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This patient information on Benzocaine is provided by John L. Meisenheimer, M.D. a board certified Dermatologist and skin care specialist based in Orlando, Florida.  This information is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice or treatment of a dermatologist or other physician.

The results from your patch testing showed a positive reaction (contact allergy) to Benzocaine.  Your immune system reacts with its defense mechanisms with each exposure of benzocaine to your skin.  It is unknown why certain individuals develop allergic sensitivities.  In some it may take repeat exposures over long periods of time before a benzocaine allergy develops.  Once you have become sensitized (allergic) your immune system always "remembers" and you will continue to be benzocaine sensitive.  If you currently have eczema this chemical may be the cause but other factors may play a rile as well.  The information below will help you avoid this allergen.

This chemical is used as a topical anesthetic and found in hundreds of over the counter medical products.

Where is chemical found?

►Analgesics
►Astringents
►Burn and wound preparations
►Corn and wart treatments
►Cough medications
►Ear preparations
►Hemorrhoid creams and suppositories
►Mouth and gum treatments
►Foot care products
►Poison ivy remedies
►Sore throat medications
►Sunburn remedies
►Teething remedies
►Toothache and denture irritation creams

Hints on avoiding Benzocaine:

►Choose products listed only on your personalized Contact Allergen Database, which has been provided to you.  Products listed on your Contact Allergen Resource Database will be free of Benzocaine and safe to use.

►Please be aware that if your spouse or significant other uses topical skin care products that contain this chemical skin-to-skin transfer may occur to you.

►It may take 2 to 3 weeks of avoiding exposure before improvement of your eruption begins.

►Notify your primary care physician and dentist of your sensitivity to Benzocaine.

►If you are allergic to Benzocaine, you may also react to sunscreen and creams containing PABA (sunscreens) and to permanent hair dyes.

►Benzocaine sensitive individuals may have cross-reactions to some injectable local anesthetics such as Novacaine (Procaine), Monocaine and Pontocaine.

►Benzocaine sensitive individuals may have cross-reactions to "sulfa" drugs.

Other names you see Benzocaine listed as:

4-Aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester
Aethoform
Americaine
Anesthane
Anesthesin
Anesthone
Ethyl 4-aminobenzoate
Ethyl aminobenzoate
Orthesin
p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester
Parathesin

Possible occupational Exposures*:

    Dentists
    Nurses
    Radiologic Technicians
    Pharmacists
    Physicians

*Other occupational exposures to benzocaine can occur.

© John L. Meisenheimer, M.D.  2004                                   WWW.OrlandoSkinDoc.com

Last modified: 08/27/06