How to Make Plasma Pen Treatment Nearly Painless: Numbing Guide

Most people find plasma pen treatment tolerable on its own. A proper numbing routine makes it comfortable for nearly everyone. This guide covers the full protocol: which cream to use, how long before treatment, and what to do once the session is done.

If you have landed here you are probably planning to treat a spot at home and you want to know how to make the process as easy as possible. Good. The numbing step is simple and it makes a real difference, especially on the face and any area close to the eye. This guide is distinct from the question of whether the pen hurts at all (that is covered in Does the Plasma Pen Actually Work?). This guide is the protocol.

Does plasma pen hurt without numbing cream?

Plasma pen treatment without numbing cream feels like a series of quick, sharp flicks against the skin. Most people rate it as a 3 to 5 out of 10 on pain. It is brief and precise, not a sustained sting. Sensitive areas such as the face, near the eye, and the inner wrist run higher. Numbing cream reliably drops the sensation to a 1 or 2 for most people. Skipping the cream is a choice, not a requirement.

Why pain varies by treatment area

Nerve density is not uniform across the skin. The face has a much higher concentration of nerve endings than the back of the hand or upper arm. Eyelid skin and the area around the eyes ranks among the most sensitive surfaces on the body. Body spots on the back, shoulders, or legs are usually treated without numbing cream by many people without significant discomfort. Face and eye-adjacent spots almost always benefit from the full numbing protocol. For a full overview of safety considerations by treatment area, see Is the Plasma Pen Safe?

Who needs a stronger numbing approach

People treating face spots, eyelid-adjacent spots, or a larger surface area in one session benefit from applying numbing cream a full 30 to 40 minutes before starting (not 20). Using an occlusive wrap such as plastic wrap over the cream during that wait time speeds absorption into the skin and increases the effective depth of numbing. People with low baseline pain tolerance will notice the difference. People treating body spots in a low-density nerve area may not need the cream at all, though it never hurts to use it.

How numbing cream works on the skin

Topical anesthetics used for skin procedures are typically lidocaine-based. Lidocaine works by temporarily blocking sodium channels in nerve cells, which stops the nerve from transmitting a pain signal to the brain. When applied to intact skin at the right concentration, it numbs the surface and the layers immediately beneath it. The Mayo Clinic describes topical lidocaine as appropriate for minor skin procedures including needle insertions and minor surface work.

For plasma pen specifically, this is directly useful. The plasma arc delivered by the pen works at the skin surface and the very upper dermis. That is exactly where lidocaine acts when applied correctly. The numbing does not interfere with the treatment outcome. It simply makes the sensation of the arc much easier to tolerate. The cream numbs; the pen treats.

Which numbing cream works best for plasma pen?

Three categories cover what is available. The practical differences are concentration, availability, and cost per use.

OcuraLife Advanced Numbing Cream

The straightforward choice for anyone using the OcuraLife Plasma Pen. It is formulated for pre-treatment skin preparation and matched to the device's use case. Apply it 20-30 minutes before treatment, let it sit undisturbed, then wipe it off completely before you start. Available at OcuraLife Advanced Numbing Cream and in the Ultimate Bundle alongside the pen and aftercare products.

EMLA and clinical-grade creams

EMLA (a combination of lidocaine and prilocaine) is a well-established clinical numbing cream. It is available by prescription in the US and over-the-counter in some other markets. It works well for skin surface procedures. Prescription access and per-unit cost make it less convenient than an OTC option for at-home use, but if you already have it, it is a valid choice. Apply with the same timing protocol: 20-30 minutes minimum, 30-40 for face.

OTC drugstore numbing creams

Many drugstore brands contain 4 percent lidocaine. This is lower than clinical-grade options and may be less effective for face and eyelid-adjacent spots, where higher nerve density means you want reliable numbing. For body spots or areas with lower baseline sensitivity, a 4 percent OTC cream works for many people. If you try a drugstore cream and still find the treatment uncomfortable on the face, switching to a higher-concentration option for those sessions is the fix.

How to numb your skin before treatment

The protocol is four steps. Do them in order and the numbing works as intended.

Step 1: clean the area

Wash and dry the spot and a small area around it. No moisturizer, no oil, no residue on the skin. The plasma arc needs clean skin to make proper contact. Any film between the pen tip and the skin reduces the precision of the arc.

Step 2: apply numbing cream generously

Cover the spot and a small border around it. Use enough cream to form a visible layer on the skin surface. Do not rub it in as you would a moisturizer. The goal is for the cream to sit on the surface and absorb into the upper layers over time, not to be massaged away. If you are treating an area on the face close to the eye, apply carefully and avoid getting cream in or near the eye itself.

Step 3: wait the full time

20-30 minutes for most body areas. 30-40 minutes for the face, eye-adjacent areas, and any high-sensitivity zone. If you are using an occlusive wrap over the cream (plastic wrap pressed gently against the skin), absorption speeds up and the effective depth increases. Set a timer. Starting too early means the cream has not had time to fully penetrate, and the numbing will be incomplete for the first few spots you treat.

Step 4: wipe clean and treat

Remove all of the cream with a clean damp cloth. Dry the skin completely. Then proceed with the plasma pen session. This step is important: residue left on the skin can create a film that the plasma arc has to work through. A clean, dry surface gives you the most precise and consistent results. Once the skin is clean and dry, you are ready to treat.

The full painless protocol, start to finish

This is the complete checklist for a comfortable plasma pen session, from preparation through healing. The same protocol applies whether you are treating one spot or several in the same session.

What to skip and when not to numb

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends consulting a dermatologist before any at-home skin procedure if you are unsure whether the spot you are treating is benign. That rule applies here: numbing cream and a plasma pen are for confirmed benign cosmetic spots only. Any growth that bleeds spontaneously, grows rapidly, has irregular borders, or has changed color is a dermatologist visit, not an at-home session. See Is the Plasma Pen Safe? for the full safety guidance. The MedlinePlus skin conditions guide is a reliable starting point if you want an independent overview of what warrants professional evaluation.

What OcuraLife customers have said about the numbing routine

"It's like bringing the derm to your bathroom." — Vanessa, VERIFIED CUSTOMER

OcuraLife has served 28,000+ customers. The Plasma Pen holds a 4.87 out of 5 rating across 433 verified reviews. Customers consistently describe the numbing cream as the step that made the process feel manageable, especially for facial spots. The protocol described on this page reflects how the device is designed to be used: numbing cream before, healing patches after, sun protection once the skin renews.

Read all 433 verified customer reviews ›

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about numbing for plasma pen treatment

Below are the questions people ask most often before their first session.

↓ Tap each question to reveal the answer.

The bottom line

Numbing cream is not required, but it makes plasma pen treatment noticeably more comfortable, especially on the face and any area close to the eye. The protocol is simple: apply 20 to 30 minutes before (30 to 40 for face), wipe clean and dry before treating, then let the skin heal. A small scab forms, falls off by Day 3-7, and clear skin is visible by Week 2-3.

The OcuraLife Plasma Pen handles the full range of cosmetic blemishes at home: skin tags, milia, cherry angiomas, sebaceous hyperplasia, age spots, and more. Nine power settings, single-use sterile tips, and a 90-day money-back guarantee. You can also find it reviewed as part of our roundup at Best At-Home Plasma Pen 2026.

Related guides in this series

• Does the Plasma Pen Actually Work? The Honest Answer (the evidence)
• Best At-Home Plasma Pen 2026 (roundup and buyer guide)
• Is the Plasma Pen Safe? (full safety reference)
• Is the Plasma Pen Safe? (the full safety reference)