The 33-Year-Old Who Had a Heart Scare From Tattoo Numbing Cream

We break down a real 2023 medical case report so you can use numbing products safely - not fearfully.

Medical case reports are single-patient stories, not proof that a product is dangerous - but they teach us a lot. This one is worth knowing [1].

What happened

A 33-year-old woman applied a lidocaine + epinephrine numbing gel to her chest multiple times before and during a tattoo. She then developed a fast heart rate, high blood pressure, headache, chest pain, nausea and anxiety. In the ER, labs showed severe lactic acidosis and an NSTEMI pattern on her heart tracing.

Signs reported in the Cureus 2023 epinephrine-toxicity case

Sign / symptom Reported in case
Tachycardia (fast heart rate) Yes
Elevated blood pressure Yes
Headache, chest pain Yes
Nausea, vomiting, anxiety Yes
Severe lactic acidosis Yes (lab)
NSTEMI (heart stress pattern) Yes (ECG/labs)
Outcome Recovered after hospital admission

She recovered after hospital admission - but the case is a clear reminder that 'topical' does not mean 'zero systemic effect,' especially with vasoconstrictors and repeated, large applications [1].

Safe-use checklist: follow the label exactly, don't over-apply, avoid covering larger areas than needed, and stop and get help if you feel unwell.

References

  1. Fateha MJ, Willsie P (2023). Epinephrine-Containing Topical Anesthetic Gel Inducing Systemic Epinephrine Toxicity: A Case Report. Cureus 15(9). DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44844. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.44844

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general education only and is not medical advice. Follow your product label and consult a healthcare professional with health conditions or concerns.

Shop proven numbing creams at https://www.numbingcream.cc

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