FDA warns on skin numbing products

Rockville, United States, January 17: Skin numbing products carry life threatening risks, warns FDA.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a Public Health Advisory to alert consumers, patients, health care professionals, and caregivers about potentially serious and life-threatening side effects from the improper use of skin numbing products. The products, also known as topical anesthetics, are available in over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription forms.

Skin numbing products are used to desensitize nerve endings that lie near the surface of the skin, causing a numbness of the skin. These topical anesthetics contain anesthetic drugs such as lidocaine, tetracaine, benzocaine, and prilocaine in a cream, ointment, or gel. When applied to the skin surface, they can be absorbed into the blood stream and, if used improperly, may cause life-threatening side effects, such as irregular heartbeat, seizures, breathing difficulties, coma, or even death.

Patients who are prescribed topical anesthetics should consider using an anesthetic that contains the lowest possible amount of pain killer drug. Also, health care professionals should determine whether adequate pain relief can be safely achieved with a topical anesthetic, or whether a different treatment would be more appropriate.

The FDA strongly advises consumers not to: make heavy application of topical anesthetic products over large areas of skin; use formulations that are stronger or more concentrated than necessary; apply these products to irritated or broken skin; wrap the treated skin with plastic wrap or other dressings; and apply heat from a heating pad to skin treated with these products.

Patients should talk with their health care professional if they are considering using a topical anesthetic before a mammogramdefine.