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Here are a few of the most common methods of pain management. Try these first. If these don't work well enough, you might consider Topical anesthetics.
Popular options
Over-the-counter pain medications: Many find that over-the-counter analgesics are enough to dull the pain: Advil, Alleve, Tylenol, regular aspirin (although you may want to avoid salicylates, which interfere with blood clotting in some people). Many take this in conjunction with other methods listed here.
Antihistamines: This is not a pain management tip, but it can make your session more comfortable. You may find an antihistamine tablet or nasal spray like Dristan can help reduce sneezing and the amount of mucus your nose produces while working on your upper lip. Some find these also help reduce swelling.
Antacids: Kathy writes: "I would like to pass on something I have stumbled across recently which has helped mitigate a significant amount of discomfort from electrolysis. I have been taking Pepcid AC an hour before my treatments and it works. Of course it is still uncomfortable but it is much more tolerable. I do not have any idea how it works but it does. This was passed on to me by a friend who regularly has her legs waxed. I hope it can help others."
Ice: Some people like to numb the area with ice before treatment, although some electrologists and almost all waxers prefer the skin to be normal temperature during treatment. Check with yours first. Wrap an ice cube in a wet washcloth or inside a plastic bag. Some like to freeze pieces of wet tissue to use. If you don't like the water dripping everywhere as the ice melts, you might try one of those reusable frozen packs for use in coolers, or one of those gelpacks they make to put over your eyes. You don't need a lot of icing-- five minutes before starting, then for as long as needed as you move to a new area. This may also reduce swelling. For some, this slows the process down too much. Some lasers use ice before and during treatment, while others use cooled gel or a cryogenic spray immediately before the pulse.
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