The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to six companies for marketing unapproved and misbranded pain-relief products containing high levels of lidocaine. These creams, commonly used to alleviate pain associated with cosmetic procedures such as microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, tattoos, and piercings, may pose dangerous health risks.

In a press release, Jill Furman, the director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, emphasized the unacceptable risks these products pose to consumers and stressed the FDA's commitment to employing all available tools to halt the sale of these illegal high-risk products.

The primary concern with these pain-relief creams is the excessive concentration of lidocaine, which can lead to severe side effects, including irregular heartbeat, seizures, and breathing issues. Additionally, if applied to a large portion of the skin or irritated skin, it can cause serious injury.

To ensure safety, the FDA recommends avoiding products that contain more than 4% lidocaine, refraining from using them on large areas of skin, and not wrapping the product with dressings or plastic wraps.

The FDA listed the following products found to have higher-than-allowed concentrations of lidocaine:

- TKTX Numb Maximum Strength Pain Reliever, TKTX During Procedure Numbing Gel, and J-CAIN cream.
- NumbSkin Lidocaine Numbing Creams.
- Signature Tattoo Numbing Cream and Miracle Numb Spray.
- Painless Tattoo Numbing Cream and Painless Tattoo Numbing Spray.
- New & Improved Blue Gel, Superior Super Juice, Premium Pro Plus, Five-Star Vasocaine, and Maximum Zone 1.
- INK-EEZE Original B Numb Numbing Gel, INK-EEZE B Numb Numbing Spray Black Label, and INK-EEZE B Numb Numbing Foam Soap.

For more information on the specific products mentioned, readers can refer to the FDA's warning.

As consumers, it is vital to be aware of the risks associated with these pain-relief creams. Proper usage and adherence to the FDA's recommendations can help mitigate potential harm.