EMLA-induced methemoglobinemia after laser-assisted hair removal procedure

This is the case of a 23-year-old female with a past medical history of ADHD and Depression who was evaluated in the emergency department for perioral cyanosis and hypoxia after application of the eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine (EMLA) local anesthetic prior to a laser-assisted hair removal procedure. This report illustrates a case of methemoglobinemia which is a rare but significant complication of topical anesthetic use.