Dermoplast is a numbing spray that provides fast, temporary relief for perineal soreness after vaginal delivery. The spray contains 20% benzocaine (a topical anesthetic) and 0.5% menthol (a cooling agent), and you can apply it up to 6 times per day. Most people find it works best as part of a simple bathroom routine that takes about a minute once you get the hang of it.
Step-by-Step Application
The spray fits into your postpartum bathroom routine in a specific order. Each time you use the toilet:
- Cleanse first. Use your peri bottle (the squirt bottle you got at the hospital) to rinse the perineal area with warm water. If you prefer, you can also cleanse with mild soap and warm water, or use a perineal cleansing pad.
- Pat dry gently. Don’t wipe. Use toilet paper or a soft cloth to pat from front to back until the area is dry. The spray works best on dry skin.
- Shake the can. Give it a few good shakes before each use.
- Hold it 6 to 12 inches away. Point the nozzle toward the sore area and press the button. A short burst is usually enough to cover the perineum. You don’t need to soak the area.
- Place your pad. Once the spray has landed, position a fresh maternity pad (with or without a witch hazel pad on top) into your underwear.
The numbness kicks in within seconds. That cooling sensation from the menthol hits first, followed by the deeper numbing effect of the benzocaine. Most people feel meaningful relief for about 30 to 60 minutes per application.
How Often You Can Use It
You can apply Dermoplast up to 6 times in a 24-hour period. In the first few days postpartum, many people use it nearly every bathroom trip. As soreness decreases over the first week or two, you’ll naturally need it less often. There’s no set timeline for stopping. Just use it as long as you’re still sore.
Getting the Angle Right
The trickiest part of using Dermoplast is actually reaching the right spot. The perineum isn’t the easiest area to aim at while sitting on a toilet. A few tips that help: lean slightly forward, reach behind you, and spray from back to front. Some people find it easier to stand with one foot on the edge of the bathtub. You can also use a small mirror the first time to check your aim, though most people figure out the feel of it quickly.
The spray comes out in a fine mist, so you don’t need to be perfectly precise. Holding the can within that 6 to 12 inch range gives you the best coverage without concentrating the spray too heavily in one spot.
Where It Helps
Dermoplast is labeled for general perineal discomfort, which covers the main sources of postpartum pain in that area: soreness from stretching during delivery, stitches from a tear or episiotomy, and swollen hemorrhoids. The same application technique works for all of these. You don’t need to target each area separately since the spray mist covers a wide enough area to reach everything.
Safety While Breastfeeding
Topical benzocaine applied to the perineum is unlikely to affect a breastfed infant, according to the National Institutes of Health’s LactMed database. The key rule: do not apply Dermoplast to your breast or nipple area. Benzocaine has been linked to a serious blood condition in children under 2 who ingest it directly. When used on the perineum as directed, absorption into the bloodstream is minimal and no published data has found detectable levels in breast milk.
Signs to Watch For
Most people use Dermoplast without any issues, but a small number of people are sensitive to benzocaine. Stop using the spray if you notice a rash, increased burning or stinging that gets worse rather than better, blistering, or swelling at the application site. A brief sting on contact is normal, especially on raw or stitched skin. What’s not normal is irritation that intensifies or doesn’t fade within a minute or two.
Hospital Strength vs. Regular
You may see two versions of Dermoplast: the blue can (Pain, Burn & Itch) and the red can (Hospital Strength or Post Partum). Both contain 20% benzocaine and 0.5% menthol with the same active ingredients at the same concentrations. The hospital version is the one typically stocked in labor and delivery units and is specifically labeled for postpartum use. If you’re buying your own, either version contains the same pain-relieving formula, but the red can is marketed with postpartum instructions.
Many hospitals send you home with a can, but they run out fast. Picking up a backup before your due date saves a painful trip to the store later. Keep the can at room temperature and store it within arm’s reach of the toilet for those first rough days.