The drug "Emla", which will be discussed in this article, is a popular local anesthetic. It is used for cosmetic injections, for tattooing, and also in hospitals for surface surgeries on the skin, for example, when removing warts and moles. Details of what Emla ointment is (reviews, instructions for use, indications and contraindications, as well as price information) are described below.
Pharmacological properties of the drug, its composition, release form
The composition of the ointment includes lidocaine and prilocaine. These are drugs from the group of local anesthetics. They are able to quickly penetrate the skin, not only into the dermis, but also into the deep layers of the epidermis, thereby providing
local anesthesia of the integument, which lasts from one to five hours. 1 gram of Emla cream contains 25 mg of lidocaine and prilocaine, as well as other additional ingredients that do not affect the properties of the product.
In tubes of 5 g. manufacturer produces Emla cream. Instructions for use are included in each package. The drug should be stored for a maximum of 3 years at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees. It is noteworthy that the instructions indicate that after opening the tube, the remains of the cream cannot be used, they must be disposed of.
Indications for the use of Emla cream
This tool is used in cosmetology for local anesthesia of the integument, followed by the injection of any drugs (for example, with mesotherapy, as well as with the procedure for correction of the contour of the lips). Also, the ointment is used in hospitals for puncture, catheterization of vessels, with minor superficial surgical interventions.
Also, the drug “Emla” is used as a local anesthetic for mechanical cleaning of trophic ulcers. In gynecology - for the anesthesia of the mucous membranes of the genitals as a preparation for painful manipulations. But the ointment is most popular with cosmetologists, since almost all drug injections, painful hair removal and other procedures are carried out with this tool.
Who should not use this remedy: contraindications and side effects
No matter how versatile the product may be, the “Emla” cream, the instructions for use indicate the circle of people to whom this product is contraindicated or is possible, but with great care. So, it is forbidden to use the drug:
- patients with hypersensitivity to lidocaine and prilocaine;
- children under 1 year old;
- people suffering from atopic dermatitis;
- pregnant and lactating women.
The use of the drug for preterm infants, as well as for patients with heart rhythm disturbances, is also prohibited. Also, Emla cream can cause unwanted side effects such as allergic reactions up to anaphylactic shock. Very rarely, the use of the drug provokes the occurrence of urticaria and swelling of the skin. In no case should Emla cream get on the mucous membrane of the eyes, in this case a severe lesion of the cornea is possible.
How to apply ointment for pain relief
For Emla cream, the instructions for use are quite simple. It must be applied with a thick layer to the area of the skin where surgical or cosmetic manipulations are planned after. Unfortunately, the action of the cream is not instant. The patient needs to wait from 15 minutes to one hour for the product to penetrate deep into the skin, and subsequent injections or other procedures are really painless.
As a rule, the product is applied to the skin at the rate of 1-2 grams per 10 square centimeters of integument. With anesthesia of the mucous membranes of the genital organs of the cream, more is needed - 5-10 grams. In this case, the recommended application time is 5-10 minutes, after which the product begins to act.
With skin anesthesia in children, the maximum amount of cream used can be 1 gram per 10 square centimeters of integument, and the duration of the application itself can be up to 1 hour. It is strictly forbidden to use the product in the area around the eyes - this is one of the main contraindications for Emla cream. The instruction also warns that the drug should not be applied to damaged skin. Also, it should not be used in otolaryngological practice, since there is a risk of ointment entering the middle ear.
Features of the use of the product in cosmetology practice
In salons and clinics, Emla cream is used in the following cases:
- when polishing the skin, correcting scars and removing tattoos;
- for pain relief before mesotherapy (the introduction of vitamin preparations into the upper layers of the skin);
- with the correction of nasolabial folds, wrinkles in the neck and so on;
- with the introduction of drugs such as "Botox", "Restylane" and the like;
- during epilation - laser, electro - or photoepilation;
- when removing spider veins.
When applying the cream in cosmetology, 91% of patients have an almost complete analgesic effect, the remaining 9% still complain of mild pain. How effective anesthesia will be depends on the amount of the drug applied - you still need to smear it with a thick layer, and then wait at least half an hour, and preferably an hour. Therefore, if you are going to do any of the above procedures, watch how much the ointment the cosmetologist used to anesthetize. Moreover, in the absence of contraindications, the use of the drug does not harm health.
Features of the use of the drug "Emla" before hair removal
Removing unwanted hair from the skin is a popular procedure for women. Salons offer various types of hair removal - laser, photo hair removal, wax, the so-called “shugaring” and so on. Of course, the pain during such manipulations is quite tolerable, but in places where the skin is very delicate - in the armpits, bikinis, on the face - it is highly advisable to use Emla cream.
