only to be sent home because only the full power of the machine could remove a hair) When the person is so late that there is no way to do anything of substance before my next appointment, when the person shows up on the wrong day … I could go on <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, you should drink nothing but water and 100% real fruit juice. Even there, you are better actually eating the fruits (you need your fiber you know) but when one doesn’t have time for messy fruits, a drink at least gets the nutrients inside of you.

What is the point of drinking Coke Zero other than giving money to a multi-national conglomerate? It has no nutritional value, depletes your calcium (osteoporosis anyone?) and leads to (increased) dehydration, while stimulating the body’s sugar metabolism WITHOUT presence of sugar, leading to carb cravings. Oh, and there is this pesky side effect where some women get hormonal reactions to these products leading to increased hair product— Come to think of it, drink all you like! I need to go buy some stocks! Diet Sodas for everyone! They should be manditory portions with all meals, and should have the status of Vegimite in Australia!

I will stop “Tub-Thumping” now.

26

Hi James,

I’ve tried the breathing thing and it might help a bit, but not that much. I find that the NeuroBehavior Pain Gating Technique (This was a part of my pre-back surgery pain management therapy) works the best for me, but it still doesn’t do much for the sneeze reflex!

As far as the water and fruit juices goes, I find that this does more for keeping the pain down (as the electrologist can use much less power). If it wasn’t for my sneeze reflex I wouldn’t have to use anything but TM and pain gating. I guess that I’m kinda a wuss when it comes to my upper lip! But at least I am to the point where I am getting clear in about 1/2 hour and I am having the other 1/2 hour on my chin and lower lip (a cake walk after the upper lip!)

BTW…I quit drinking diet sodas when I started HRT. So far I’ve dropped about 35 lbs and the dietary pattern accounts for only about 22 lbs of that (Target is 1 lb/week). That means that I’ve dropped about 13 lbs. by getting rid of the artificial sweeteners and the additional water is really clearing up my skin as well.

Just a little affirmation for your pet theories (give them a pet for me! Nice puppies!)!

Joanie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

27

Joanie,
This post is a little delayed, but I wanted to say, when used right the Tridocaine is great. I got it a while back, but the first time I used it, it was applied right at the beginning of the session. It really wasn’t effective. I was just in a big hurry and didn’t have the time to put it on.

But the second time, I put it on about forty minutes before the session, and a tad more right before the session. It worked absolutely great. After that second experience I then felt it was worth the expenditure. I went ahead and ordered three more 30 gram tubes. I now use it for my DIY sessions as well.

With this lower level of pain response, my electrologist (bless her heart, I know she’s reading this) was able to get more done than ever and was very happy that she could proceed without any yelps or bothers.

I think the rules should be re-written, electrologists would greatly benefit is they were allowed to impliment this in their treatments. Afterall it’s only a mere 1% lidocaine above what could be purchased over the counter. Maybe Finlandia Labs should make a 5% Lidocaine, 20% Benzocaine, 4% Xylocaine version for wide distribution. It would still be vastly superior to Lanacaine and LMX-5. …And try to get Washington to allow clinic use of that.

Where are these lobbyists when you need them? That’s what it is, the AEA has no lobbyists. Dectro, Silhouet Tone, Hinkle/Fischer, Ballet, and Finlandia have to get together and chip-in lobby funding. I think Democrats would favor hair removal more than the outgoing Rublicans anyway, right?

Mantaray
just wondering

28

Let’s see now, you say the law is written to make it more difficult for electrologists to do their jobs, and makes the client experience less than it could be. Now if we agree that lobbyists and the cash it costs to supply them have lots to do with what ends up being law, then the question becomes, who has more access to lobbyists. Would that be electrologists; a loosely connected group of individuals who can’t agree on enough to even make one universally acceptable criteria for what constitutes good performance in the industry? Would it be doctors, medical equipment suppliers, and spas; a well organized set of groups and companies who already have lost of interaction with lobbyists, and government on a variety of other subjects, and have been able to make it impossible for us to buy so much as a formed piece of plastic used to straighten our bent toes, that got bent wearing the ridiculous fashions force fed the masses?

I think you are starting to see some of what we are up against.

