AND TRYING TO NUMB THE PAIN CAN BE LETHAL

WHEN writer Marian Keyes (left) revealed she was nearly poisoned by topical anaesthetic after laser hair removal on her legs, she highlighted a dangerous trend.

Not only did she buy pain-relief cream online, she also bound her legs in cling film to keep it in contact with her skin.

‘I couldn’t imagine something would hurt so much,’ she said at the Oxford Literary Festival. ‘I covered myself in the cream and wrapped myself in cling film and put on my jeans.

‘You’re not meant to do this as there’s a small chance you could die.’

Marian, 52, didn’t suffer any long-term problems, but she said a large amount of the chemicals entered her bloodstream and she became euphoric.

Over the past two years, a growing number of women have sought help after developing skin infections as a result of this technique, says Sid Dajani of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Topical numbing and pain-relief creams, such as Germolene and Emla, which can be bought over the counter, are not in themselves dangerous.

But slathering on large amounts and trapping it against the skin can block nerve signals which, in extreme cases, can lead to organ failure.

‘With cling film on top, the warmth of the body creates a mini-sauna,’ says Mr Dajani. ‘The blood vessels open and the skin absorbs far more of the cream. If you put cling film over it, you’re also incubating the bacteria.

‘This can lead to swelling and redness, especially if the infection takes hold in deeper layers of the skin where it can eventually lead to blood poisoning.’

Laser expert David Gault also warns against the use of topical anaesthetic creams after laser treatments.

‘If you apply loads, you might end up with an irregular heart beat or it could suppress your brain activity,’ he says.

‘There have been reports of it causing death. Only a paracetamol should be used to relieve any discomfort.’