US health officials have warned that people who use large amounts of skin-numbing creams and lotions are at risk of irregular heartbeats, seizures, and even death. Topical anesthetics, often used in conjunction with cosmetic procedures, can be applied in amounts so large that a lethal dose of the chemicals can enter the bloodstream. Leaving the creams on the skin for long periods of time or on large portions of their bodies can increase the risk of seizures, coma, and death.
Numbing creams and lotions are available both by prescription and over the counter and are FDA approved to soothe burning or itching skin as well as pain before, during and after various procedures. They contain numbing drugs that can include lidocaine, tetracaine, benzocaine and prilocaine.
