J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026 Apr;25(4):e70865. doi: 10.1111/jocd.70865.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Effective pain management is essential for enhancing patient satisfaction and treatment compliance during facial rejuvenation procedures. Compound lidocaine cream and lidocaine-prilocaine cream are commonly used topical anesthetics in clinical practice; however, high-quality randomized controlled trials directly comparing their analgesic efficacy and safety in facial rejuvenation remain limited.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of compound lidocaine cream and lidocaine-prilocaine cream in patients undergoing facial rejuvenation procedures.
METHODS: This single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial enrolled 100 patients undergoing facial rejuvenation between January 2024 and June 2025. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either compound lidocaine cream (n = 47) or lidocaine-prilocaine cream (n = 53). The primary outcome was procedural pain intensity, assessed using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included the incidence of adverse reactions, patient satisfaction, and treatment compliance.
RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups (p > 0.05). The mean pain score was significantly lower in the compound lidocaine cream group than in the lidocaine-prilocaine cream group (2.51 ± 1.80 vs. 3.75 ± 1.74; t = -3.48, p < 0.001). Adverse reactions occurred in 4.3% (2/47) of patients in the compound lidocaine cream group and 11.3% (6/53) in the lidocaine-prilocaine cream group, with no statistically significant difference between groups (χ2 = 1.89, p = 0.169).
CONCLUSION: Compound lidocaine cream demonstrated superior analgesic efficacy in this clinical comparison; however, differences in anesthetic concentration, application technique, and lack of participant blinding should be considered when interpreting these findings. Larger studies with standardized dosing and blinding are warranted.
PMID:42003110 | DOI:10.1111/jocd.70865
