The Food and Drug Administration on Friday released a statement warning consumers about the potential life threatening effects from topical anesthetics or skin numbing agents, which are sold over the counter or by prescription to treat minor burns, insect bites, poison ivy and minor cuts.

 

The warning follows an FDA advisory issued February 2007, after the deaths of two young women who used topical anesthetics to prepare for laser hair removal.

Topical anesthetics contain lidocaine, tetracaine, benzocaine and prilocaine, substances that are used to desensitize nerve endings near the skin's surface. They are commercialized as creams, ointments or gels. The FDA worries that, if used improperly, such products can be absorbed into the bloodstream and cause reactions such as irregular heartbeat, seizures, breathing difficulties, coma or even death.

 

“When skin temperature increases, the amount of anesthetic reaching the blood stream is unpredictable and the risk of life-threatening side effects increases with greater amounts of lidocaine in the blood,” the FDA said in a statement.

 

The warning targets especially women who use Lidocaine on large skin areas covered with plastic wrap before undergoing mammogram screening. The substance eases the discomfort associated with mammogram. The FDA alert says women should use the lowest dose of topical anesthetic, avoid wrapping or covering their skin, and avoid using topical anesthetics on broken or damaged skin.

 

To report incidents related to topical anesthetics, people can address to the FDA’s MedWatch program at 800-FDA-1088, by mail at MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Md 20852-9787, or online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.

 

More information about the advisory issued by the FDA can be found at http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/topical_anesthetics2009.htm.