The instructions before hair removal are simple - you need to apply the product with a thick layer on the skin, especially in designated sensitive areas, wait from 30 minutes to one hour and start the procedure. The area of cover in this case is quite large, so you may need a few tubes of cream. Women greatly praise this remedy; with it, hair removal has become really painless.
Where can I buy cream, its price
This ointment is truly a salvation for women who decide on cosmetic injections and other beauty procedures. Therefore, it is logical that many are wondering how much Emla costs and where it can be purchased. Everything is very simple - the drug is sold in almost any pharmacy in a package that contains 5 tubes of 5 grams of ointment. Some retailers sell tubes and individually. Given that you will need at least 10-15 grams of ointment for a cosmetic procedure such as hair removal, it makes sense to buy a whole package.
Emla ointment, the price of which is from 300 rubles per 5 grams, is a rather expensive product. But its effectiveness has been confirmed by not one thousand patients and clients of beauty salons, who can now safely make injections and other procedures completely painlessly. Note that in Russia the drug is most often sold at a concentration of 5%, when in the West there are drugs in which there are almost twice as many active substances - 9%. Also, the manufacturer, the Swedish company “Recip Karlskoga AB”, produces the product in tubes of 30 grams, as well as in the form of adhesives.
By the way, Emla ointment, the price of which in Russia is indicated above, costs almost twice as much abroad - about 170 rubles for a package of 5 grams. Therefore, if you often use this product, it makes sense to buy it during tourist trips or business trips abroad or order on English-language sites on the Internet.
Customer Reviews for Emla Cream
Next, we will consider what characteristics buyers give to the tool. I must say that Emla ointment receives mostly positive reviews. Here is what those who used this product for one reason or another say:
- almost all women who used depilatory cream , including a very painful wax, put a solid “five” on the remedy;
- the ointment is also praised by those who constantly do mesotherapy, including at home - the cream acts on the skin of the face very quickly and everything passes without pain too;
- with more complex cosmetic manipulations, for example, with the introduction of a special gel for lip augmentation, the Emla preparation also showed itself on the good side - although there is some pain during the procedure, it can not be compared to what would have been without using the product.
One way or another, the average score that customers put to Emla was 4. And this means that there are those who are not very happy with the use of the drug.
Cream “Emla”: reviews from those who didn’t like the remedy or didn’t fit (negative)
So, here are the negative aspects buyers highlight when characterizing Emla:
- Firstly, almost everyone mentioned that the tool is very expensive. And for procedures like hair removal, mesotherapy or for pain relief during surgical interventions it needs a lot, a few tubes.
- For some, Emla ointment does not work at all, or its action is not enough to completely anesthetize. Perhaps this effect is obtained by those who apply the cream incorrectly. Or, given the fact that the drug is very popular, it is possible that the buyer has purchased a fake or tube with an expired shelf life.
- Many people are bored of waiting for the moment when the cream works - after all, sometimes after the application it takes an entire hour to completely numb the skin.
- It is also noted that after 20-30 minutes after the peak of anesthesia the effect of the cream goes to “no” - unpleasant sensations reappear. Perhaps this is due to the individual characteristics of the body.
One way or another, there is only a very small percentage of those who are really dissatisfied with the remedy, and whom it simply does not work on. The rest (scolding its high price) still recommend the drug "Emla" for use.
Doctors' opinions on cream
Since Emla ointment is widely used precisely in cosmetology, reviews about it are mostly left by cosmetologists or dermatologists. They note that with the use of this tool, the procedures began to take place more efficiently, the client relaxes, does not feel unpleasant sensations and, as a result, decides to re-epilate, mesotherapy or injections. Indeed, many people are very sensitive to pain and absolutely can not tolerate it. Therefore, if before someone did not dare to do “beauty injections” because of the fear of the injections themselves, now, with the advent of “Emla” cream, they are no longer bothered by such side effects.
After considering a large number of reviews from experts, it can be noted that none of them said that the patient had a negative reaction to the drug like an allergy or edema. However, it should be noted that such manifestations on the part of the body are still possible. Therefore, if you know that you have hypersensitive skin, or before that there have been undesirable reactions to lidocaine, notify your doctor about this.
The use of cream "Emla": conclusion and conclusions
We examined in detail all the subtleties of using the drug for local anesthesia of the skin of Emla: positive and negative reviews about it, detailed instructions, as well as the composition and other information. We hope this helps you in choosing an anesthetic for cosmetic procedures and dispels all doubts about whether or not to use the ointment.
Of course, the price of the product is quite high, but the comfort of its use is proved by numerous reviews of satisfied patients and clients of clinics and beauty salons. Therefore, if you are looking for a good anesthetic drug, feel free to choose the “Emla” cream. It really works and, in general, lives up to the expectations of those who are used to living comfortably and without pain.