By Sarah ChenGetting smoother skin often hurts, there’s no way around it. A good numbing cream can make things a lot more bearable, turning a painful procedure into a simple part of your routine. But it only works if you know how to apply it correctly to get the full effect.
Key Takeaways
- For this to work, you need to apply numbing cream to clean, dry skin about 30 to 60 minutes before your appointment so it has time to soak in.
- Cover the cream with an occlusive dressing, just plastic wrap, to keep it from drying out and help it penetrate deeper for a stronger, longer-lasting numb.
- Don’t skip the patch test. Put a small amount on your skin 24 hours beforehand to make sure you don’t have a bad reaction.
- Look for creams with active ingredients like lidocaine or prilocaine, usually in a 4% to 5% concentration for over-the-counter options.
- Right before your treatment, you absolutely must wipe off all the cream with a damp cloth so it doesn’t mess with your wax or laser.
1. Select the Right Numbing Cream
Picking the right numbing cream is the first and most important step if you want to actually manage pain during a treatment. They are not all the same, and what makes one work better than another comes down to the active ingredients and how much of them are in there. You’ll want to look for creams that have lidocaine or prilocaine on the label, and sometimes they’re combined. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that works by getting into the skin and blocking the nerve signals that scream “pain!” to your brain. Prilocaine does a similar job, and putting them together can make the numbness deeper and last longer. Most over-the-counter creams will have about a 4% to 5% lidocaine concentration. Anything stronger is going to require a prescription, and you should only use it with a doctor’s okay because there’s a higher risk of it getting into your system.
When you’re looking at the box, read the whole ingredient list. Some of the better creams will add things like aloe vera or vitamin E to help calm the skin and prevent irritation. If you’ve got sensitive skin, definitely try to find one without a bunch of perfumes or dyes, since those are common triggers for a bad reaction. The bottom line? Stick with creams that are actually made for putting on your skin before a cosmetic procedure. Any good brand will have clear instructions and warnings, and you need to read them.
Pro Tip
For really sensitive spots like the upper lip or the bikini line, go for a cream with a higher concentration like 5% lidocaine. For bigger, less sensitive areas like your legs, 4% is probably plenty. Just make sure you follow the manufacturer’s rules on how long you can leave it on and how much you can use.
2. Prepare Your Skin for Application
You can’t just slap numbing cream on and expect it to work miracles. Prepping your skin is a big deal. First, the area has to be totally clean and dry. Any leftover oil, makeup, or lotion acts like a roadblock, and the active ingredients in the cream just can’t get through to do their job. Wash the area with a gentle cleanser, then pat it completely dry with a clean towel. Don’t go scrubbing it with anything harsh right before you apply the cream, because that just irritates the skin and might make it react badly to the cream itself. You want a clean surface with no barriers.
Some people swear by exfoliating the area about 24 hours beforehand, which can clear away dead skin cells that might block the cream from absorbing. It’s a good idea, but if your skin is super sensitive, you’re better off skipping that step. You’re trying to create the perfect setup for the cream to work, not make your skin angry before you even get started.
Common Mistake
Applying the cream to skin that’s even a little bit damp or oily. It seriously cuts down on how well the cream can soak in, and you’ll end up with weak, patchy numbing. Make sure it’s bone dry.
3. Perform a Patch Test
Before you slather a new product all over yourself, especially one with active drug ingredients, you have to do a patch test. This isn’t optional. This one tiny step is what’s going to save you from a potentially massive allergic reaction or some really nasty skin irritation. Just find a small, hidden patch of skin, like on your inner forearm or behind your ear, that’s about as sensitive as the spot you’re planning to treat. Then apply a small, pea-sized dot of the numbing cream there.
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Find a Studio Near You →Let the cream sit for the same amount of time you would for the real deal, which is usually between 30 and 60 minutes, and then wipe it off. Now you wait and watch that spot for a full 24 hours. Are you seeing any crazy redness, swelling, hives, or feeling any burning that goes beyond a little tingle? If you see any of that, the cream is not for you, so don’t use it. This quick check confirms your skin is cool with the product and lets you go ahead without worrying.
4. Apply the Cream Generously and Evenly
Okay, your skin’s clean and your patch test came back clear. Time to apply. You need to put on a really generous amount of the cream. Don’t try to rub it in like it’s a moisturizer. You want to spread a thick, opaque layer over the whole area, almost like you’re frosting a cake. If the layer is too thin or you miss spots, you’ll get patchy numbing, which kind of ruins the whole point of doing this.
When you’re working on your face, be super careful to keep the cream away from your eyes, nostrils, and mouth. Some people find it’s easier to use a little spatula or even a Q-tip to get a precise application, especially for small areas. The thickness of the cream layer is directly related to how numb you’ll get and for how long, so don’t be skimpy. That said, always check the product’s instructions for the maximum amount you can safely use on a given area.
