Getting a tattoo is all the rage these days but the perks of inking your skin come with pain. People with low threshold for pain have the option to get inked without as much pain as anticipated, all thanks to the new age tattoo numbing creams which are mostly topical anesthetics which numb the pain of the procedure.

The pain of getting tattoos is particularly intense in body areas like the head, ribs, feet, shoulder blades, armpit, inside the thighs and other parts which have less fat or muscles.

This is where numbing creams or sprays can be effective as they temporarily numb the nerve endings. Typically, numbing creams should be applied 1-2 hours in advance for complete efficacy. Depending on the cream/spray you use, the effect lasts for around 60-90 minutes. Some of the most popular numbing creams have prilocaine, tetracaine, lidocaine and benzocaine as their main ingredients.

The difference between numbing cream and spray is that cream is a little time consuming to apply while spray is a convenient method. However, sprays can take a little time to show effect, also last for lesser duration, while creams are better in efficacy.That’s why most of the tattoo artists keep numbing creams handy with them.

Skin numbing creams can be classified in the following broad categories:

Nerve Blockers – Containing tetracaine and benzocaine, these creams block the pain signal from going to the brain.

Nerve deadeners – Having lidocaine as their primary ingredient, these creams or sprays make the nerves go dead for some time, so that the pain is not experienced.

Vasoconstrictors – With epinephrine as the main ingredient, these numbing agents reduce the flow of blood to the area to numb the pain. They also help in lessening the bleeding and swelling in the affected area.

How to apply tattoo numbing cream/spray?

Skin numbing products should be applied with clean hands to the area where you’ll be inked. Ideally, the tattoo artist should rub the cream with gloves or apply the spray liberally. After applying the cream, tape it with a plastic wrap for around an hour to activate the ingredients. If one opts for numbing spray, avoid breathing the spray fumes.

Applying too much numbing cream/spray can mess with your nervous system, so it is imperative to apply to onefoot area at a time.

Once the numbing cream is activated there is minimal or no pain at all to the area. The effect lasts for an hour and then starts to fade gradually.

It is normal is the tattoo artist applies the numbing cream during the tattoo session depending on the client. This is done in cases where extensive tattoo design are inked on the skin as they take much longer time.

Popular numbing creams

Lidocaine based numbing creams are extensively used by tattoo artists around the world. They are easy to apply, have the least reported allergic reactions and ideal for long tattoo sessions.

These creams seep into the skin and numb the area very quickly, thereby making them the ideal choice for tattoo artists. Dr. Numb is a popular numbing cream which contains 5% lidocaine, which is the highest percentage permitted by medical authorities.

Things to keep in mind

People with history of allergic reactions, underlying skin conditions or the ones having very sensitive skin should consult a skin specialist before using these creams. Tattoo artists should inquire from the client beforehand about any of the above-mentioned conditions and act accordingly.

To be extra safe, one can do a patch test by applying the numbing cream and then looking for signs of skin irritation, redness, inflammation, itchiness or burning sensation. If any of these occur, it is advised not to apply the cream to get the tattoo done.