A tattoo is a thrilling and intimate experience, yet pain is what frightens the majority of people. Despite degrees of sensitivity, numbing creams are able to alleviate the pain during your tattoo procedure. You’re on the right path if you want a method for minimizing pain. In this tutorial, we’re going to cover all that you’ll want to know about tattoo numbing creams, the way they work, and the way you can best make the decision to enjoy a painless experience.
What Are Tattoo Numbing Creams?
Tattoo anesthetic creams are unique cosmetic anesthetic creams which desensitize the pain sense when you’re getting a tattoo. They consist of active elements that block the nerve impulses to reach your brain, and consequently, cause you less pain when the needle functions. The anesthetic creams possess local anesthetics such as lidocaine that anaesthetize your skin temporarily to cause painlessness.
Most anesthetic creams are easy to apply, act fairly quickly, and will hold up for the duration of a tattoo session. The level of numbness and for how long, though, will depend on product and skin type.
How Do Tattoo Numbing Creams Work?
Numbing tattoo creams do this by numbing the skin’s outer layers. The active ingredients like lidocaine penetrate into the skin, where they prevent the pain messages from being passed on from the nerve endings to the brain for a short while. This is localized because it affects only the location that it is applied.
The cream will not keep you from feeling anything whatsoever—except the pain. You will still feel pressure, vibration, and heat from the tattoo machine, but that awful stinging sensation is a whole lot less there. Remember that the numbing creams will work if you use them according to instructions and at the right time during your tattooing.
How to Choose the Best Tattoo Numbing Cream for Your Skin?
Selecting the top tattoo numbing cream requires a few variables that respond to your skin and the type of area being tattooed. Not all numbing creams are the same, so here’s what to search for:
- Active Ingredients: The most popular numbing ingredients are lidocaine and benzocaine. Opt for a product that has a high active ingredient level of these for best results.
- Effect Length: There are longer-lasting creams than others. When you have a long tattoo session, use one with longer relief.
- Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin needs a hypoallergenic cream so that there won’t be reactions or irritation of the skin.
- Application Ease: Creams that have good spreading properties and need minimal massaging are generally the ones best to use during a tattooing session.
- Absorption Rate: Rush creams are best suited for brief sessions, but if you’re having a long tattoo, look for one that offers prolonged relief.
Understanding what you should be searching for enables you to find a numbing cream that will be most suitable for your own personal use.
Is Numbing Cream Safe for Everyone?
While tattoo numbing creams are safe for the majority of individuals, they are not for everyone. Test first with a patch before applying any numbing cream, particularly if you have sensitive skin.
- Patch Test: Apply a small quantity of a new numbing cream to an out-of-sight area and let it sit for 24 hours. If you notice irritation or redness, it may not be safe for you.
- Pregnancy and Health Status: Pregnant or lactating women must take a doctor’s advice before using numbing agents. Moreover, patients with cardiovascular diseases or circulatory disorders must take their physician’s advice before using numbing creams.
Adhering to the instructions on how to use the numbing creams is generally safe, but always take precautions, especially if you have any preexisting medical condition.
When Should You Apply Numbing Cream for a Tattoo?
Tattoo numbing cream is needed to be applied under specific situations, specifically when the skin area to be tattooed is extremely painful or sensitive. Here are some situations where using the numbing cream is absolutely beneficial:
- Sensitive and Painful Areas: When you are being tattooed in your ribs, spine, chest, or bony areas, using numbing cream can keep the pain totally tolerable.
- Long Sessions: You can take numbing cream with you when you have a long tattoo session so that you are comfortable throughout the process.
- First-Time Tattooing: If you are nervous about the pain, you can use a numbing cream to give you extra confidence when you are getting tattooed for the first time.
- In these cases, tattoo numbing cream will make the process so much easier, and you can even find pleasure in the same without dreading the pain too much.
How Do You Use Tattoo Numbing Cream?
Proper application is key in an attempt to get the best out of your tattoo numbing cream. The following is a step-by-step guide on how to apply it:
- Clean the Area: Make sure the area you will be applying the cream to is clean and oil-free, dirt-free, or lotions-free.
- Dry the Skin: Dry the skin lightly before applying. Moisture will interfere with proper absorption.
- Apply the Cream: Put a good amount of numbing cream in a thick layer on the area you want. Don’t rub it in—just put it on the skin.
- Wrap in Plastic Wrap: To assist the cream in absorbing well, wrap the skin with plastic wrap. This prevents the cream from drying out and retaining its position.
- Wait: It takes most creams for pain relief approximately 30 minutes to one hour to start working. Consult the product label to apply to its full potential.
- Wipe Off: Before your tattoo sitting, remove plastic wrap and wipe off the residue of any cream.
By doing all this, you will be able to get your numbing cream to work as well as it can and get the most relief you can during your tattoo.
Can You Reapply Numbing Cream While You Get Tattooed?
You can have to reapply numbing cream on certain tattoos, like long tattoos or complex designs. But reapplying isn’t always simple.
- Reapplying Instructions: If you’ve gotten a very long session and your numbing cream starts wearing thin, you can probably reapply another coat. You always have to ask your tattoo artist first.
- Caution: After tattoo work has begun, the skin can become hypersensitive, and additional cream applied may burn. In addition, excessive use of numbing cream might potentially impact the tattoo work, so it is best to consult your artist about this before applying it again.
In doubt case, your tattoo artist already is aware of numbing creams and can decide whether using it again is the best option.
What Are the Side Effects of Tattoo Numbing Creams?
While most numbing creams are safe to use when getting a tattoo, there are some side effects you need to be aware of:
- Skin Irritation: Redness, swelling, or itching of the skin can lead to some people after their use of numbing cream. This is resolved within a few hours.
- Allergic Reactions: Although less frequent, some people can be allergic to such chemicals as lidocaine or benzocaine. This can result in shortness of breath, rash, or hives.
- Skin Sensitivity: Excessive use of numbing cream can cause the skin to be more sensitive or become irritated, causing pain after.
To prevent these dangers from occurring, always do a patch test prior to applying numbing cream in large amounts.
What To Do If Numbing Cream Fails To Work?
Being a unique instance, numbing cream might fail to perform to your expectations. In that case, consider these points:
- Check the Application: Make sure that you applied the cream as you should have done and waited long enough before it penetrated into your system.
- Talk to Your Artist: If the cream fails, approach your tattoo artist. Your artist may be able to modify the manner in which they work or provide alternative ways of coping with pain.
Numbing creams are useful but not always infallible. Specialist advice in such cases is necessary.
Last Things to Consider: Is Numbing Cream the Best Choice for You?
Numbing creams for tattoos are a godsend for pain types that are sensitive or people who are in for a session that will last a while. Not for everyone, but for most, they can be a great way of minimizing the tattooing process pain. Apply a good cream, follow the correct instructions, and heed your artist’s advice to achieve the best results.
Remember that pain-relieving creams are to lessen pain, not eliminate it entirely. Always remain realistic and familiar with how to speak to your tattoo artist in case of a need.
