Once you have decided to get a tattoo, you will start researching about tattoos and different methods of tattooing. You may have come across numbing cream for tattoos. It is a topical anaesthetic that can be used to reduce pain associated with getting a tattoo. Since tattoos take several hours to complete, the pain of having a needle repeatedly insert ink into your skin can be excruciating.
Using tattoo numbing cream before getting a tattoo can make the experience more comfortable. It’s not clinically proven to increase healing time or reduce the chance of infection, but it does help reduce pain and allows you to better enjoy your tattoo-getting experience.
- What Is a Numbing Cream for Tattoo?
Numbing creams are a topical ointment that you apply directly to the skin before getting a tattoo. The cream creates a barrier between your skin and the tattoo needle. This creates numbness in the area where it is applied, thereby reducing pain while providing hours of pain relief. Some tattoo artists even suggest using numbing cream before getting a piercing to reduce pain during initial healing.
- How Does the Numbing Cream Work?
Numbing cream is used to reduce the pain of tattooing. It contains ingredients that block nerve impulses. With less pain, the tattooing procedure is more comfortable and can be completed in a shorter amount of time. The numbing effect lasts only a few hours, so you may need to reapply to get the full effect.
Numbing cream contains lidocaine, which is a type of topical anaesthetic that numbs the skin. It works by preventing signals from reaching your brain. While this makes the area feel numb, it doesn’t make you pass out or lose sensation.
Topical anaesthetics are often used in tattooing because they are easy to apply and have few side effects. They are also preferred over injections because of the risk of infection when needles are used on open wounds.
Most tattoo artists recommend using a numbing cream at least 30 minutes before you start getting tattooed. This will give the product time to take effect and allow you to relax during the process.
- How Do I Apply Numbing Cream for Tattoo?
You will usually want to use a small amount of this cream on the area where you wish to get tattooed. A common mistake that people make is using too much of it, which can make the area feel extremely numb, but it can also make it difficult for the tattoo artist to see what they are doing. You should apply this cream about an hour before your appointment so that it has enough time to work effectively.
- Takeaway
The bottom line is that numbing cream works and works really well. How much better? That’ll depend on your pain tolerance and how much you apply. But in all cases, it will be considerably more comfortable. If you haven’t already tried it out, or if you’re still on the fence about using it, it’s worth a shot.