When receiving tattoos, the thought of withstanding pain might deter many. Luckily, technological progress in skin care has brought forth numbing cream that will greatly alleviate pain when receiving a tattoo. This guide takes you through the applications, advantages, and how to apply numbing cream properly to have a smoother, painless tattooing experience.
What Is Numbing Cream and How Do I Use It?
Numbing creams, or topical anesthetics, are put on the skin to cause numbness and prevent pain. The active ingredient that is usually used in numbing creams is lidocaine, a local anesthetic. In disrupting the impulses that travel through nerves in the skin, it successively numbs the stinging pain that you experience during the tattooing process.
- Active Ingredient: Lidocaine is the most widely used anesthetic in numbing creams. It has a temporary effect of blocking nerve impulses.
- Topical Application: It is applied topically on the skin and functions by anesthetizing the nerve endings of the skin.
Why Should You Use Numbing Cream for Tattoos?
Tattooing involves needles piercing the skin over and over again, which can be extremely painful, especially in more sensitive areas of the body. Here’s why numbing creams are helpful:
Pain Relief:
Numbing creams provide pain relief during the process, and it is less painful for individuals with low pain tolerance. It’s the best option for large, intricate tattoos or those on very sensitive areas of the body such as ribs or ankles.
- Reduces sensitivity: Reduces the overall pain of the process.
- Tolerable experience: Makes the process of getting a tattoo bearable for individuals with low pain tolerance.
Less Stress and Anxiety:
A tension-free tattoo session eliminates tension and anxiety, so you are relaxed and at ease. This makes the whole procedure enjoyable and can even enhance the result of your tattoo, as you are relaxed.
- Relaxation: Eliminates tension prior to tattooing.
- Focus: Enables you to concentrate on the tattoo design, not pain.
How to Choose the Right Numbing Cream for Tattoos?
Selecting the appropriate numbing cream is vital to an ache-free tattooing session. The following are the most important things to keep in mind:
Ingredients:
Select creams with Lidocaine or Benzocaine as the active ingredients. Both are powerful and used commonly to numb the skin. Some numbing creams contain more than one active ingredient for better efficiency.
- Lidocaine: Most popular and trusted option to numb.
- Benzocaine: Another powerful anesthetic, used commonly for minor pain.
Strength of the Cream:
The strength of lidocaine decides the degree of numbing cream. Usually, 5% lidocaine is a normal strength that produces quite some pain relief. For long-term pain, you can utilize higher strengths.
- Normal Lidocaine (5%): Suitable for regular discomfort.
- Higher Strengths: Greater percentages are advisable in certain conditions for extremely sensitive skin.
Duration of Action:
Tattoo numbing creams last between 1-2 hours, which is usually long enough for small tattoos. If you’re having a big tattoo, you may need to reapply the cream during your breaks.
- Short-term relief: Suitable for small tattoos.
- Longer sessions: Large tattoos will need to be reapplied.
How to Apply Numbing Cream for a Tattoo?
Putting numbing cream on in the proper way is crucial so that it will be effective. Following is a step-by-step tutorial on how to put numbing cream on prior to your tattooing session.
Clean the Area:
Wash the area free from oils, dirt, and lotions. Clean skin gets absorbed better.
Put a Generous Layer:
Put on a thick, uniform layer of numbing cream on the tattoo area.
Cover with Plastic Wrap:
Some anesthetic creams suggest draping the area with plastic wrap to facilitate better absorption and prevent the cream from breaking down.
Leave It for 30 to 45 Minutes:
Allow the cream to remain on the skin for the length of time advised, generally 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the brand and strength.
Wipe Off the Excess:
Take off excess cream prior to starting the tattoo, so skin is clean and the tattoo artist has open access to the area.
Key Tips:
Don’t overdo it: A little does a lot.
- Try it first: Test the cream on the day before your tattoo sitting to check for any allergic reactions.
- Instructions vary: Different creams have different instructions, so check the packet carefully.
Are There Any Side Effects of Numbing Cream?
Numbing creams can be safely applied, but there are some side effects to watch out for:
Skin Irritation:
There can be mild redness, irritation, or itching at the application site in some individuals. This is most often an allergic response to one of the ingredients.
- Solution: Stop using the cream if irritation occurs and seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Overuse of Numbing Cream:
Excessive use of numbing cream can cause an overdose of the active ingredient, and this can cause nausea, dizziness, or seizures in severe situations.
- Advice: Always obey instructions and never exceed prescribed use.
Sensitivity to Sunlight:
Some people become sensitive to sunlight after the application of numbing cream. Be careful not to expose yourself to too much sunlight right after application.
- Prevention: Avoid exposing to sun shortly after application and use sunscreen if you must go out.
Can Numbing Cream Be Used for Other Reasons?
Although numbing cream is widely associated with tattoos, there are a lot of other applications that make it a do-all product.For Piercings:
Numbing creams are also applied prior to piercings in order to diminish the stinging sensation of the needle going into the body.For Cosmetic Procedures:
Numbing cream is also applied regularly for cosmetic procedures such as microblading, laser hair removal, and botox for pain reduction.For Minor Skin Procedures:
Minor procedures such as wound treatment or laser skin treatment will be aided with numbing cream.What Are the Best Numbing Creams for Tattoos?
There are quite a few good products available in the market which provide good quality numbing cream specifically for tattoos. Some of them highly rated ones are:- Dr. Numb: Possibly one of the best-selling numbing creams for tattoos, containing 5% lidocaine to give immediate relief.
- Hush Anesthetic: Highly recommended brand for a painless tattoo experience.
- Numb Master: Effects that last longer than many other numbing creams make Numb Master the go-to for artists.
