Prilox Cream
✅ Topical numbing cream
✅ Fast-acting relief
✅ Lidocaine & Prilocaine
✅ Effective anesthesia
✅ Ideal for minor procedures
Prilox Cream contains Lidocaine & Prilocaine.
✓ Medically reviewed by Morgan Ellis — Pharmacy Researcher · 8 years experience · Last reviewed: May 2026
⚡ Quick Answer — What is Prilox Cream?
Prilox Cream is a topical local anaesthetic cream containing lidocaine 2.5% + prilocaine 2.5% — the “EMLA” (Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics) formulation. It is used to numb the skin before minor procedures: injections, blood draws, IV cannulation (especially in children), laser hair removal, tattoo work, superficial skin biopsies, and genital-area minor procedures. Apply a thick layer under an occlusive dressing at least 60 minutes before the procedure (max 5 hours).
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Prilox Cream is a topical preparation of lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%, formulated as a eutectic mixture so that the two crystalline local anaesthetics form a single oil at room temperature — a format that penetrates intact skin far better than either agent alone. This is the same active composition as the original Astra brand EMLA Cream, which has been the global reference product for topical skin anaesthesia since the 1980s.
Prilox Cream is widely used in paediatric practice, aesthetic dermatology, and outpatient procedure clinics to reduce procedural pain without injected anaesthesia. In particular, it has transformed the experience of needle procedures (vaccinations, blood tests, IV cannulation) for children.
What Is Prilox Cream Used For?
- Injections and venepuncture — vaccinations, blood draws, IV cannulation (especially in children)
- Laser hair removal, laser resurfacing, IPL — to reduce procedural discomfort
- Tattoo work — outline and colour phase discomfort
- Superficial skin biopsies, shave biopsies, curettage
- Minor dermatological procedures — mole removal, wart treatment
- Genital-area minor procedures — molluscum treatment, genital-wart freezing, circumcision premedication
- Central venous line insertion (as adjunct to infiltrated anaesthesia)
- Pain associated with chronic leg ulcers during dressing changes
- Premedication before intramuscular injections in needle-phobic patients
How to Apply Prilox Cream
- Ensure the skin is clean and completely intact (do not use on broken, eczematous, or infected skin).
- Apply a thick layer of cream — approximately 1–2 grams per 10 cm² — to the area you want numbed. Do not rub in. The cream should sit on top of the skin as a visible layer.
- Cover with an occlusive dressing (clear plastic film, Tegaderm, or the dressing supplied with the product). Occlusion is essential — without it, most of the anaesthetic evaporates before it can penetrate.
- Leave in place for at least 60 minutes before the procedure. Maximum 5 hours. Typical timings: 60 min for superficial procedures; 90–120 min for laser hair removal; 120 min for deeper needle procedures.
- Just before the procedure, remove the dressing and wipe off residual cream with a dry gauze.
- The skin will remain numb for a further 1–2 hours after removal.
Area and dose limits depend on age and body weight:
- Adults: up to 60 g cream on up to 600 cm² for up to 5 hours
- Children 7–12 years: up to 20 g on up to 200 cm²
- Children 1–6 years: up to 10 g on up to 100 cm²
- Children 3–11 months: up to 2 g on up to 20 cm²
- Infants < 3 months: single 1 g application for up to 1 hour, maximum once in 24 hours (risk of methaemoglobinaemia)
Methaemoglobinaemia warning. Prilocaine can rarely cause methaemoglobinaemia — a condition where red blood cells cannot carry oxygen efficiently, giving the skin and lips a bluish tinge. Risk is highest in infants under 3 months, in patients with G6PD deficiency, and in those on methaemoglobin-inducing drugs (sulphonamides, nitrates, dapsone). Stick strictly to the age- and area-based dose limits above.
Who Should Not Use Prilox Cream?
