A new study from British researchers suggests that giving infants an oral sugar solution for pain relief after medical procedures only changes the baby's facial expressions, and doesn't actually provide pain relief.

MORE INFO Video: Sugar May Not Be Sweet Solution To Child's Pain

But, a new study from British researchers suggests that the sweet solution only changes the baby's facial expressions, giving a false impression that pain has been relieved.  Fifty-nine healthy newborns were pricked in their heel to draw needed blood samples.

Half of the infants were given a sugar solution and the other half was given a sterile water solution. Doctors then recorded the brain and spinal cord responses, as well as the physical responses, of both groups.

Both groups showed similar pain activity in the brain. But, the newborns who did not get sugar looked like they were in pain, with their facial expressions, and the ones who got sugar appeared to be in less pain.

Researchers suggest the sugar might hinder facial expressions, even though the pain is still there. The results challenge existing medical practices. While some scientists think new procedures should be put into place because of the findings, others believe the study was too small to recommend significant changes to the practice.