Author:
Monica Porter
Date Of Creation:
19 March 2021
Update Date:
27 June 2024
Content
There are many reasons why we should temporarily numb our skin. Such as relieving pain during an injury or preparing it before the injection in the clinic. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for you to find out which works best for your situation.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Pain relief
Use an ice pack. When you apply ice, the cold will constrict your blood vessels, help reduce blood flow and possibly reduce swelling, soreness and muscle spasm. This method is quite effective at relieving pain with bruises and minor wounds.
- If you don't have an ice pack in the freezer, you can use an ice pack with ice cubes or frozen vegetables.
- Always wrap ice in a towel rather than directly on the skin. It will prevent you from cold burns.
- After 20 minutes, lift the ice pack and wait for the skin to warm again. After 10 minutes, you can replace the ice pack on the skin if needed.
Numb small areas with anesthetic cream. These creams are commonly sold in drugstores and can soothe sunburned areas, minor burns, insect bites, stings, and minor scratches. Always consult your doctor if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, want to use it with a child or the elderly, or are taking other medications, herbs, or substances that may cause side effects with topical medications. Read and follow the instructions on the package.- These products can be purchased at your local pharmacy in the form of sprays, ointments, lotions, patches and bandages.
- Medications may include: benzocaine, benzocaine and methol, butamben, dibucaine, lidocaine, pramoxine, pramoxine and methol, tetracaine, or tetracaine and methol. If you are unsure about the dosage or frequency of use, consult your doctor. Your doctor will advise you based on your current condition and medical history.
- Check the expiry date. Do not take expired medicine.
- Stop taking the medication and see your doctor if you see no improvement after a week, the wound becomes infected, a rash or starts burning or burning. Symptoms of an overdose include vision loss, confusion, seizures, dizziness, feeling too hot, too cold or numb, headache, sweating, tinnitus, fast heart rate, or unusually slow, difficult breathing, drowsiness. If you have these symptoms, see your doctor or call an ambulance right away.
Take a pain reliever. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain caused by arthritis, muscle aches, toothache, fever, gout, back pain, headache, and menstrual cramps. These drugs are usually sold at local pharmacies. Many can relieve pain in just a few hours. Do not use for several days without consulting a doctor. Always consult your doctor before using these medications if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, want to use it for children, or are taking other medications, herbs, or supplements.- Common medicines include: Aspirin (Anacin, Bayer, Excedrin), ketoprofen (Orudis KT), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen sodium (Aleve). Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers as it can cause Reye's syndrome.
- Do not take these medications without consulting your doctor if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure, hepatitis, allergies to these drugs, hemophilia, asthma, or taking medications that could cause an adverse reaction. pain relievers such as warfarin, lithium, cardiovascular medicine, arthritis medicine, vitamins, and others.
- Common side effects include numbness, swelling, heartburn, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. If you have these symptoms or any of these side effects, seek immediate medical attention.
Method 2 of 2: Prepare pain relievers
Ask your doctor about cold spray. Ethyl chloride (Cryogesic) can be sprayed onto the skin just before pain begins. The liquid sprayed onto the skin will leave you feeling cool as it evaporates. Your skin will heat up in a few minutes. Aerosols are only effective for pain relief until your skin is warm again.- You can do this right before your baby gets the shot. It can be a viable alternative when your child is allergic to other anesthetics.
- Do not use cold spray regularly or more than what is allowed by your doctor. It can cause cold burns.
- Always read and follow the instructions on the packaging. Consult your doctor before giving it to young children or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Do not spray on eyes, nose, mouth or open wounds.
Discuss topical creams with your doctor. If your doctor recommends that you need pain relievers for the procedure, you may be given an anesthetic first. Your doctor may ask you to put a bandage on the site of the medication as it penetrates your skin. Do not apply the medicine to your nose, mouth, ears, eyes, genitals, or damaged skin. There are two commonly used drugs:
- Tetracaine (Ametop Gel). This gel is applied to the skin 30 to 45 minutes prior to the procedure that requires anesthesia. You can wash off the medication right before starting the procedure. Your skin will be numbed for up to 6 hours. It can cause redness of your skin when taking the medicine.
- Lidocaine and prilocaine (EMLA cream). You can apply it one hour in advance and then rinse it off right before starting the procedure. The drug lasts up to two hours. A side effect of the medication is that your skin may look pale.
Discuss other anesthetic medications with your doctor. If the doctor thinks that a topical anesthetic may not be effective enough, they will recommend a wide-area anesthesia. This is most often used in subcutaneous, birthing, or surgical procedures. It may include:
- Local anesthesia. Local anesthesia does not make you lethargic, but an anesthetic will be applied over a larger area of skin than a local anesthetic. You may be anesthetized with a local injection. When you have an epidural at birth, your doctor will numb the area to numb the lower half of your body.
- Comprehensive anesthesia. This is used in many surgical procedures. You may receive anesthesia by injecting medication into a vein or by breathing in anesthetic gas. Side effects can include: nausea, vomiting, a dry throat, coldness, fatigue.
