Heel lancing produces acute cutaneous tissue injury, inflammation, and release of chemical mediators which activate and sensitize the peripheral heat and mechanical nociceptors. In a longitudinal study of preterm infants born 27 to 32 weeks postconception age exposed to heel lancing, the repeated NFW threshold testing demonstrated a 50% reduction for the affected heel compared to the noninjured heel, indicating increased pain sensitivity on the side of heel lancing. When a topical cream (lidocaine and prilocaine eutectic mixture; EMLA) was applied to the damaged skin area, the hypersensitivity (measured by the NFW threshold) was reversed. However, placebo cream treatment had no effect