Have you ever wondered about anesthesia procedures like endoscopy, minor surgeries, and dental procedures used? BLT cream is used in various medical situations with the need for stronger anesthesia, but the use of needles is undesirable. In addition, some patients do not just like needles, especially on the sensitive parts of the skin, making using a numbing cream the most efficient.

However, this numbing cream doesn't work on certain parts of the body, like the palms or the soles of your feet, because there is insufficient penetration of the numbing ingredients. If you are wondering what BLT cream is and what it is used for, here is a detailed explanation.

What Is BLT Numbing Cream?

BLT cream is an anesthetic content that contains three active ingredients: benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine. Although it is known to be the best numbing cream worldwide for use in most cosmetic and dental procedures, it also works in laser treatments. In addition, Benzocaine, Lidocaine, and Tetracaine(BLT) can also be used to perform endoscopy and suppress gag reflexes. The effects of this cream usually pick up in under one minute, and then it lasts up to 60 minutes.

The components of BLT cream have the following percentages:

• Benzocaine is 20% and is one of the most common components of most anesthetics today. It takes effect very fast, and many people tolerate it well.
• Lidocaine is 8 % and has been popular since its discovery in the 1940s. It inhibits local neurons from sending any signals to the brain.
• Tetracaine is 4 %. It is a longer-acting anesthetic that alters the functioning of ryanodine receptors that manage intracellular calcium release. It has a longer onset compared to the other two components.

What Is It Used For?

The BLT numbing cream offers adequate cutaneous anesthesia in the early 15 minutes after application. It causes contact sensitization which depends on the duration of the contact. Local anesthesia can lead to a reversible obstruction of the nerve condition by reducing the nerve membrane permeability to sodium. This, in turn, reduces the membrane depolarization rate enhancing a threshold for electrical excitability.

It is used on intact skin in adults, providing topical local analgesia for superficial dermatological procedures like the following:

• Before a tattoo, the working mechanism of tattoo needles is simple; they bob up and down quickly. Thus, local anesthesia is always needed to help numb the skin area where the drawing is done.
• Other uses include micro-blading, laser tattoo removal, facial laser resurfacing, dermal filler injection, and pulsed dye laser therapy.

When applied to the designated area, BLT blocks sodium ion channels required to conduct neural impulses. This then results in local anesthesia. When applied to the skin, BLT cream will provide local dermal analgesia by releasing all its components into your skin.

BLT cream is an important and effective anesthetic agent. However, it is important to follow the instructions closely before use, and it is best to use it under supervision. Always ensure it does not get into contact with your eyes and only apply it to intact skin.