- Known hypersensitivity to lidocaine, prilocaine, or any other amide-type local anaesthetic
- Broken, inflamed, infected, or eczematous skin at the application site
- Methaemoglobinaemia or congenital predisposition (G6PD deficiency)
- Infants younger than 37 weeks gestational age
- Do not use near the eyes — can cause corneal injury and chemical burns
- Do not use inside the ear (risk of ototoxicity if there is a perforated eardrum)
- Do not use on the oral mucosa or inside the mouth — rapid absorption and risk of toxicity
Side Effects
- Common: transient paleness (whitening) of the skin, mild redness, mild itching or burning at application site — all usually resolve within 1–2 hours of removing the cream
- Uncommon: contact dermatitis, swelling, petechiae
- Rare: methaemoglobinaemia (infants, G6PD deficiency, excess dose), systemic local-anaesthetic toxicity (if absorbed through broken skin or used on large areas), allergic reaction
Ordering & Delivery
MedsBase offers worldwide shipping on every order. Orders are dispatched in discreet packaging and arrive in branded manufacturer packs. If your preferred pack size is out of stock, contact customer support for an ETA.
Medical disclaimer. The information on this page is provided for general education only. It is not a substitute for advice from your own doctor or pharmacist. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Prilox Cream used for?
Prilox Cream (lidocaine + prilocaine) is a topical anaesthetic used to numb intact skin before minor procedures — injections, blood tests, IV cannulation (especially in children), laser hair removal, tattoo work, superficial biopsies, and genital-area minor procedures.
Is Prilox Cream the same as EMLA Cream?
Yes — same formulation (lidocaine 2.5% + prilocaine 2.5% eutectic mixture). EMLA is the original Astra/Recipharm brand; Prilox is a clinically equivalent generic.
How long before the procedure should I apply the cream?
At least 60 minutes, ideally 90–120 minutes for laser hair removal or deeper needle procedures. Do not apply less than 60 minutes before — the cream will not have penetrated sufficiently.
Why do I need an occlusive dressing?
Without an occlusive dressing (clear plastic film, Tegaderm, or cling film), the cream mostly evaporates and absorption into the skin is minimal. The dressing is essential for the anaesthetic effect.
How long does the numbness last after removal?
Skin remains numb for 1–2 hours after removing the cream. This is usually long enough for the procedure plus clean-up.
Can I use Prilox Cream on my face?
Yes, for laser hair removal, tattoo removal, or minor procedures — but avoid the area very close to the eyes (corneal injury risk) and do not apply inside the mouth or nose.
Can I use Prilox Cream on my child?
Yes, at age-appropriate doses. For most children above 1 year, Prilox is well tolerated. For infants under 3 months, use only on specialist medical advice because of methaemoglobinaemia risk.
Can I use Prilox Cream on broken skin?
No. Application on broken, infected, or eczematous skin leads to unpredictable systemic absorption and higher toxicity risk. Apply only to intact skin.
Why has my skin turned pale?
Transient blanching (whitening) of the skin is a direct effect of the vasoconstriction caused by the cream. It is common, harmless, and resolves within 1–2 hours of removal.
Can I use Prilox Cream before tattooing?
Yes — this is a common off-label use. Apply to the tattoo area 60–90 minutes before the session, under occlusive dressing. Discuss with your tattoo artist first; some prefer certain brands or avoid pre-treatment due to effect on skin elasticity.
Is Prilox Cream safe in pregnancy?
Topical use for short courses in small areas is generally considered acceptable during pregnancy. Discuss with your obstetrician if larger areas or frequent use are planned.
Patients needing a faster-onset surface anaesthetic without the 60-minute occlusion required by EMLA can use Lox 2% Jelly (lidocaine 2% topical) — onset within 2–5 minutes, well-suited to procedural numbing and as a topical aid for delayed ejaculation.
See also: Lox 2% Jelly (lidocaine) — Neon Labs lidocaine 2% topical gel for haemorrhoids, urinary catheterisation, premature ejaculation and minor procedures.
Prilox Cream (lidocaine 2.5 % + prilocaine 2.5 %, the EMLA formulation) needs 30–60 minutes under occlusion to work; for fast surface anaesthesia of skin or mucous membranes immediately before a minor procedure, Lox 10 % Spray (lidocaine 10 % topical) delivers a metered dose with onset in 1–3 minutes.
Prilox Cream combines lidocaine and prilocaine for topical numbing before minor procedures, while injected anaesthesia is frequently enhanced with Hynidase Injection (hyaluronidase 1500 IU), an enzyme adjuvant that improves dispersion and shortens the time to a working block.
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| Strength | 5 g |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 1 Tube/s, 2 Tube/s, 3 Tube/s, 6 Tube/s |
Prilox Cream
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