Numbing Cream & Tattooing: A Critical Review
When you see the term “Numbing Cream” in this blog, it can be assumed interchangeable with similar sprays, ointments, etc.
Hi! I bet you have some questions about “numbing cream” and its use in the tattoo process. As a professional licensed tattoo artist, I’ve been gathering info over the past few years in the interest of delivering the best scientific and accurate information to my clients, and I’m happy to share it with you as well. My research has included critically assessing my own experiences, talking to other artists with 15-25+ years experience, getting feedback from clients, and interviewing medical doctors / nurses / anesthesiologists / a former neurosurgeon to learn more about these products and how they work (or don’t).
Many tattoo artists working today express a strong opposition to numbing creams - most for legitimate reasons, such as bad experiences during the tattoo process and muddy/traumatized healing results. Meanwhile, conversely, other artists seem to promote or push numbing creams to their clients, either in their shops or in advertisements. Some have mixed feelings, while a select few others preach opposition for questionable “conceptual” reasons, such as needing to “earn” a tattoo through pain…
These mixed messages can lead to confusion and miscommunication for clients and artists alike. Even though it would be impossible to write a blog with comprehensive opinions from every side of this issue, I’ve nonetheless tried to collect all the best, most factual, and most useful information here. I really hope the information in this blog will help you make informed decisions and have the best tattoo experience(s) possible. :)
** If you’ve used “Numbing Creams” in the past without issues, great! This blog isn’t for you and I hope you have a great day :) Or maybe you heard your friend’s cousin has used it 50 times and it “worked awesome” for them - that’s great, but individual anecdotes do not represent universal truth. Read on to learn more.
At the end of the day, the decision about whether or not to use ”Numbing Cream” must be made between an artist and a client, and any client reading this should feel empowered to have that discussion as they see fit and follow whatever guidance their artist gives them.
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First, let’s clear up some myths and common misconceptions.
mYTH #1: “NUMBING CREAMS ARE SAFE FOR EVERYONE TO USE”
fALSE
In the United States, OTC/consumer grade “numbing creams” (or sprays, ointments, etc) are not FDA regulated or approved. The manufactures/marketers/representatives of these products can (and often do) make misleading claims about the effectiveness, and there is no guarantee the ingredients on the label are what’s actually in the product. These active ingredients are not without risk!! The most common active ingredient is 2.5% - 4% lidocaine.
Lidocaine toxicity and overdose are rare BUT POSSIBLE for certain people when topical numbing agents are applied over large areas of skin or on broken skin for long periods of time. Since these “numbing” products are unregulated, they can also contain inactive ingredients, contaminants, chemicals, and fillers that may cause allergic reactions, infections, rashes, prolonged irritation, dermatitis, swelling, delayed healing response, and skin sensitivity.
Lidocaine and analgesic ingredients can also be especially dangerous, or even fatal, for those with undiagnosed or underlying cardiac conditions.
mYTH #2: “NUMBING CREAMS WILL HELP THE CLIENT FEEL NO PAIN DURING THE TATTOO”
fALSE
“Numbing cream” is a very misleading term from the jump, as any over-the-counter / online topical products available DO NOT and CAN NOT numb the skin; they can only block a small percentage of nerve endings in the skin, which interferes with the body’s communication of pain to the brain. This MAY temporarily reduce perception of painful sensations, but is also highly dependent on individual anatomy and experience. Truly effective topical numbing agents can only be legally and safely used/purchased by licensed physicians and some skincare professionals. Any Consumer Grade “numbing” products available for sale at retail stores or online to the general public can only contain, by law, less than 1/4th the dosage of topical analgesic required to produce a legitimate numbing effect. Some clients with a genetic predisposition to topical analgesic sensitivity may experience heightened effectiveness from these extremely low amounts of active ingredients, but this is not applicable to the majority of people.
Additionally, the effectiveness range of these products ranges from 20 - 90 minutes, at most. Once the initial “numbing” effects wear off, the client will experience heightened pain and discomfort as their body adjusts and begins the artificially delayed process of pumping out pain-management hormones.
