Numbing
Here you will find some general information about the risks of numbing cream. Some tattoo artists avoid numbing products because they can affect the integrity of the skin and cause complications in the healing process - though that isn’t always the case. Some clients have a very positive experience using numbing products. Regardless of which side you are on, I hope this page helps clear up some misconceptions about using numbing products as well as its benefits and risks in tattooing.
Why?
It truly isn’t for everyone and though I offer it, I actually prefer not to use it due to the risks. However, I can’t deny that it is a good tool to have in your arsenal as a tattooer. Numbing cream has gotten some of my clients through serious tattoo sessions and not just because they didn't want to feel the pain, but because they had other health concerns that would not otherwise allow them to be tattooed without numbing cream. For example, Tourette's, Autism, Fibromyalgia, etc. With that being said, if you think numbing cream would help you, check with your doctor first.
Sometimes the pros outweigh the cons and because of this, I keep an open mind about numbing products as there are many to choose from and all have different effects. At this time, there is no standard for numbing and tattooing.
What’s the difference?
There are 3 different types of numbing products. Deadeners, blockers, and vasoconstrictors.
Nerve Deadeners stop the nerves from registering the initial pain. However, it stays fairly surface level, leaving the nerves beneath the first layer of skin active.
Nerve Blockers make the tattoo more bearable, but not pain free. Blockers dull the feeling while still letting the nerves register some pain.
Vasoconstrictors themselves are not a numbing agent, but are often added alongside the numbing agent to cause the effect to last longer. By constricting the blood vessels, it can help slow down the absorption rate of the anesthetics, prolonging the numbing effects.
These come with different effects and risks to the overall body due to the active ingredients such as Lidocaine, Epinephrine, Benzocaine, etc. We’re focusing on Lidocaine and Epinephrine as they are the most common ingredients.
Lidocaine, a nerve deadener, is also a vasodilator. It brings blood to the surface of the skin. This can cause splotches or blood to pool. This is why epinephrine, a vasoconstrictor, is used in many cases alongside it to counteract that by tightening the blood vessels. I advise folks to be cautious when we use a vasoconstrictor as it can lead to blanching in the tattooed area and poor healing due to the blood flow being limited to the area.
It's important to monitor these products, the vasodilator can block sodium in the blood vessels which can lower blood pressure in some people. The vasoconstrictor can also accelerated heart rate.
In the skin
It’s normal for numbing products to slightly change the texture of skin! It’s our job to know how to work with that. This is why artists that use numbing products tend to stick to a product that works best with how they tattoo. However, we can't predict how skin is going to react to numbing. Sometimes skin will not accept ink at all because of numbing cream and heal horribly, other times its breeze and all goes as planned. It’s very dependent on your bodies reaction as well as the product, the amount, and the duration.
I advise testing a numbing product during your consultation, if you are interested in using one.
Application
The artists should always supply you with the numbing products. Do NOT purchase them from another source. We need to be familiar with the products we are applying and to be able to monitor you while using them.
You must make sure you are using products appropriately as the manufacturer instructs. Most over the counter numbing products are NOT sterile. This means they will NOT go on broken skin! Most numbing products will be applied to the the area pre-session and will not be reapplied through the tattoo.
The largest amount of numbing cream that should be used in a single application is 5 grams. The FDA recommends avoiding products containing more than 4% lidocaine, and NOT using them on large areas of skin. None of these products are meant for large areas or for an extended period of time as it can cause serious complications.
How long should you keep it on? No more than an hour. If you leave large amounts of numbing cream on your skin for extended periods of time, the active ingredient may be over absorbed. This can cause life-threatening side effects from using too much of the numbing product.
Side Effects
Lidocaine is tightly regulated because it can seep below the skin, even into other organs, which is why it's can be dangerous to use pre-tattoo without supervision, and should only be used as directed by your artist or doctor!
The most common side effects include irritation, redness, splotching, blanching, skin discoloration, and mild burning. Other risks included medication interactions, excessive absorption, chemical burns, and allergic reaction.
While some side effects are mild, numbing creams can cause severe damage if used incorrectly. Severe toxicity includes numbness or prickling in the mouth, ringing of the ears, lightheadedness, blurry vision, nausea, seizures, hypotension, irregular heartbeat, breathing difficulties, hallucinations, muscle twitching, and even coma or death. Lidocaine toxicity is very rare but very serious! Which is why application should be tightly monitored. If you are experiencing any symptoms as listed above you need to seek immediate medical attention.
With all the potential benefits of numbing creams for tattooing, there are certain people who should not use them as they can cause serious sometimes fatal reactions such as respiratory or heart issues.
You should not use numbing products if:
You have an allergy to lidocaine or any of the other active ingredients
You have methemoglobinemia
You have cardiac conditions, such as a heart block
You have a severe liver disease
You have asthma, or other lung diseases
Should I try it?
This is completely up to you and your artist! Some people decide not to take the risk and others are open to taking the chance to see if it'll work for them. However, its extremely important to stay educated on lidocaine and other numbing products/ingredients so that you can make an informed decision for yourself.
Disclaimer - I'm not a medical professional! Any decision regarding your health should be cross checked with your doctor, or another medical professional.
Hope this helps xxx