DERMATITIS FROM LOCAL ANESTHETICS

Abstract

A localized dermatitis as a result of contact with a local anesthetic topically applied or a well generalized dermatitis as a result of becoming sensitized to the drug appears sufficiently often to warrant a review of the subject. Such an irritation almost always occurs because of a hypersensitiveness of the skin resulting from a previous contact to that particular local anesthetic. Among dentists, dermatitis of this type has appeared frequently on the hands and elsewhere from procaine (novocain®) often causing considerable disability before the causal factor was recognized. It is now a matter of common knowledge among dentists, and consequently comparatively few cases are reported in the literature at present. Other cases of dermatitis are reported among users of ointments and creams containing local anesthetics, especially when used to relieve pruritus, and particularly in the presence of an already irritated skin. Such cases have been observed frequently by dermatologists since