A pain free way to get a surgery: Numbing cream

Numbing cream is a type of cream which is used in a small area of the skin to make it numb. The numbing cream will soak into your skin  and numbs the nerve in that area to reduce pain before shots or any minor procedures. It is often used by caregivers or parents at the time of certain procedures.

Numbing cream is sometimes also called emla or lmx cream. Numbing creams are useful for blocking the sodium channels in our body, so the nerves, which send the sensation to the skin, will not transmit the pain signals. These creams are used at the time of  cosmetic appointments or surgery as well. Especially when it comes to using it for minor surgery. It is a popular cream used before receiving a tattoo. 

Advantages of numbing cream 

There are so many uses of numbing creams. It consists of different kinds of applications:

• To relieve severe tingle when a person get contacted with poison ivy.
• To prep the area before doing any minor types of surgery.
• To minimize pain from dermatological procedures.
• To help in relieving the pain while hair removal procedures like waxing.
• To experience less pain from skin injuries like dermatitis, or sunburn.
• To get relief from pain that include areas where body piercing  or tattooing has been performed. 
• It can be used only on normal, which is free from brokerage. You can also use it on the outer genital area in order to prevent the pain before procedures like waxing or hair-removal.

Ingredients of numbing cream

If you have used or known anything about the numbing cream, then you must be familiar with the name lidocaine. Lidocaine acts as an anesthetic. It provides relief to the pain. Lidocaine is mainly found in numbing creams like numbex cream, cipla 8x cream and nipcare cream.

The main ingredients in a numbing cream are:-

• Pramoxine  proctofoam, (sarna sensitive, prax)
• Dibucaine (rectacaine, nupercainal)
• Tetracaine pontocaine, (ametop gel,  viractin) 
• Benzocaine (solarcaine, lanacane,  dermoplast)

How to use a numbing cream

Take advice of your doctor and follow the instructions prescribed on the prescription while using the numbing cream. Numbing cream is to be applied at home for few hours before going for a surgery, according to the prescription provided by your surgeon. Your doctor will advise you how to apply the cream? How long will you apply it? Is it having any side effects on your skin? Other details to apply the numbing cream are:-

• Use a pea sized amount of numbing cream to apply on the place to be numbed.
• Do not apply the numbing cream over a huge portion of your skin.
• Avoid applying the numbing cream on the delicate or acute parts like lips, genital areas, etc 
• Avoid exposure to heat where numbing cream is applied. 
• Do not use anything to made up of plastic to cover the area where numbing cream was applied. 
• Consult your doctor first before covering the area where you have used the numbing cream to numb the specific part of your body to keep the cream on that particular area. 
• Do not apply the numbing cream on your skin where you have got a cut or wound. While applying the numbing cream make sure to weigh the child first as the dosages are entrenched the weight of the child.
• Keep away from reach of your children do not let them apply the numbing cream without any adults advise. 
• Do not keep the numbing cream under the sunlight or anything that is a source of heat.
• Keep the numbing cream on a cool place or at normal temperature.

How to numb skin medically

Doctors use numbing cream as anesthetics. These are also available to use at home:

• Benzocaine (solarcaine, lanacane,  dermoplast)
• Pramoxine  proctofoam, (sarna sensitive, prax)
• Dibucaine (rectacaine, nupercainal)
• Tetracaine pontocaine, (ametop gel,  viractin) 
• Lidocaine (dermoplast, lidorx, lidoderm) 

How to apply the cream at home

To apply the numbing cream, follow these steps:

• Wash your hands and the area where the numbing cream will be placed.
• Apply a dose on the skin that is about the size of a quarter. Apply on the place you need to numb. Do not rub it in. Do not put it on open wounds. Do not place the numbing cream on your hands. Thoroughly wash your hands after applying the cream.
• You may need to cover the area with a plastic, non-stick dressing that is sometimes referred to as “press’n seal.”The cream will begin to numb the site within 15 minutes after it is applied. However, it will take 20 to 60 minutes to provide pain relief, depending on the medication used. Apply the numbing cream and put it on for one hour for children aging under 12 weeks and put the cream, on the children aging 12 weeks or older for four hours.
• Touch the spot with your fingernail. To know exactly that the numbing cream is working on the kid you need to verify that your kid does not feel any kind of sensation.
• Wipe the numbing cream off with a clean cloth and disinfect the area before the procedure. It will continue to work for 1 to 2 hours after it has been removed. 
• Wash your hands. For any queries feel free to ask.

How to apply it

Press the tube and let the numbing cream out on the place you want it to be applied. Do not use your hand to spread it. Keep the track of the time when you applied the cream on the respective area. Wash your hands thoroughly using a handwash or soap with water or cleanse your hand with a hand sanitizer. If you are going to apply the numbing cream remove the dressing first and also remove the extra cream with the help of a tissue. Check if the cream has been absorbed by the skin if it has, then you do not need to wipe it off.

Numbing cream is neither bad for your skin nor for your health. But you should use it as prescribed, excess use of it may have side effects on your skin.