Evaluating the efficacy of local anesthetic techniques during scalp microneedling

Abstract

IntroductionAn increasing interest in minimally invasive procedures hassled to a demand for an effective local anesthetic algorithm. The scalp presents a challenge in achieving effective anesthesia due to the presence of hair shafts. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of different methods during a microneedling procedure, including 25 mg lidocaine and 25 mg prilocaine cream, skin spray with 10% lidocaine, and cold gel compresses.Materials and MethodsSixty‐two men aged between 20 and 50 years underwent three microneedling treatments, each using a different method of anesthesia. The treatment area was divided into two equal parts, with one part exposed to a specific anesthetic method. Patients were asked to rate their pain on a 0–10 verbal analog scale. An attempt was made to objectify the results using algometry.ResultsA negative correlation was observed between the algometry results and the VAS score after the application of the cream and cold compresses.DiscussionWhen choosing monotherapy, it is recommended to use cold gel compresses for scalp microneedling after considering the advantages and disadvantages of different methods.