Commentary: A prospective comparison between neutralizing the pH of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine (buffering) and pre-operative skin cooling in reducing the pain of infiltration of local anesthetic.

Dermatologic surgeons have long been trying to find ways to eliminate patient discomfort associated with dermatologic procedures. Although some dermatologic procedures, such as facial resurfacing and extensive procedures performed on children, require intravenous or general anesthesia, dermatologic surgical procedures usually require only local anesthesia, which is frequently administered via injection, to eliminate pain at the surgical site. The article by Mohammed Alshahwan, MD, titled “A Prospective Comparison Between Neutralizing the pH of 1% Lidocaine with Epinephrine (Buffering) and Preoperative Skin Cooling in Reducing the Pain of Infiltration of Local Anesthetic,” addresses the pain inherent in infusion of local anesthetic.