Safety Study of S-Caine Peel (Skin Numbing Cream) Before a Painful Dermatologic Procedure in Children

The practice of dermatology is seeing a rise in the number of surgical and laser procedures as technological advances have expanded the number of conditions amenable to these evolving therapies. Skin biopsies, shave excisions, deep excisions, electro-surgical procedures, intralesional injections, and laser surgery are frequently performed by dermatologists on a daily basis. Some pain accompanies almost all of these procedures, and a local anesthetic is commonly used. Traditionally, intracutaneous injection of lidocaine (with or without epinephrine) has been the anesthetic of choice. However, patients undergoing these procedures are often afraid of needles and syringes and the pain associated with injections. As a result, topical anesthetic agents have been explored and developed as painless alternatives to injected anesthesia.

S-Caine™ Peel (lidocaine 7% and tetracaine 7% cream) consists of a new eutectic formulation of lidocaine and tetracaine. S-Caine Peel is a topical local anesthetic cream that forms a pliable peel on the skin when exposed to air. S-Caine Peel is not occluded during application.

The pain associated with medical procedures is often under-treated in children. Children often undergo painful procedures with little or no anesthetic, even when effective therapy is available. Reasons for not providing available therapy in children include concerns over adverse side effects, as well as the length of time necessary to provide adequate anesthesia. Recent guidelines strongly advocate for the proactive treatment of pain in children, including the pain associated with medical procedures.