What is the procedure called when medications are administered by injecting an anesthetic into the skin?

The procedure of injecting an anesthetic into the skin is specifically termed an intradermal injection. This technique involves delivering a small volume of medication into the dermis, which is the layer of skin just beneath the epidermis. It is commonly used for local anesthesia, allergy testing, and certain vaccinations.

Local anesthetic refers to the category of medications used to induce a temporary loss of sensation in a specific area of the body, but it does not specifically denote the method of administration. Retrobulbar injection refers to a technique used to deliver anesthetic behind the eyeball for procedures involving the eye, while intravenous anesthesia involves delivering anesthetic agents directly into the bloodstream through a vein. Therefore, intradermal injection is indeed the precise term for the procedure described.