A
topical anesthetic is a
local anesthetic that is used to numb the surface of a body part. They can be used to numb any area of the
skin as well as the front of the
eyeball, the inside of the
nose,
ear or
throat, the
anus and the
genital area. Topical anesthetics are available in creams, ointments, aerosols, sprays, lotions, and jellies. Examples include
benzocaine,
butamben,
dibucaine,
lidocaine,
oxybuprocaine,
pramoxine,
proparacaine,
proxymetacaine, and
tetracaine (also named amethocaine) all derived from the natural chemical
cocaine from the
coca plant which is still used for some medical procedures such as
rhinoplasties.