MYTH #3: “GREEN SOAP / ALCOHOL / WATER applied to the skin ‘CANCELS OUT’ NUMBING CREAM”
fALSE
As a client, you may or may not have heard this before. However, it’s commonly repeated within the artist community. It’s unclear where this rumor started, but scientifically, it has no bearing in reality. According to medical professionals and anesthesiologists I’ve interviewed, this myth is biologically impossible, due to the well-documented mechanisms of how analgesic compounds bind to nerve endings.
It’s physically and chemically impossible for any liquid applied to the surface of the skin (even ‘broken’ skin) to penetrate deep enough or in a way that would affect the chemical and mechanical bonds between the nerve endings and the analgesic compounds. Any placebo effect or anecdotal evidence is based on personal experiences, and though it may “feel” true to the person saying it, it has no basis in fact or science. The TRUE effective lifespan of a topically applied analgesic compound is only affected by internal biological processes and genetics, and cannot be removed or “cancelled out” by other topical applications.
MYTH #4: “If i See An ad for a new, improved product that claims to completely numb the skin, i can believe those claims”
fALSE - if it’s a consumer grade product
There’s an ever-increasing amount of paid advertising packaged as “real” or “authentic” content with the express purpose of duping the consumer. Many, many companies are trying to capitalize on the growing “tattoo product market” and will publish misleading or exaggerated social media content to try and make a quick buck off of underinformed consumers. Any publicly available material online about the effectiveness of OTC/Consumer Grade “numbing creams” should be carefully scrutinized - such as, who created the content? Often, it’s produced and/or published by private retail companies marketing “numbing creams” with inflated claims or paid testimonials to encourage you to buy their product, or even by shops/artists who have partnered with these companies for profit. Almost every single one of these products, regardless of its published claims, has the exact same active ingredient, and only differs in the other fillers and fluff ingredients they put in the product. This is like saying a “new improved” brand of water is “more wet” than “other types” of water. Respect the hustle, but, don’t fall for it.
“Consumer Grade” refers to products available to purchase by the general public in person or online. As previously stated, the only products with adequate levels of analgesics to truly numb the skin are available to licensed physicians and skincare professionals only
MYTH #5: “NUMBING CREAM WORKED FOR MY FRIEND, SO IT WILL WORK FOR ME”
inconclusive - anecdotes cannot be verified
The active ingredients in consumer-grade topical analgesic creams (namely topical analgesic compounds, such as lidocaine and benzocaine) do not have universal effectiveness. This is largely due to natural, individual, genetic variances in how nerve endings cycle, interpret pain, and communicate it to your brain. You may also have experienced changes in skin structure or sensitivity during your lifetime that can affect your pain receptors as well (such as side effects of certain medications, injuries, sun damage, diseases, hormonal imbalances, etc). You won’t know if topical analgesic compounds actually “work” for you until or unless you test it on your skin by soaking for at least one hour and then breaking the skin barrier. If you plan to rely on “numbing cream” to get you through a tattoo WITHOUT testing this ahead of time, you may discover, once the tattoo process begins, that it isn’t effective on your skin, at which point you have no other recourse than to endure the rest of the tattoo without anticipated pain relief. These products also won’t work *at all* unless applied in a very specific manner - applied in advance, allowed to soak, etc. You would have to coordinate this in a perfect window of time, get to the shop, and get tattooed before the effectiveness window wears off. If you’re unable to do this, the “numbing cream” cannot be used again until after your tattoo’s stencil has been completely tattooed over, because it will erase the stencil your artist has applied.
You also run the risk of being turned away from your appointment if you soak the tattoo in a “numbing” product ahead of time without informing your artist.
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Now that we’ve cleared that up - let’s go over various cons, pros, and other advice/alternatives.
Q: why do artists say “NUMBING CREAMS” NEGATIVELY aFFECT THE TATTOO PROCESS?
These are some of the most common reasons artists report a negative opinion after working with clients who have used “numbing creams”.