29

Skin Numbing Creams Can Cause Death

By now I guess everyone has seen this over on the CNN website. I think this is ahuge heads up. What’s needed to know is: how much is too much? Five? Ten square inches of covering? Or are they reacting to when the girl had it over most of her lower body. I wish I knew the specifics of the FDA’s report.

Here’s the full FDA version:
FDA website

Mantaray

30

It is basically the situations where the people have put it on all over the lower body, or in the mucus membrane areas, like the pubic zone. This is why it is actually BETTER for the electrologist to administer this stuff, as the electrologist would only numb the area actuall being treated, the product would only be on for the proper duration needed to set in, and the work would get started right then. It would not be an uncontroled amount being slathered on by someone who knows nothing about the use of the product, and it would not be left on at the mercy of the commuter traffic time.

31

Here is the text, just in case they archive moves the page in the link.

Story Highlights• Overuse of skin-numbing creams can cause irregular heartbeats and even death
• Creams and lotions often used in conjunction with cosmetic procedures
• Use in large amounts can cause a lethal dose of chemicals to enter bloodstream

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – People who use large amounts of skin-numbing creams and lotions, often in conjunction with cosmetic procedures, are at risk of irregular heartbeats, seizures and even death, U.S. health officials warned Tuesday.

The Food and Drug Administration, citing two deaths, said such topical anesthetics can be applied in amounts so large that a lethal dose of the chemicals can enter the bloodstream.

A 22-year-old woman and a 25-year-old woman who applied numbing creams after laser hair removal on their legs later died, the agency said

After the procedure, “these women then wrapped their legs in plastic wrap, as they were instructed, to increase the creams’ numbing effect. Both women had seizures, fell into comas, and subsequently died from the toxic effects of the anesthetic drugs,” the FDA said.

Numbing creams and lotions, available both by prescription and over the counter, are approved to soothe burning or itching skin as well as pain before, during and after various procedures. They contain numbing drugs that can include lidocaine, tetracaine, benzocaine and prilocaine.

But the FDA said consumers should be cautious about using them without medical supervision.

Leaving the creams on the skin for long periods of time or on large portions of their bodies can increase the risk, officials have said. Small children and people with heart or severe liver disease are also at higher risk.

People considering skin-related cosmetic or medical procedures should talk to their doctors about whether they need numbing creams, the agency said. If so, they should use one that is FDA-approved and contains the lowest amount of anesthetic possible.

“You should also discuss with your doctor whether there are other ways to reduce the pain you may feel during the procedure,” it added.

In December, the FDA also warned five pharmacies that mixed their own versions of topical anesthetics.

32

the problem with at least one of the people who died was that she used a 10%! lidocaine cream instead of regular 4% and all over her legs which is a very large area. small areas with a 4% cream should be ok.

33

Oh, don’t forget that there were two other “'caines” mixed with the lidocaine in percentages not desirable for use on large areas. And remember, one of the ladies wrapped her legs in plastic wrap so the cream would absorb better. A compound pharmacy made this concotion and there was really no instruction given to the patient. Bad news.

Dee

34

Local anesthesia of ALL kinds is very, very safe. Despite the horror stories about “allergies” to local anesthetic (almost NO one is allergic to modern dental and surgical anesthetics) millions of people use this sort of thing every year with zero ill effect. When using an approved product as prescribed, you’re not likely to have any problems.

Notice I said “approved product.” When it comes to compounded stuff, anything goes and it’s anybody’s guess what ends up in half of those things. The deaths due to anesthetic cream seem to be the result of using large amounts of dangerously strong drugs compounded by a local pharmacy (not an FDA approved formuation.)

If I were you, I’d stick with the LMX and the ibuprofen. I mean, check with your doctor obviously, but loads of people use the regimen and are fine. I would avoid ordering powerful drugs online; as I said, you’ve no way to know what’s actually in there, or how safe it is.

35

keep in mind that pharmacies are only compounding the amounts prescribed by the doctor. if it was prescribed, the doctor should have given careful instructions on how to apply the medication, not to mention most (i’m not sure if all) pharmacies also offer consultation or even an imformation pamphlet if the medication doesn’t need to be compounded and is just a prescription topical anesthetic

But I agree, just stick with LMX for an anesthetic. The pharmacies here in Orange County don’t require a prescription for it(therefore most insurances won’t cover it) but it needs to be picked up from behind the counter of the pharmacy (sometimes special ordered)