Topical

Topical Anesthetics

Topicaine, EMLA are 4% topical anesthetics that will numb the skin being treated with the laser.  You may purchase  EMLA at your local pharmacy for approximately $60.00-$65.00 for a 1oz. (30 grams) tube. Topicaine is also available at this office in 1oz (30 grams) tubes for $45.00 or 4oz. (113 grams) tubes for $85.00.

Application of Topicaine 4 %, EMLA 4% cream.

1. Cleanse the area that is to be treated – the skin must be free of all lotions, creams, make-up, and other skin care products.
   
   
2. Evenly apply a thick layer of the gel to the treatment area. Do not rub the cream into the skin. It should be applied “like icing on a cake,” so that no skin is visible through the cream.
   
   
3. Cover the cream entirely with plastic wrap, and leave in place for at least 1 hour, but no more than 1 hour 30 minutes, prior to treatment.
   
   
4. Avoid moving the areas as much as possible,  this prevents the cream from becoming too thin over skin areas covered by the plastic wrap.

Medication Use During Laser Permanent Hair Reduction Treatment

There are certain topical and oral medications that may make the skin much more sensitive to light, and therefore, more sensitive to our LightSheer laser as well. In an effort to keep any possible side effects to an absolute minimum, we would like to make you, the client, aware of these medications. In addition, for those medications that can be continued during your treatments at Allied Laser, P.C., below are time-tables for stopping and restarting those medications around your laser treatments.

1. Topical Antibiotics (cleocin, tetracycline, erythromycin, sulfa, etc.):These make the skin more sensitive to light. If undergoing laser permanent hair reduction treatment in an area where you are applying these antibiotics, please discontinue their use 3 to 5 days before treatment begins. Start re-application with a small amount, and if this stings or irritates the skin, wait another 24 to 48 hours.
2. Retin A: Use of Retin A or any product containing retinols can make the skin extremely sensitive to the laser. If using Retin A or a retinol containing product, please stop using it approximately 2 weeks before your laser permanent hair reduction treatment.
3. Glycolic, Hydroxy, Salicylic, or any acid products: many over-the-counter and prescription skin care products have on of these acids in them to exfoliate the skin. Please read the labels on your skin care products carefully, and if any of them contain these acids, please stop using them 5 days before your laser permanent hair reduction treatments. As with #'s 1 and 2, this is only necessary if you are using these products on the area that we will be treating at Allied Laser, P.C.. Resume with application to a small area, and if irritating, wait another 2 to 3 days and repeat the process.
4. Oral Antibiotics: please inform us of any antibiotics you are using. Some of them increase sun sensitivity, and if not taking them for a specific infection, it should increase the effectiveness of your treatment and decrease the chance for adverse reactions if you stop taking them for a short period. The big culprits are the oral counterparts to the topicals listed in #1, usually taken for acne. These can be stopped 3 days before and 3 days after your laser permanent hair reduction treatments.
5. Accutane: Clients taking Accutane may not have laser permanent hair reduction treatments, and once the medication is discontinued there is a wait of 6 months before one is eligible for laser permanent hair reduction.
6. Hydroquinone: For some of our clients we prescribe this medication to lighten the skin or make pigmentation more uniform. Many of the formulations containing this bleaching agent also contain glycolic acid, so please, for purposes of use around your laser treatments; follow the directions as with #3 above.

Allied Laser, PC
3347 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314
Map & Directions
(703) 823-1414
Just west of Telegraph Road and Duke Street