Lidocaine vs. BLT Cream: Which Numbing Cream is Better?
Lidocaine has long been used for skin numbing before performing minimally invasive skin procedures. Centura pharma manufactures and sells LidoPlus lidocaine. However, the best numbing cream is one which provides and maintains anesthesia throughout the treatment. To provide maximum comfort to the patient, it’s vital that the patient feels no pain during the procedure.
Lidocaine is considered an effective numbing cream for procedures like laser resurfacing, microneedling, and tattoo removal. However, BLT cream can do much better. Keep reading to find out more.
Is there a stronger numbing cream than lidocaine?
Lidocaine is a topical anesthetic and is used in ointment, cream, and gel formulations. Two OTC strengths of lidocaine are available; Lidocaine 4% is approved for topical anesthetic use, and Lidocaine 5% is approved for anorectal pain. Its onset of action ranges between 3 to 5 minutes.
Lidocaine cream takes around 30 minutes to produce optimum analgesia, which lasts roughly for around 60 minutes.
While lidocaine is a potent numbing agent, it still uses a single active ingredient to produce analgesia. This is where BLT numbing cream, which uses a combination of different topical anesthetics, comes in.
What is BLT Numbing Cream?
Abbreviated for Benzocaine, Lidocaine, and Tetracaine, BLT numbing cream is an effective topical anesthetic which uses three active ingredients to produce effective analgesia. It is available in both compounded and over-the-counter preparations.
Compounded BLT Cream
Compounded BLT cream constitutes all three active ingredients (benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine) in a single preparation. Its strength can be adjusted and is only compounded on prescription.
Prescription-Free BLT Cream
Over-the-counter BLT cream comes in individual sachets and is available without prescription. Because of the safety regulations, the active ingredients in the over-the-counter BLT numbing cream sachets are maintained in the following maximum allowable strengths:
- Benzocaine: 20%
- Lidocaine: 4%
- Tetracaine: 2%
Why use BLT cream over Lidocaine?
Since BLT creams incorporate three potent analgesics, it provides maximum analgesic effect. It’s because each topical anesthetic agent in the trio works through a different time period on the patient’s skin.
Centura Pharmaceuticals BLT Cream is FDA-registered, prescription-free BLT cream manufactured by Centura Pharmaceuticals.
Formulated by a team of accomplished pharmacists, Centura Pharmaceuticals BLT Numbing Cream has a smooth, grit-free texture and thick consistency which allows it to adhere to skin for a longer period, thus providing optimum analgesia for a prolonged period.
The product is specifically designed for dermatologists, estheticians, and cosmetologists in clinics, offices, and spa centers.
Centura BLT Cream contains the following active ingredients:
Benzocaine: The 20% strength of benzocaine provides rapid onset of action within a minute, lasting for around 10 minutes.
Lidocaine: The 4% strength of lidocaine produces anesthesia within minutes, which further lasts for up to 30 minutes.
Tetracaine: The 2% strength is the maximum allowable, safest concentration of tetracaine which maintains anesthesia for an hour.
Wrap Up
The combined analgesic effect of benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine in Centura BLT cream provides a stronger anesthetic effect than lidocaine alone. Centura Pharmaceuticals sells LidoPlus lidocaine for those who desire moderate moderate pain relief. BLT cream provides significant numbing before performing any intense skin procedure while still adhering to quality and safety standards.
