I had mostly blonde or grey facial hairs, and ultra sensitive skin, so laser was not an option for me. I worked with the top electrologist in Oregon, who uses a top of the line Apilus Platinum machine, which does some very fast computer controlled blend treatments, less than a second per hair. She is skilled enough to remove 700 to 1000 hairs per hour. It can be quite painful on the upper lip, around the mouth, and in the genital area, but the following help considerably:
1) Half an hour before treatment, I religiously remember to take 50 mg of short-acting over the counter antihistamines (called Benadryl, or diphenhydramine, in the US). It makes me a little sleepy, but makes a huge difference in how much inflammation I get and how long the inflammation lasts. It also reduces the pain during treatment.
2) Although I did perhaps 20 hours without any analgesics at all, it made me cry (and felt like stings) in the sensitive parts. Even then it was bearable, and what I found is a good electrologist will get a cadence going, and you just accept that it is going to hurt but don't tense up over it; your body will release endorphins, so as long as she starts in the corner of your upper lip and works towards the more sensitive center, your body will start to numb itself. (Same thing happens during tatooing, btw). Electrologists who jump around instead of working systematically can increase your pain level; your body doesn't like surprises, but can control pain that is localized and consistent.
3) Most of the time I use a numbing cream, and have used all of the following:
- EMLA works, but it needs to be occluded (covered with plastic wrap); since I go straight from work to my treatments and back again, it wasn't practical for me.
- I ordered veterinary numbing cream (containing lignocaine plus hydrocortisone cream and a topical antibiotic) from New Zealand; it worked wonderfully without occlusion and I used it for almost a year. (local brands were more expensive). The hydrocortisone was a definite contributor to its success, since it reduced the inflammatory response. One brand name was Ilium Neocort. Safe for animals that enter the food supply. Moo! Baa!
- Toothache gel or ointment. Discovered this in the medicine cabinet at work when I forgot my EMLA or vet cream. Works pretty well actually, though you want the adult strength not the 'safe for babies' toothing gel, though it helps some. Watch out for the kind which contains iodine; it can turn you slightly orange.
Caffeine makes the pain worse. I save caffeine for afterwards, so I can wake up from the benadryl sleepiness.
Not sleeping the night before, or being hungover, makes the pain worse.
Being dehydrated (not drinking enough water! not eating enough fruits and veggies) makes the pain MUCH worse. The electricity does its job because of the moisture in your skin. If you are dried out, it can damage your skin and zap your nerves.
Drink a lot before you go (and urinate before the start of your session so you don't have to break during).
Avoid aspirin for 24 hours before your session; it will increase swelling and if you have ingrown hairs removed during the session, will increase bleeding as well.
Never got much help from naproxen or acetamenophen. Ibuprofen can help with the inflammation afterwards, for some people, but I don't tolerate it well.
Aloe vera gel (100% organic, preferrably) is wonderful for after-care.
If you are prone to skin infections following treatment, an iodine wash twice a day (or the pre-surgery scrub product Hibilclens) will work wonders for a few days after.
Attitude: celebrate every hair that is gone forever, with each little sting. Like childbirth or the cost of a new mercedes, if you have joy in the pain, it doesn't hurt nearly as much.
I look forward to my session every week, and get anxious if it is delayed. That should tell you a lot.
