How much numbing cream is safe to use at a time for laser hair removal?

October 1, 2016
Asked By:Steven_D in Los Angeles, CA

I'm a male with fair skin and dark hair. I have quite a lot of coarse body hair, which I recently purchased an at-home IPL hair removal device for. I would like to pre-treat with EMLA 5% lidocaine, but read about overdose & deaths in my research. My question is: What's the safest amount of area to apply it to at a time? One whole leg? I'm rather thin and 5'7, so one leg wouldn't be too much surface area. I would do a different body part each day this way for overdose safety. Thank you!

Answers (4)

From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals
VOTED MOST HELPFUL
October 2, 2016

Answer: Dosing topical EMLA

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VOTED MOST HELPFUL
October 2, 2016

Answer: Dosing topical EMLA

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March 8, 2019

Answer: How much numbing cream is safe to use at a time for laser hair removal?

Christine M. Shaver, MDBoard Certified Dermatologist
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MOST RECENT
March 8, 2019

Answer: How much numbing cream is safe to use at a time for laser hair removal?

Christine M. Shaver, MDBoard Certified Dermatologist
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October 2, 2016

Answer: Lidocaine and Hair Removal

Jason Emer, MDDermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology
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October 2, 2016

Answer: Lidocaine and Hair Removal

Jason Emer, MDDermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology
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October 11, 2016

Answer: Lidocaine

October 11, 2016

Answer: Lidocaine