Effect of Topical Anesthetics on Pain Perception during Scalp Platelet-rich Plasma Injections

    July 2026 in “ Current Medical Issues ”
    Lakshmi Bhuvaneswaran Kartha, Subin Susan Mathew, Sheethal Jose, S. Gowri Mahasampath, CV Dincy Peter, Leni George, Gauri Dinesh Mahabal, Priya Sara Kuryan, Susanne Pulimood
    TLDR Topical anesthetics don't effectively reduce pain during scalp PRP injections.
    A study involving 40 subjects (30 males, 10 females) evaluated the effectiveness of topical anesthetics in reducing pain during scalp platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for androgenetic alopecia. The results showed that the use of EMLA, a topical anesthetic, was inadequate for pain control, with moderate pain levels reported immediately after the procedure (mean NPRS = 6.28) and reduced but still present pain 24 hours later (mean NPRS = 3.76). The study found that younger and more anxious patients experienced higher pain levels, highlighting the need for additional postprocedure analgesics.
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