When it comes to tattoo numbing creams containing lidocaine, I’ve got some stories to tell. My relationship with these products has been a wild ride—equal parts curiosity, experimentation, and some lessons learned the hard way. If you’ve been Googling “how long does lidocaine last” or wondering if lidocaine cream for tattoos is the magic solution for pain-free ink, let me give you the real deal.
How It All Started
Back in 2015, I had my first brush with lidocaine when a nurse traded me some high-grade products for a tattoo. I decided to test it out on myself during a hand tattoo session. After applying the lidocaine, I felt absolutely nothing. For a moment, I thought I’d unlocked the secret to pain-free tattooing.
But here’s the twist: years later, as lidocaine products became more mainstream, I started noticing issues. The numbing cream for tattoos worked wonders at first, but repeated use made it less effective. What once numbed for two hours barely lasted 30 minutes. On top of that, the skin would get rubbery and swollen, making tattooing harder and ink placement uneven.
The Problem with Lidocaine
The way lidocaine works is fascinating—and a little tricky. It’s a vasoconstrictor, which means it cuts off blood flow to numb the nerves. That’s great for temporary relief, but it can create major headaches for tattoo artists. Swollen, hardened skin doesn’t take ink well, and once the blood flow returns, the “numb” often turns into an intense “ouch.”
For me, the breaking point came when clients started mentioning allergic reactions or poor healing with lidocaine creams. I knew I needed an alternative.
My Go-To Numbing Spray for Tattoos
These days, my trusty sidekick is Bactine. It contains lidocaine but in a way that works without sabotaging the tattoo process. It won’t make the pain vanish completely, but it takes the edge off, allowing me to focus on delivering a clean, beautiful piece. And honestly, a little pain is part of the story. As I like to say: “If tattoos were unbearable, none of us would have so many!”
Ready to Start Your Tattoo Journey?
Let’s talk about your next tattoo—and if you’re thinking about using a tattoo numbing cream, I’ll help you weigh the pros and cons. Tattoos are personal, and I’m here to make sure your experience is as smooth and meaningful as the art we create together.
Click here to book your appointment now. Let’s turn your ideas into ink you’ll love forever!
As for the whole story.
My relationship with lidocaine products has been interesting, to say the least. While they've always worked to some degree, their effectiveness never quite matched my expectations based on my personal experiences.
My first encounter with lidocaine came in 2015, just a year after completing my tattoo apprenticeship. A nurse came into the shop looking to get a tattoo, and after completing her piece, she proposed an unusual trade for payment. She offered me a bottle of 5% lidocaine solution and a 10% lidocaine patch. Being a nurse, she explained these were surplus items from her "office" - though I didn't question the specifics at the time. I was simply excited to experiment with this medical-grade mystery that had fallen into my lap.
I decided to test it immediately by getting a hand tattoo. While hand tattoos aren't actually as painful as many people think, I didn't know this at the time and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try the numbing solution. I asked my mentor to tattoo an image of my very first tattoo machine on my right hand. Before starting, I thoroughly applied the liquid lidocaine and covered it with a glove, hoping to maximize absorption of this mysterious fluid.
The results were remarkable - my hand went completely numb, and I didn't feel a thing during the tattooing process. I remember thinking this was the greatest invention since sliced bread and couldn't wait to use it again. Oddly enough, I can't recall what happened to the remainder of that bottle; perhaps I gave it away.
When health inspectors would visit, they'd immediately dispose of any products containing more than 4% lidocaine - and trust me, a tattoo artist's trash can isn't something you want to go digging through. Best to just cut your losses.
As time passed, troubling stories began to surface: adverse reactions, rashes, tattoo color falling out, and allergic reactions. While I was fortunate never to experience these issues personally, I noticed a different problem. The numbing effect would wear off more quickly with repeated use, almost as if the body was building a tolerance. What initially provided two hours of numbness would only last 30 minutes in subsequent sessions.
I later learned that lidocaine is a vasoconstrictor - it works by restricting blood flow to the nerves, which makes the skin hard and rubbery. The worst part? When blood flow returns, it activates nerve receptors that have been damaged by needles and filled with pigment. OUCH! The hardened, spongy, and swollen skin made pigment injection uneven; the needles would bounce off regardless of whether I was using a mag or round shader.
Eventually, more artists like myself found ourselves staring at our bottles of mystery numbing magic and saying, "SCREW THIS!" The only product I've found truly effective - so much so that I use it in the majority of my tattoos - is Bactine. While Bactine isn't designed for healing, it's become my go-to for minor cuts and scratches, including tattoos.
If you're considering using lidocaine for your next tattoo, please do thorough research and always consult with your artist before hitting that "order now" button on Amazon. Yes, Bactine contains lidocaine, but it's a product that works reliably. It won't completely numb the area, but it will take the edge off. Just remember: any "numbing" will be followed by an "ouch" once it wears off.
As I often say, "If tattoos really hurt that bad, we wouldn't have so many of them" - and this comes from someone who's arguably the biggest pain baby you'll ever meet!
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