what is lidocaine and prilocaine cream used for

Lidocaine and prilocaine cream is a topical anesthetic that causes numbness or loss of feeling on the skin or in the genital area. It is used to prevent pain before certain medical procedures such as inserting a needle, skin grafts, or skin laser surgery. It works by temporarily numbing the skin and surrounding area. The cream should only be used on normal skin and the genital area, and should not be applied to broken/irritated skin or open wounds unless directed by a doctor. The cream should not be applied near the eyes or on open wounds. If the cream alone cannot completely numb the area being treated, it may be used to numb the area before a lidocaine injection is given to provide enough pain relief for certain procedures.