This chemical is used as a topical anesthetic and found in hundreds of over the counter medical products.

Analgesics
Astringents
Burn and wound preparations
Corn and wart treatments
Cough medications
Ear preparations
Hemorrhoid creams and suppositories

Please be aware that if your spouse or significant other uses topical skin care products that contain this chemical, skin-to-skin transfer may occur to you. Also it may take 2 to 3 weeks of avoiding exposure before improvement of your eruption begins.


Notify your primary care physician and dentist of your sensitivity to Benzocaine. Benzocaine-sensitive individuals may have cross-reactions to some injectable local anesthetics such as Novacaine (Procaine), Monocaine and Pontocaine. Additionally, benzocaine sensitive individuals may have cross-reactions to "sulfa" drugs.

If you are allergic to Benzocaine, you may also react to sunscreen and creams containing PABA (sunscreens) and to permanent hair dyes.

Other names you see Benzocaine listed as:
  4-Aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester
  Aethoform
  Americaine
  Anesthane
  Anesthesin
  Anesthone
  Ethyl 4-aminobenzoate
  Ethyl aminobenzoate
  Orthesin
  p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester
  Parathesin

Possible occupational Exposures:
    Dentists
    Nurses
    Radiologic Technicians
    Pharmacists
    Physicians

Mouth and gum treatments
Foot care products
Poison ivy remedies
Sore throat medications
Sunburn remedies
Teething remedies
Toothache and denture irritation creams

Where is it found?

What is it?

Hints on avoiding:

Novacaine (Procaine)
Monocaine
Pontocain
"Sulfa" drugs

Possible cross-reactions may occur with other chemicals: