Numbing Cream

Category: art

A topical anesthetic, usually containing lidocaine, applied to the skin to reduce pain during a tattoo.

Numbing cream can help for the first hour of a tattoo session, but some artists dislike it because it can change the skin’s texture, making it harder to apply the ink accurately. Always ask your artist if they allow the use of numbing products.

Common Examples

• I applied the numbing cream exactly two hours before the appointment to make the session on my ribcage more tolerable.
• Some artists charge a fee or refuse to work with numbing cream if they feel it interferes with their ability to properly pack ink.