All “numbing creams” will alter the skin texture to varying degrees, making it more “rubbery” for the tattoo artist. This may extend the overall time needed for the tattoo due to the necessity of altered techniques and/or repeating applications. (The cost of the extended work/time will be passed on to the client, making the tattoo more expensive without improving quality overall)
For the majority of people, tattoo discomfort and pain is made perfectly tolerable by adequate preparation (sleep, food, hydration) and natural stress responses / hormones produced by the body. Adding “numbing creams” artificially overcomplicates the process and introduces potential issues without sufficient, tangible results or rewards for either the client or artist.
More or unnecessary trauma can be caused to the skin because the tattooer may have to go over areas repeatedly to saturate the ink, due to the ways “numbing” products temporarily alter skin texture and moisture content. This can permanently damage the skin and make touch ups almost impossible. The healed result of the tattoo may also appear more muddy, patchy, or otherwise subpar.
Clients may have an unrealistic expectation of what the physical experience of the tattoo will be like, causing psychological distress to both themselves and the artist who’s trying to tattoo them. In rare and extreme cases, artists report having to stop tattoos before they’re finished because the client is unable or unwilling to mentally cope with the contrast in sensations versus expectation after the “numbing” effect wears off.
Q: are there any potential upsides to “numbing creams”?
They can provide a slightly more comfortable experience during a brief window of time for certain clients who have a genetic predisposition to being sensitive to lidocaine and related chemical compounds.
They can cause a placebo effect (no real effect except psychological) for some clients, who don’t think they can handle the temporary discomfort of getting a tattoo without it.
They make a lot of money for new companies and paid promoters that market “numbing creams” to tattoo clients - especially since you can’t get a refund if it doesn’t work for you 🤷♀️
Q: for a client who is afraid to proceed without “numbing creams”, What would be recommended instead?
Mind over matter! For thousands of years, people have used mental exercises and breathing techniques to increase feelings of calm and endure many types of physical discomfort. Focus on the excitement of the end result of the tattoo, and do not fixate on the momentary discomfort of getting the tattoo.
If you don’t have many tattoos yet, talk to your artist before embarking on any large projects that you may have too low of a “pain tolerance” to get through. Ask your artist to suggest less painful areas, or get several small tattoos before getting larger pieces. If you’re dead-set on a large tattoo but don’t have much previous tattoo experience, ask if the tattoo can be broken up into multiple, shorter sessions.
Understand that your artist does NOT want to cause you pain, they want to give you the best tattoo possible with the least discomfort. Some TEMPORARY discomfort should be expected in any tattoo experience - but the pain stops as soon as the tattoo does, and you get to enjoy the tattoo forever :)
Have realistic expectations and communicate with your artist thoroughly in advance if you have any medical or mental health conditions that might make tattooing too intense for you. Your artist would MUCH RATHER know this in advance and address it / discuss accommodations before the tattoo starts.
Q: So you’re saying there’s NO “Numbing Products” that will help ease the pain?? :(
Not necessarily ! I recommend clients who are nervous about the pain to purchase and bring a bottle of Bactine Extra Strength Spray to your appointment. This is a common product generally regarded as safe in the tattoo industry and most artists will be happy to use it during your tattoo process. The bottles are usually less than $10, can be purchased at the link above or at any pharmacy or general retail store, and can be applied by your artist periodically towards the second half of your tattoo session, after the stencil has been lined over. The application may temporarily ease some discomfort (please don’t expect that it will totally “numb” the area). You should purchase/provide it yourself ahead of time, as it isn’t commonly provided by shops/artists. You may find some artists do have it at their station, but it’s not an industry standard due to practical issues. The bottles aren’t reusable or sterile, and can’t be easily, safely used and/or sanitized between clients without increasing operating costs / time / product waste for the artist
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That’s what I’ve got for now! Thanks for reading :)
I hope this helps you make the most informed decision for yourself and better understand how to communicate with your artist about using “numbing creams”!~
Still have questions?
Are you a doctor or other licensed medical/skincare professional with information you want to add?
Disclaimer: This website should not be regarded as a source of medical advice, diagnosis, or endorsement. These are the expressed opinions of myself, licensed medical professionals, and several professional tattoo artists. You may hear other opinions from other people. I’m not a professional anesthesiologist or dermatologist, so I would recommend talking to one if you want further facts and information about “numbing” products and the chemicals they contain. ^_^
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