Pro Tip
Here’s a trick for areas with thicker skin or a lot of hair: apply the cream against the direction of hair growth. This little move helps get the cream right onto the skin surface instead of just getting stuck on the hair, ensuring it makes direct contact where it needs to.
5. Cover with an Occlusive Dressing
Once you’ve got that thick layer of cream on, you need to cover it with an occlusive dressing. This sounds fancy, but it just means a piece of regular household plastic wrap. This is a huge step. Covering the cream does a few things: it stops the cream from just drying out in the air, it keeps it from getting all over your clothes, and it actually helps it absorb better into your skin. By sealing the area, the plastic wrap traps a little bit of heat, which helps the active ingredients penetrate deeper and more evenly.
Just lay the plastic wrap over the cream and press it down gently around the edges to make sure you get a good seal. Don’t wrap it so tight that it’s cutting off circulation. If you’re doing a big area, you might have to overlap a few pieces of wrap to get it all covered. Seriously, don’t skip this. Without the plastic wrap, the cream loses a ton of its power to evaporation and you won’t get nearly as numb.
Common Mistake
Skipping the plastic wrap. So many people forget this part or think it’s not important, but it dramatically lowers how well the cream works because the product dries out and never fully absorbs into the deeper skin layers.
6. Allow Sufficient Activation Time
You have to be patient. The active ingredients in the numbing cream need time to actually sink into your skin and start blocking those nerve signals. For most topical anesthetics, you’re looking at a wait time of at least 30 to 60 minutes for them to really kick in and reach full strength. For some people, or for areas that are extra sensitive, you might even want to wait up to 90 minutes. Always check the instructions on the box, since the recommended time can be a little different from brand to brand.
While you’re waiting, just try to chill out and not move around too much which could make the plastic wrap slide off. If you’re numbing your face for something, for instance, it’s a good time to just lie down and relax. If you rush this part, it’s not going to work as well, and you’ll probably still feel a lot more of the procedure than you wanted to. Plan ahead so you have enough time to let the cream do its thing.
7. Remove the Cream Thoroughly Before Treatment
Right before your treatment starts, you have to get every last bit of that numbing cream off your skin. People forget this step, but it’s important. First, any cream left on the skin can get in the way of the treatment itself, wax won’t stick right to a greasy patch of skin, and some laser treatments can be affected by the residue. Second, leaving the cream on while your skin is being worked on (especially with heat or friction) could actually lead to more irritation.
Take a damp cloth or a soft wipe and gently clean the entire area until all the cream is gone. Your skin should be clean and dry again. Your practitioner might even go over the spot with an antiseptic wipe to make sure it’s totally prepped. This way, you have the full numbing effect locked in, but your skin’s surface is clear and ready for the treatment, which is what organizations like the American Academy of Dermatology Association recommend for the best results with cosmetic procedures.
Pro Tip
If you have really sensitive skin, use lukewarm water and a super soft cloth when you’re wiping the cream off to avoid causing any redness. Don’t rub hard. You don’t want to agitate the skin or undo the numbing you just waited an hour for.
If you can get the hang of applying numbing cream, you can make a lot of uncomfortable beauty treatments feel like no big deal. When you follow these steps, from picking the right cream all the way to wiping it off correctly, you’re setting yourself up for an effective preventive beauty strategy. You’ll have a much more relaxed and positive experience, which makes it a whole lot easier to keep up with your smooth-skin goals.
How long does numbing cream typically last?
Once you wipe it off, the numb feeling usually hangs around for about 1 to 2 hours. It really depends on the strength of the cream, your own skin, and how well you applied it. Some of the prescription-strength stuff might last a bit longer.
Can I apply numbing cream to broken or irritated skin?
Absolutely not. Never put numbing cream on skin that’s already cut, scraped, or irritated. Doing that can let way too much of the active ingredient get into your bloodstream, which can cause serious side effects. It’ll also probably make the irritation worse.
Are there any side effects to using numbing cream?
Most side effects are no big deal and happen right where you put the cream, like some temporary redness, itching, or a bit of a burning feeling. Serious side effects are rare but can happen if you use way too much or it gets absorbed into your system. Things like dizziness or an irregular heartbeat. Just follow the directions.
Does numbing cream affect the outcome of beauty treatments?
As long as you apply it and, more importantly, remove it correctly, it shouldn’t affect your results at all. Its only job is to reduce pain. But if you leave residue on your skin, it can definitely interfere with things like wax adhesion or laser devices, so getting it all off is key.
Can I use numbing cream for all types of hair removal?
It’s very popular for waxing, sugaring, and laser hair removal. But you should always double-check with your aesthetician or a medical professional to make sure it’s a good idea for your specific treatment and your skin.
