A common formulation that is compounded for dermatology offices is BLT cream. This formulation includes a combination of anesthetic ingredients that work together to numb the skin prior to a cosmetic treatment or skin procedure. Cosmetic treatments are becoming more popular and many patients are looking for the most comfortable experience possible. A topical anesthetic cream can make procedures like Botox and filler injections, microneedling, and hair removal pain-free experiences.
BLT cream contains three anesthetic ingredients – benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine. Typically the formulation strength can be adjusted by changing the lidocaine percentage. The formulation usually has 20% benzocaine with 4% tetracaine and a lidocaine strength that varies between 6%-10%. The exception would be a formulation that excludes benzocaine, for example a formulation that includes 23% lidocaine with 7% tetracaine.