A doctor or nurse will usually give you a prescription for lidocaine cream or give you the cream itself, before your appointment for your procedure.
Always follow the instructions that come with your cream.
If you're having a cosmetic procedure and have bought lidocaine from a pharmacy to numb the area, tell the person doing the procedure before it starts. It will help them to know that the area has been numbed and you will not feel as much pain.
Dosage
The amount of lidocaine skin cream you use depends on the procedure you're having and the type of lidocaine cream you're using.
Check the instructions that come with the cream or follow the advice of your doctor or nurse.
They may tell you to use a whole tube of cream on each area of your skin, more than 1 tube, or only part of a tube.
How to use it
If you're having a drip or having blood taken, put the lidocaine cream on 1 hour beforehand.
For minor surgery, your doctor may tell you to use the cream more than 1 hour before the procedure.
If the procedure is delayed and the numbing effects of the cream have worn off, ask your doctor or nurse for advice before using any more cream.
- Gently squeeze the tube so the cream goes straight onto the area of skin to be treated.
- Do not rub it in.
- Place a waterproof dressing over the cream to keep it in place. (The dressings come with the cream.)
- Make a note of the time that you put the cream on.
- As soon as you've finished putting the cream on, wash your hands carefully with soap and water.
- When you're about to have your procedure, take off the dressing and wipe off any excess cream with a tissue. You may not need to do this if the cream has soaked into your skin.
Important
Do not use the cream on your eyes, ears, nose or the inside of your mouth, or on your genitals or bottom (anus), unless your doctor tells you to.
How long to use it for
You'll use lidocaine skin cream as a one-off, before a minor procedure like having a blood sample taken.
If you forget to use it
If you forget to use the cream, or you put it on less than 1 hour before your procedure, tell the person who is going to do the procedure. They may want to delay it.
Do not put on extra cream, as this will not make the lidocaine work any faster.
If you use too much
Using more than the recommended amount can cause side effects. This can also happen if you put the cream on a large area of skin, or use it for longer than recommended.
If you've been prescribed lidocaine, you're unlikely to use too much cream, as a doctor or nurse will usually give you the amount you need for a one-off procedure.
Ask a doctor or nurse for advice if you're worried that you may have used too much lidocaine skin cream.