Curious about which numbing creams are the best options for your clients? Whether you are performing skincare procedures or providing relief from everyday discomfort, here are a few things to consider:

Different Conditions and Procedures

Every patient or client is different. They have individual skincare needs. This may include skin conditions that you will treat with numbing agents to reduce pain, or procedures that they request or require that you will perform under anesthetic. No matter what, tailor your numbing cream choices to their needs where you can, both in-office and for home use. 

Ingredients

There is a wide variety of active ingredients used for numbing creams. Benzocaine and lidocaine are popular choices, but dozens of other active ingredients are also common in these products. Do your research to find out what benefits each one offers before choosing the formula you will most often use and recommend. 

Base Materials 

While the active ingredients used in numbing products are the most important part of the product, you should also consider the base materials used in producing them. Given that active ingredients only make up a small percentage of the finished cream, oil, or spray, taking a critical look at the other ingredients can help you make the right decision for your clients' unique skincare needs. 

Some clients may be allergic to specific ingredients used in the bases of numbing products. This might include oils, butters, or even laboratory-created ingredients to deliver skincare results. Others may not like how an ingredient makes the numbing agent feel on their skin. This is a concern if the patient will use a product during recovery for tender, post-procedure skin or incorporate the product into their everyday skincare routine. Look for ingredients most patients can use and feel comfortable with to make the best decision for in-house use. 

Dosage Formats

Would your client prefer to use a cream product or one that is applied as an oil? What about the preference for water-based products over oil-based ones, for those prone to acne or other skin conditions? Would a spray format make applications easier and more accessible for them? These are all factors to consider when selecting numbing products to use in your own practice, as well as those to recommend to clients or patients. 

Concentrations and Formulations

While your patients might be certain of which ingredients they want to be used in their procedures or treatment of skin conditions, they might not understand formulations. In many numbing products, common ingredients are present in varying concentrations. These concentrations can make a huge difference in how – and how well – these products work. 

For example, a popular type of numbing product is known as BLT numbing cream. This refers to the three primary active ingredients used in the product: benzocaine, lignocaine, and tetracaine. Patients may have prior experience with this type of numbing product, so they may request a BLT numbing cream as part of their treatment. 

What they might not understand is that these products come in a wide range of formulations and ingredient concentrations. While one product may have a 3% concentration of each active ingredient, another might have a disproportionate percentage of a single ingredient, such as 20% benzocaine to only 5% each of the other ingredients. While both are technically BLT numbing cream products, they will not deliver the same results. The product with the higher concentration of benzocaine would be better suited for more painful procedures or skin conditions than for everyday use, as it is a much stronger numbing product. 

Thankfully, your patients or clients have your help to choose the right products for their needs. By keeping these factors in mind, you can guide them to the right choice for their individual conditions or recovery needs – and help them feel beautiful, healthy, and comfortable in the process.