A Provider's Comparison

BLT vs EMLA vs Lidocaine

Compounded Triple-Anesthetic BLT

Three kinds of topical numbing sit on treatment-room shelves: compounded BLT, EMLA and over-the-counter lidocaine. They differ in how many anesthetics they carry, how long patients wait, whether the skin gets wrapped and who is allowed to buy them. Here is how they compare.

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At a Glance

Three Formulas, Side by Side

Wait times follow each product's own directions. Always Numb™ figures are for our compounded BLT.

Always Numb™ BLT
~15 min
Benzocaine 20% · Lidocaine 10% · Tetracaine 10% · No wrap · Licensed providers
EMLA
~60 min
Lidocaine 2.5% · Prilocaine 2.5% · Under an occlusive dressing per label · Prescription
OTC Lidocaine
4–5%
Lidocaine only · Wait varies by product · Over the counter
The Strongest Numbing Cream?

Strength Is More
Than One Number

"Strongest" usually gets read as the highest percentage on the label. For a procedure, three things decide how strong a topical feels to the patient.

◆
How Many Agents
A single anesthetic works one way. BLT combines three that act at different speeds and depths: benzocaine at the surface, lidocaine as the core, tetracaine deeper and longer.
◆
How Much of Each
Over-the-counter numbing creams are typically single-agent lidocaine at 4 to 5%. EMLA carries 5% in total. Compounded BLT carries about 40% across its three agents, which is why it is supplied only to licensed providers.
◆
How It Is Applied
Wait time, wrapping and removal change the result as much as the formula does. A cream that needs an hour under a dressing fits a different schedule than one that works in fifteen minutes uncovered.
Where Each One Fits

A Fair Look
at All Three

Compounded BLT
Always Numb™
Built for procedures that go below the surface: microneedling, injectables, laser and tattoo work. Fast onset and a 2–4 hour window, applied uncovered and removed before treatment. Its strength is exactly why it needs a clinical protocol and a licensed buyer.
EMLA
Lidocaine · Prilocaine
A long-established prescription cream with extensive clinical history. Its label calls for an occlusive dressing and a longer wait, a workflow that suits small areas and scheduled procedures more than a busy aesthetic book.
OTC Lidocaine
Lidocaine 4–5%
Easy to buy and familiar to patients. A single agent at a low concentration, made for minor surface discomfort rather than procedures that reach the dermis.
Whichever You Choose

The Same Safety
Rules Apply

The FDA advises against heavy application of topical anesthetics over large areas, applying them to broken or irritated skin, wrapping treated skin unless a product's directions call for it, and adding heat. The more potent the cream, the more those rules matter.

Match the Area
Numb the area you are treating in that session, not more. Split large areas across visits.
Follow the Directions
Each product has its own wait time and wrapping instructions. Always Numb™ is applied uncovered and removed before treatment.
Questions

Comparison FAQ

BLT carries three anesthetics at about 40% combined; EMLA carries two at 5% combined. BLT also starts working faster in practice and is applied without a dressing. That strength is why BLT is supplied only to licensed providers working to a clinical protocol.
Over-the-counter numbing creams in the U.S. are typically single-agent lidocaine at 4 to 5%. Multi-agent compounds such as BLT go through licensed providers. Always Numb™ is not sold to patients.
Its three agents reach working depth in about 15 minutes on their own. Wrapping increases absorption, so with a potent compound the protocol is to apply it uncovered, wait, and remove it completely before treatment.
Call (310) 889-0733. Our team sets up your provider account and confirms your formulation. Each order is compounded fresh by our 503A partner pharmacy.

Three Agents.
Fifteen Minutes.

Compounded fresh per order for licensed providers.

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