Numbing Creams? Better not!
How numbing creams could affect tattooing?
Tattooing industry is growing. Among them new products are appearing. Some of them are wonderful, like very precise needles or second skin foils. They are making the life of tattoo artists easier and our art work better. On the other hand, some products, even though not necessarily bad as a concept, currently are causing more harm than good.
Let’s talk about numbing creams.
They are directly talking to our lizard brain and feeling. All living creatures on this planet, including us humans, try to avoid pain. Pain is not connected with pleasure and satisfaction, rather with turbulence, hard work, or something dangerous. That’s why it is so easy to sell a product that will protect us from pain. It bypasses the thinking brain and goes directly to our emotions. Unfortunately, currently I am not aware of any numbing cream that positively affects the tattooing. Maybe, in the future someone will develop one that doesn’t damage the tattoo, who knows. Is it worth risking Your own skin to feel a bit less pain? For thousands of thousands of years people survived tattooing, we can too! But, pain is a signal, yes? Is it wise to numb our body during tattooing? We can miss some important signs that our body tells us. Like :
“I NEED A BREAK”
“HI! IT’S YOUR SKIN HERE – I CAN’T STAND MORE! YOU NEED TO FINNISH FOR TODAY!”
Overworking the skin while tattooing is a bad, bad thing. We need to listen to our body, and when is enough – make a stop and come for another appointment or take a longer break. Here is what CHAT GPT ( that tool is really well informed! ) says about numbing creams and it’s potential risks :
- Skin Texture Changes: Some numbing creams can alter the texture of the skin, making it more difficult for the tattoo artist to work smoothly and accurately. This can result in uneven lines or shading.
- Reduced Sensitivity: While the primary purpose of numbing creams is to reduce pain, they can also reduce sensitivity to the point where the client may not be able to accurately convey their comfort level or provide feedback during the tattooing process. This lack of communication can hinder the artist’s ability to adjust their technique accordingly.
- Extended Session Time: Numbing creams can prolong the tattooing session since the artist may need to work more slowly and cautiously to ensure precision, especially if the client’s reduced sensitivity makes it challenging to gauge their comfort level.
- Risk of Overworking: Since numbing creams mask pain, clients may not realize when their skin is becoming irritated or overworked. This can lead to excessive trauma to the skin, resulting in prolonged healing times, increased risk of infection, and potentially compromised tattoo quality.
- Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may have allergic reactions to the ingredients in numbing creams, which can cause redness, swelling, or other adverse skin reactions. These reactions can further complicate the tattooing process and may require the session to be halted or postponed.
For those reasons we don’t recommend them. It is still too fresh to believe companies that sell them. Placing it into a logical order, would You put some cream with ingredients that 89 % of names are even hard to pronounce on Your open wound? If the officials from public institutions will do enough research and approve them, then we will talk about this topic again. For now enjoy the tattooing process as it is, which in fact is not that hard as most people think. You will survive it as billions of people did before You!
With love,
Simon
“Tattoos that matter – for people who care”
How numbing creams could affect tattooing?
Tattooing industry is growing. Among them new products are appearing. Some of them are wonderful, like very precise needles or second skin foils. They are making the life of tattoo artists easier and our art work better. On the other hand, some products, even though not necessarily bad as a concept, currently are causing more harm than good.
Let’s talk about numbing creams.
They are directly talking to our lizard brain and feeling. All living creatures on this planet, including us humans, try to avoid pain. Pain is not connected with pleasure and satisfaction, rather with turbulence, hard work, or something dangerous. That’s why it is so easy to sell a product that will protect us from pain. It bypasses the thinking brain and goes directly to our emotions. Unfortunately, currently I am not aware of any numbing cream that positively affects the tattooing. Maybe, in the future someone will develop one that doesn’t damage the tattoo, who knows. Is it worth risking Your own skin to feel a bit less pain? For thousands of thousands of years people survived tattooing, we can too! But, pain is a signal, yes? Is it wise to numb our body during tattooing? We can miss some important signs that our body tells us. Like :
“I NEED A BREAK”
“HI! IT’S YOUR SKIN HERE – I CAN’T STAND MORE! YOU NEED TO FINNISH FOR TODAY!”
Overworking the skin while tattooing is a bad, bad thing. We need to listen to our body, and when is enough – make a stop and come for another appointment or take a longer break. Here is what CHAT GPT ( that tool is really well informed! ) says about numbing creams and it’s potential risks :
- Skin Texture Changes: Some numbing creams can alter the texture of the skin, making it more difficult for the tattoo artist to work smoothly and accurately. This can result in uneven lines or shading.
- Reduced Sensitivity: While the primary purpose of numbing creams is to reduce pain, they can also reduce sensitivity to the point where the client may not be able to accurately convey their comfort level or provide feedback during the tattooing process. This lack of communication can hinder the artist’s ability to adjust their technique accordingly.
- Extended Session Time: Numbing creams can prolong the tattooing session since the artist may need to work more slowly and cautiously to ensure precision, especially if the client’s reduced sensitivity makes it challenging to gauge their comfort level.
- Risk of Overworking: Since numbing creams mask pain, clients may not realize when their skin is becoming irritated or overworked. This can lead to excessive trauma to the skin, resulting in prolonged healing times, increased risk of infection, and potentially compromised tattoo quality.
- Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may have allergic reactions to the ingredients in numbing creams, which can cause redness, swelling, or other adverse skin reactions. These reactions can further complicate the tattooing process and may require the session to be halted or postponed.
For those reasons we don’t recommend them. It is still too fresh to believe companies that sell them. Placing it into a logical order, would You put some cream with ingredients that 89 % of names are even hard to pronounce on Your open wound? If the officials from public institutions will do enough research and approve them, then we will talk about this topic again. For now enjoy the tattooing process as it is, which in fact is not that hard as most people think. You will survive it as billions of people did before You!
With love,
Simon
“Tattoos that matter – for people who care”
