Altman, 1999  Title: High-energy pulsed light source hair
removal device used to evaluate the onset of action of a new topical
anesthetic.
Authors: Altman DA, Gildenberg SR
Journal: Dermatol Surg 1999 Oct;25(10):816-8
PMID: 10594586
Affiliated institution: Division
of Dermatology, St. John's Macomb Hospital Center, Warren, Michigan,
USA.
Cited in:
BACKGROUND: Topical anesthetic agents are widely used to mitigate
the pain associated with laser and high-energy pulsed light source
hair removal. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative efficacy and
onset of action of a new topical anesthetic agent, ELA-Max cream
(lidocaine 4%), relative to a widely used agent, EMLA cream (lidocaine
2.5%/prilocaine 2.5%). METHODS: ELA-Max and EMLA were applied
to the forearms of 10 unblinded test subjects. The EMLA-treated
sites were occluded for 1.5 hours prior to testing. The ELA-Max-treated
sites were unoccluded and the cream was applied immediately prior
to testing. Pulses from an Epilight high-energy pulsed light source
were then administered 1.5 hours after occlusion with EMLA and
in 5-minute intervals after application of ELA-Max. Pain scores
were recorded on a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Six of
10 patients reported some anesthetic effect from ELA-Max after
5 minutes of unoccluded skin contact. Seven of 10 subjects reported
maximal pain control 20 minutes after application of unoccluded
ELA-Max, roughly equivalent to EMLA after 1.5 hours of occlusion.
CONCLUSION: ELA-Max is an effective topical anesthetic agent comparable
to EMLA under occlusion. It appears to be faster acting than EMLA,
and along with its effectiveness without occlusion, may be an
easier agent to use.
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