Epilation of upper lip hirsutism with a eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine used as a topical anesthetic.

Twenty-one patients were included in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study with a eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine (EMLA). EMLA or placebo was placed on the upper lip for 1 hour; diathermy was then performed for 10 minutes. The pain caused by diathermy was evaluated by the patients and the cosmetologist on a four-point scale. The results of the investigation showed that there was significantly less pain after application of 5 gm of EMLA cream on the upper lip than after application of placebo, assessed both by the patient and by the cosmetologist. Eighteen of 20 patients preferred EMLA (p less than 0.0001). Local reactions were few and mild.