Rolling Meadows, IL – March 11, 2003.  A novel topical anesthetic that provides safe and effective pain relief in 30 minutes will give new meaning to cosmetic “lunchtime” procedures performed by dermatologic surgeons in the office, predicts Tina Alster, MD., a renowned laser expert in Washington, DC.  The anesthetic is applied to the skin as a cream which air dries into a flexible film that is easily peeled off without any messy residue.  Not yet cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the peel is in Phase III clinical trials.

Presenting at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting, Dr. Alster reported on her recently published study comparing the new S-Caine peel to EMLA cream on 20 patients undergoing single-pass CO₂ laser resurfacing.  Ninety-five percent of patients noted adequate pain relief for the laser treatment with the use of the peel compared to 20 percent with the EMLA cream.  (Dermatologic Surgery 2002; 28:11)

“Unlike topical creams that require long periods of occlusion (wrapping) before taking effect, the peel offers a novel anesthetic delivery system that works quickly and penetrates deep into the skin tissue to totally numb the face,” said Dr. Alster, who is a spokesperson for the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.  “Plus, the peel is neat, non invasive, and side effects are temporary and minimal. For busy patients on their lunch hour, they can undergo treatment and still have time to grab a bite.” 

Dr. Alster shared data from a second clinical study that enrolled 60 patients to evaluate the clinical efficacy and optimal application time of the peel prior to pulsed dye laser treatment of broken facial capillaries.  Results of the double-blind, placebo controlled protocol showed that all patients experienced significant pain reduction with the peel as the sole anesthetic. An application time of 20 or 30 minutes was rated as effective as 60 minutes in achieving sufficient pain relief. 

In conclusion, Dr Alster noted that the high level of efficacy and patient satisfaction, particularly its rapid mode of action, makes the peel an exciting new anesthetic agent.  She expects that it will revolutionize pain management for a host of outpatient procedures – from no downtime cosmetic techniques like wrinkle fillers and nonablative skin rejuvenation to a variety of laser treatments, especially those involving children or needle-phobic adults who require a noninvasive anesthetic.  According to Dr. Alster, the potential use of the S-Caine peel in dermatologic surgery may even preclude the need for intravenous sedation in single-pass laser procedures. 

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery was founded in 1970 to promote excellence in the field of medically-necessary and cosmetic dermatologic surgery and to foster the highest standards of patient care. For more information on wrinkle fillers and referrals to board-certified specialists in specific geographic areas, please contact the ASDS Consumer Hotline, 1-800-441-ASDS (2737), during weekday business hours or log on to www.aboutskinsurgery.org

For more information, contact:
Nadine Tosk, 504.483.6957

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