When you intend to get a painless tattoo, you should think of numbing cream first. You must need to use the numbing cream before getting a tattoo in proper way.
Most of the beginners and tattoo enthusiasts like to use numbing cream for pain relief during the procedure. Numbing cream dulls the nerve system to send pain signals to the brain; as a result you feel no pain and discomfort.
Numbing efficiency mainly depends on the technique how you use the cream over the skin surface. If you use fewer amounts than required amount you cannot get satisfactory numbing effect for long tattooing. On the other hand if you use more amount than required amount there is fair chance of side effects.
Therefore it is very much essential that you should apply exact amount numbing cream in a systematic way to get a good numbing effect throughout the process of tattooing or procedure of microneedling pen. Below we have explained step by step how to use numbing cream for tattooing.
To choose the right numbing cream:
All numbing creams are not same as the ingredients vary with each other. The numbing creams used for mucus membranes may not be suitable for tattooing and piercing. Still question may arise does numbing cream work for tattoos?
Yes, it works. You should choose numbing cream with lidocaine 5% concentration that is suitable for all body arts. Choose water based numbing cream that will not interact with tattoo ink.
So Numb Master cream will facilitate all the requirements you need. However we cannot say a particular numbing cream as best skin numbing cream because it varies according to type of treatments.
Wash the treated area with soap and water:
When you buy your desired numbing cream it is ready for use. First of all wash and clean the skin where you intend to perform tattoo with soap and water. Pat dry with a clean towel. The skin is ready for numbing cream application.
Apply numbing cream:
Now apply the numbing cream in thick layers on the skin surface, the thickness of layer should be about 1mm. Of course you should choose an ideal numbing cream for tattoo according your needs.
Cover the skin:
Covering the skin will generate heat that accelerates the numbing effect. So cover the skin with numbing cream by a plastic wrap or cling film. Remove the cover after one hour or the tome mentioned in pack instruction.
Some people remove the cover earlier and some wear the cover longer time, both are not desirable. After following these steps your skin is ready for getting a tattoo without any pain.
Here is a warning in FDA website in connection to numbing cream.
Improper use of numbing cream on skin surface may be dangerous as it may come in contact with blood stream threatening heartbeat, breathing difficulty, coma or even death. Therefore you must take the following precautions using numbing cream anywhere.
- Avoid using numbing cream with stronger formula or lidocaine concentration 5%.
- Avoid using the numbing cream on broken skin as it can enter blood stream.
- Numbing cream should not use on tongue, near eyes, into nose.
- Avoid using numbing cream internally.
- Avoid using heating pad to generate heat, use plastic wrap.
- Don’t weare cream for longer time.
- Consult your physician when there is any problem.
It is noted that one layer of numbing cream cannot show fruitful result and as such it is preferable to apply a second layer for better result. Also it is advisable to wear hand gloves while putting the cream on skin. Otherwise it will numb your finger that will cause disadvantage. The skin surface can be wrapped either plastic or saran wrap.
Before the procedure starts you should clean the numbing cream with a clean towel or rag instead of water and soap. Though the cream has been removed yet the numbing effect will continue 1-4 hours. A few more precautions you need to take during and after the tattoo process.
Few More Precautions to Use Numbing Cream:
- Do not use the cream for pregnant and breast feeding.
- Never use this numbing cream over the whole body or a large portion of body.
- Don’t try to swallow or inject in any case.
- Never use in open wounds or broken skin.
- Not intended for children.
It is also very important to use water based numbing cream rather than glycerin based cream. The glycerin base numbing cream makes the skin slippery and that is why the tattoo artist dislikes it. On the other hand water based numbing cream is perfect for tattoo artist.
An over-the-counter, a topical anesthetic or a prescription numbing cream can be easily applied to the area is being tattooed to dull the pain. If you like to have tattoo in a sensitive area you should consult with your tattoo artist about the numbing agent.
The improper use of numbing cream may cause serious health problem. So you need to consult your doctor beforehand. The topical anesthetic, in the form of gel or cream is applied beforehand tattooing procedure.
The cream temporary numbs the nerve system to stop sending signal to brain. As a result there will be no pain feeling and the numbing effect will last 60-90 minutes approximately according to Paul Siscoe, Manager Lady Luck Tattoo.
Siscoe said that numbing cream used before tattooing is not as effective as the clients might expect and numbing completely in the tattoo area. It is advisable that you should eat a full meal and drink sufficient water before getting a tattoo.
Avoid caffeine on the day of tattoo procedure. Practice deep breathing while you are getting tattoo in order to increase pain tolerance. Never take a tattoo if you are sick or not feeling well.
Conclusion
Make sure that you have food on the day of tattooing. Empty stomach may cause feel faint or dizzy. Do not take pain killers like aspirin, ibuprofen and anesthetic which may cause increased bleeding. Do not get tattooed under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is extremely dangerous for health and tattoo.
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