Topical Anesthesia - An Overview

Introduction

Anesthesia is used to reduce the pain effects. Anesthesia can be delivered by many different means. It is delivered by various modes like inhaling, injecting, or directly applying it to the skin to numb the area. Topical anesthesia is very popular due to its easy usage and mild effects. This topic explains topical anesthesia, how it works, its use, advantages, and side effects.

What Is Topical Anesthesia?

Topical anesthesia is the anesthetic agent used to numb the body's surface. It results in a brief lack of sensation in the area where it is applied. Topical anesthesia can numb any body area by using it over the skin. They are available in many forms, like creams, gels, sprays, lotions, and ointments.

What Are the Uses of Topical Anesthesia?

Topical anesthesia is used mainly to relieve pain. However, it is used in many different fields to overcome pain. Usage of topical anesthesia are:

• On the surface of the eye to numb them before any eye surgery.

• In dentistry, numb the oral tissues before working on the soft tissues.

• In neonates for circumcision.

• Before any nerve block injections to lower the pain during the needle pricking.

• By dermatologists before starting any skin procedures.

• To treat bee strings.

• To treat minor burns.

• To treat sunburns.

• To treat insect bites.

• To treat mouth and gum irritation.

• To treat hemorrhoids (swollen veins in rectum).

• To treat boils.

• To treat premature ejaculation.

What Is the Purpose of Topical Anesthesia?

The purpose of topical anesthesia is to relieve the pain in the area. On application of topical anesthesia, the site gets numb and starts blocking the sensation of the nerve related to the area. Hence, the patient receives no sense and no pain, and any procedure can be performed on the site with topical anesthesia.

How Does Topical Anesthesia Work?

Topical anesthesia is applied directly to the skin or mucus membranes to numb the area. It causes temporary loss of sensation and pain. It works on the nerve fibers associated with the site. Initially, it stops the flow of sodium ions. These sodium ions are required to generate the impulses. When no impulses are generated as no sodium ions are present, no transmission of nerve signals occurs. It causes no sensation. Hence no pain is felt during any painful procedure.

What Are the Different Forms of Topical Anesthesia?

Topical anesthesia is present in different forms. They are available in creams, ointments, aerosols, sprays, lotions, jellies, and patches.

What Are the Types of Topical Anesthesia?

There are many types of topical anesthetic present in various forms. But some commonly used topical anesthetics are:

• Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthesia (EMLA) - The eutectic mixture of local anesthesia (EMLA) is a cream or lotion that is made up of 2.5 percent Lidocaine and Prilocaine in an equal quantity. When mixed in equal quantities by weight, they form a eutectic mixture with a lower melting point than the individual solid forms.

• Vision-Gel - It is a Benzocaine 20 percent gel form of topical anesthesia that is not used in children under two years of age. It relieves minor mouth problems like cankers, sore gums, and gum injury.

• Anesthetic Drops - Tetracaine hydrochloride or Cinchocain hydrochloride are used in droplet forms. Tetracaine hydrochloride is mainly used to numb eyes before surgery or tests. The eye drop forms are also present to relieve the pain. Cinchocaine hydrochloride is used primarily for skin itchiness, cuts, sunburns, or insect bites.

• Xylocaine Aerosol - Lidocaine 10 percent are used in aerosols. These aerosols are used to lubricate and insert instruments in the human body for medical procedures. Medical examinations of the nose, throat, or stomach require inserting instruments that can cause discomfort to the patient without topical anesthesia.

What Are the Advantages of Topical Anesthesia?

The advantages of topical anesthesia are as follows:

• The side effects of topical anesthesia are mild and can be manageable.

• The patient can use it alone, or any doctor can use it without a specialized doctor for anesthesia (anesthesiologist).

• No aspirations are taken care of, as in cases for injections.

• Easy to use, no complexity in usage.

• They are not so costly.

• The patient has a temporary loss of sensation, which is gained soon.

• The patient can go home more quickly after the treatment.

What Are the Side Effects Related to Topical Anesthesia?

Side effects related to topical anesthesia are as follows:

• Nausea.

• Dizziness.

• Vomiting.

• Constipation.

• Headaches.

• Itchiness.

• Impaired sense of taste (dysgeusia).

• Ringing or buzzing noise in the ears (tinnitus).

• Fever.

• Painful urination (dysuria).

• Abdominal pain.

• Irregular heartbeat.

• Insomnia (when a person is unable to sleep).

How Long Does the Effect of Topical Anesthesia Last?

Topical anesthesia lasts for one to two hours. It can not last for more than two hours. The effect of topical anesthesia wears off soon. So the procedure performed under it are of short duration.

Can a Child Get Topical Anesthesia?

Yes, child patients or neonates can get topical anesthesia. Topical anesthesia is beneficial in child patients as it inhibits the pain sensations by applying a cream on the skin. Many child procedures are performed under topical anesthesia. Systems requiring topical anesthesia are placing a cannula, diagnosing with specific tests, vaccinations, and procedures to remove tissues (curettages), and abnormal tiny blood vessels (port wine stains).

Who Cannot Use Topical Anesthesia?

A topical anesthetic cannot be administered in the following conditions:

• Individuals with an allergy to local anesthesia.

• Individuals have a previous local infection in the area of topical application.

Conclusion

Topical anesthesia is very popular due to its increasing demand. It is beneficial as it relieves the pain sensation to perform any procedure on the area. It is even a patient-friendly product as the patient can apply it himself. It is in different forms like aerosols, gel, ointments, or jellies. They have even been in use on child patients. Topical anesthesia is used in various procedures like laser surgery, eye surgery, dental procedures, sunburns, and cannulation. Its purpose, indications, advantages, side effects, and individuals for whom topical anesthesia can not be used are mentioned above in the article.