How Good Is Applying A Tattoo Numbing Cream

The use of a tattoo numbing cream is to reduce the sensitivity or pain during tattooing on an area on the body. It works like a local anesthetic, numbing the area on the body where it is applied. Numbing cream for skin blocks the nerve signals from transmitting the pain to the brain. Tattooing is an art of expression and is a great way to express a person’s feelings, and people are crazy about it. 

Does tattoo numbing cream work?

If you are new to tattooing and worried about the pain, tattoo numb cream can be a saver for you. You can easily overcome the pain and discomfort of tattooing by applying the cream, and it makes the whole procedure smooth and easy for you. Numbing cream comes in two forms, cream and gel or spray. 

The majority of the numbing creams are safe to use and effective. It removes the person’s anxiety and the fear of the pain. The numbing creams prove to be a good relief for people who cannot tolerate the pain during injection, minor surgeries, or procedures. Numbing cream is also for children who fear injection but only under the supervision of a health practitioner or doctor. Numbing creams are often used in cosmetic procedures, tattooing, laser treatment, waxing, and piercing. 

Some numbing creams are available over the counter, but some require a medical prescription. It is very important to use the skin-numbing cream under the guidance of a health practitioner or doctor. The active ingredient in a numbing cream is lidocaine. 

Lidocaine is effective in reducing pain and works quickly. It is a nerve deadener that stops the nerve from receiving pain signals. All the numbing creams are topical creams and should not be consumed. 

Some numbing creams include benzocaine and tetracaine, and these are called nerve blockers. These ingredients in the cream prevent the signals from reaching the brain and thus dull the pain sensation.

Vasoconstrictors are powerful pain reducers but are dangerous too. They constrict the blood vessels and prevent the cream from getting absorbed into the body quickly. The combination of nerve deadener, nerve blockers, and vasoconstrictors gives a long-lasting numbing effect but poses health risks. Your heart rate might increase due to a lack of oxygen supply and might lead to serious health issues.

Tattoo numbing cream is for people who cannot tolerate and bear the tattoo pain. Tattooing on sensitive parts like the back of the knees, ribs, and top of the feet is painful. Applying a tattoo numbing cream gives relief from pain and makes your tattooing experience pleasant. The effect of the numbing cream gradually wears off bringing back your sensation. If the tattooing session takes a longer time, you might need to reapply the numbing cream to continue with the tattooing.

Applying numbing cream would be an added advantage for the tattoo artist, and the customer since the artist can handle the procedure without any disturbance or intolerance from the customer. The artist can do his task peacefully, and both the customer and the artist will have a good session. You need to inform the artist beforehand that you are willing to use numbing cream and give the name of the numbing cream that suits your skin type. If the numbing cream does not work on your skin, it can cause an allergic reaction and could be life-threatening too.

Using a numbing cream is a purely personal choice. Some people are ready to suffer the pain as part of the process. But for others, numbing creams can give comfort and helps in tolerating the pain. 

The parts of the area on the body with fewer nerve endings have the least tattoo pain. The parts include shoulders, thighs, outer arms, calves, and shins. Tattoo pain tolerance level varies for each person. Depending on your threshold pain level you may experience less or more pain. 

Most of the tattoo numbing creams last about an hour after the initial application. Initially, you will get the effect of the cream only after a few minutes of the application of the cream. After 20-25 minutes post-application, numbing creams are in full activated mode and your skin will be numb. 

There are numbing creams with active ingredients and formula that lasts up to four hours. They are specifically useful for tattooing on a large area of the body as a full arm or back. Depending on the purpose choose the appropriate numbing cream.

Using numbing cream

Before applying numbing cream directly to the area where you want to do the tattoo, check if you are not allergic to the cream. It is better to do a patch test to check for any allergic reaction. Follow the instructions on the product label or of a health practitioner before applying the cream. 

The instructions on applying the numbing cream and the time it takes to get activated are mentioned on the label. It is generally advised to apply only an amount of the cream to avoid potential threats to the skin or body. Be sure of the amount of cream to be applied, and in the case of children, check with a pediatrician on how safe it is to use a numbing cream.

Never apply numbing cream on a red, swollen, sore, or injured part of the body. 

How to apply numbing cream?

1. Wash the area with mild soap and warm water. It removes the dead skin cells, impurities, and oil on the skin.
2. Wipe the area with a soft cloth.
3. Apply the numbing cream and wait for about 30 minutes for the cream to take effect. The time taken for the numbing effect varies for each cream and depends on the area you are applying the cream. 
4. Wash off the numbing cream and start the procedure.

Accidentally, if the cream comes in contact with your eyes, rinse your eyes well with soap. Store the numbing cream at room temperature with the tube tightly closed.