Emla Cream for Local Anaesthesia
Emla is an anesthetic produced in the form of topical cream which can be used to temporarily numb the chosen areas of the skin to perform a potentially painful or discomforting operation. Because of its specifically designed formula, Emla Cream can be safely used in adults, children and infants over 12 months of age.
There are a number of possible applications of this cream, which consist of applying it before performing any of the following procedures:
- Vaccinations, blood tests, and other types of procedures that include the use of syringes;
- Minor surgical procedures that would otherwise prove painful or uncomfortable;
- Cosmetic and aesthetic procedures, such laser hair removal or wart removal;
- Body piercing, tattoos, and other similar operations.
There are a number of other applications of Emla cream, which only apply to adults (e.g. medical procedures in the area of genitals). Such application is usually made based on the recommendation from your doctor, who may decide that this drug is best suited to perform the given procedure. This drug is rarely used along with other pain-relief medications since it is able to deliver all the necessary anesthetic effects on its own. Note that Emla cream itself is not a painkiller - it works on a completely different mechanism which allows it to hold the pain signal that is emitted by the nerves in affected areas of the skin from reaching the brain, effectively preventing the sensations of pain. This medication contains 2.5% lignocaine and 2.5% prilocaine; both of these medical substances belong to the drug class of anesthetics, which do not directly influence brain or body function, but instead deliver a highly precise, pinpoint effect on the nerves located beneath the skin. Whether you wish to buy lidocaine prilocaine cream online or acquire it locally, you should know that this medication should be used strictly for the indicated purposes - it is not advised to use Emla as a pain relief drug against any other conditions (e.g. physical injury, rheumatism, muscle ache, etc.).
Using Emla Cream to Help with Vaccination
Emla cream can be a very handy solution to relieve pain and discomfort for children and infants who are going through a vaccination. Naturally, your child will most likely oppose an upcoming vaccination procedure if she knows it is going to be painful or stressing, so it is a good idea to use some kind of anesthesia to ensure there would be no pain during and after the needle prick. You may think that it is not healthy to use any extra drugs on young child, but the stress from pain that is accumulated both for her and for you as her mom or dad can become a matter of much more serious trouble. Psychologists believe that forcing a child to undergo potentially painful procedures in succession may in some cases lead to a buildup of subconscious distrust or weariness in regard to her parents' decisions, especially if the child is not consoled afterwards. As for the safety of the drug, the formulation of Emla cream has been tested thousands of times in a series of clinical trials, confirming its efficiency and absence of harmful aftereffects. This drug has earned an exceedingly high reputation among parents who had trouble with fussy and irritable kids. Needless to say, as any other medication Emla does have certain precautions and possible side effects, but they are usually very rare and tend to be minor in most cases. While it is possible to buy Emla cream online to help with the vaccination process for children, parents who wish to do so should still consult with a professional pediatrician, especially if their child is under 18 months old. For the sake of additional safety of using Emla cream, provided below is a simple yet essential list of instructions necessary to use with medication at its full potential:
- Emla cream needs to be applied to the place of vaccine injection one hour prior to the procedure;
- The injection is usually made into the thigh or arm, for infants and older children respectively. To confirm the place of injection, you may call the doctorÃs office where the procedure will be made and inquire of any additional details. At this time, if you have any additional questions about the use of Emla, the doctor or nurse will be able to provide them for you;
- You should always inform the nurse if you have applied Emla cream prior to vaccination, and show them where it was applied;
- In most cases, you will need to put a specific dressing which resembles a band-aid on the area where Emla was applied. This dressing may be included with the product or you may need to purchase separately. If you buy lidocaine prilocaine cream online, make sure you pay attention if the specific product you chose includes spare dressings within the package or if you will need to purchase them in addition to it;
- If you are unsure as to how exactly to apply this medication, view the following section on this page.
Instructions on Using Emla Cream
Usually, your pharmacist, doctor or nurse will instruct you of the proper ways to use this medication. If you buy Emla cream online and do not have access to such information, make sure you thoroughly read the instructions leaflet provided within the product package before applying this medication.
Provided below are some of the basic directions intended to guide you through the process of treatment with Emla:
- Emla Cream is to be applied at least 1 hour prior to any type of cosmetic or minor medical operation. For more advanced purposes, such as skin surgery, the term of application is commonly 2 hours prior to the operation;
- Once you have selected the area upon which you will apply the cream, squeeze a thick layer upon the area, without spreading it too widely or rubbing it in. The layer of Emla cream should be approximately 5mm thick and have 20mm in diameter, but may vary depending on the procedure you are going to commence;
- Have a specific dressing ready, it is usually included within the product package and resembles a band-aid.
- Peel off and remove the center layer of protective paper from the dressing. Place the dressing directly above the layer of cream so that it would be placed right in the middle of the dressing;
- Gently apply the dressing on the affected area, tightly sealing the edges with the skin. Remove any remaining protective paper;
- Keep the dressing in place for at least 60 minutes. Depending on the procedure you are undergoing, you may need to wait for an additional period of time;
When the time of the procedure comes, your doctor or nurse will remove the dressing and clean off any remaining cream. Any procedures should to be performed only when all the traces of Emla cream have been removed.