Pore-guided needle insertion: a simple technique to reduce pain during local anesthesia

J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2026 Feb 5. doi: 10.1111/ddg.16006. Online ahead of print.

Local anesthesia is commonly used for a wide range of dermatologic procedures including biopsies, cauterization, excision, and surgical wound reconstruction. The injection of local anesthetic is often considered the most painful aspect of these procedures and is frequently the event most remembered by patients after the intervention. As such, the reduction of pain associated with local infiltrative anesthesia during dermatologic procedures is essential. Adequate pain control directly contributes to patient satisfaction, reduces perioperative anxiety, and can improve cooperation during the procedure while decreasing the risk of psychological trauma and future aversion to medical care.

The initial insertion of the needle while administering local anesthesia can be painful, especially in areas of the face with high nerve density. While several methods to reduce pain associated with local anesthesia have been described, the authors demonstrate a technique of needle insertion through a pore, which we believe can be an additional method to provide a less painful experience to patients.

PMID:41645462 | DOI:10.1111/ddg.16006