Lidocaine cream is a topical anesthetic that numbs the skin. It works by temporarily blocking nerve signals in the applied area, preventing pain messages from reaching the brain. This effect is useful for minor discomforts like sunburns, insect bites, or scrapes. It is also often used before medical procedures, such as injections or blood draws, to reduce pain.
Preparing for and Applying Lidocaine Cream
Before applying lidocaine cream, prepare the skin. Clean the area with mild soap and water, avoiding harsh cleansers like alcohol or acetone, which can remove natural skin oils. Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the cream to prevent accidental numbing.
Always follow the instructions provided with your specific lidocaine cream or by your healthcare professional. For general pain relief, a thin layer may be sufficient, gently spread over the affected area. For procedures requiring deeper numbing, a thick layer is often applied, sometimes without rubbing it into the skin.
Lidocaine cream typically begins to numb the skin within 30 to 60 minutes after application, with the numbing effect lasting approximately three hours. For certain applications, particularly before medical procedures, a healthcare provider might instruct you to cover the cream with an occlusive dressing, such as a special bandage or plastic wrap. This covering helps keep the cream in place and can enhance its absorption, but should only be done if specifically directed.
Important Safety Warnings
Lidocaine cream should only be applied to intact skin. Avoid using it on broken, irritated, infected skin, open wounds, or burns, unless a doctor advises otherwise. Applying the cream to such areas can increase lidocaine absorption, raising the risk of unwanted effects. Keep the cream away from sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth, nose, mucous membranes, and ears.
Using too much lidocaine cream, applying it to large areas, or leaving it on for longer than recommended can lead to excessive absorption into the bloodstream, resulting in serious health complications. Unless specifically instructed by a medical professional, do not cover the treated area with bandages or plastic wrap, as occlusion significantly increases skin absorption and can be hazardous. Always keep lidocaine cream out of reach of children and pets, and it should not be used for teething pain in infants.
Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as G6PD deficiency, heart problems, lung disease, or severe liver disease, should inform their doctor before using lidocaine cream, as these conditions can affect how the body processes the medication and increase the risk of side effects. It is also important to disclose any known allergies to lidocaine or other local anesthetics before use.
Understanding Side Effects
Most people experience no side effects from lidocaine cream, or only mild ones at the application site. Common mild reactions include temporary redness, slight swelling, a burning sensation, tingling, or itching. The skin might also appear paler than usual. These minor effects typically resolve on their own once the cream is removed.
More serious side effects, though rare, can occur if too much lidocaine is absorbed into the body. Allergic reactions can manifest as a rash, hives, severe itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, and difficulty breathing. A rare but serious blood disorder called methemoglobinemia can also occur, characterized by pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nails, headache, dizziness, confusion, a fast heartbeat, or unusual tiredness. Infants and the elderly may have an increased risk for this condition.
Signs of systemic toxicity, or an overdose, may include dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, confusion, restlessness, muscle twitches, and in severe cases, seizures, a slow or irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or cardiac arrest. If any severe side effects, signs of methemoglobinemia, or overdose symptoms appear, seek immediate medical attention.