Tattoos are known to be painful, and this is universally acknowledged. Even though everyone’s pain sensitivity is distinct and some individuals may suffer less pain than others, everyone feels it in some form or another at some point. On top of that, the inking process itself is torture to endure.
However, if you get a tattoo on a susceptible area, the healing process may be even more painful and persistent than the tattooing process itself.
This article is for you if you’re considering getting your first tattoo or if you didn’t enjoy the agony you experienced while getting one. We will educate you on the many routines and habits that might develop after getting your body tattooed, and we will help you navigate the healing phase like a pro.
Before we get started, it’s critical to understand the distinct pain zones in both men and women. So, first and foremost, you may understand more about the different pain zones by looking at this tattoo pain chart. Then, if you’re already familiar with the discomfort of having a tattoo, we’ll discuss what you can do to make the experience more tolerable.
Also, it’s important to remember that how you feel during the tattooing process and while you’re healing depends on how much pain you can handle.
While some people have a more potent pain threshold than others, the tattoo pain chart we provided above will not change significantly regardless of your level of pain tolerance.
It also depends on how stressed you are, how tired or rested you are, how often you sleep, what kind of food you have, and the tattoo artist who does it.
It has to be someone you know, or someone recommended to you by someone you know.
It is never a good idea to get a tattoo at an uncontrolled facility or from a rogue tattoo artist who has no one to vouch for their competence and experience.
Now that we’ve identified the most critical concepts to comprehend, let’s look at managing tattoo pain in three stages.
- In the process of preparing for a tattooing session
- Pain control is essential during the tattooing procedure.
- Pain control following the session as well as throughout the healing process.
Take a look at what follows!
Preparing for the Pain of a Tattoo
As previously said, every permanent tattoo will hurt, regardless of how sensitive you are to discomfort.
This is because the inking needle pierces into the top layers of skin and causes the skin to recover slowly. Without this procedure, you can’t get a tattoo, but it’s possible to get ready for the tattoo while still feeling a little pain.
Here’s how to do it.
Get Enough Of Sleep
Do you experience being re-energized and renewed after a good night’s sleep? If you do, your body and mind will be sufficiently rested to tackle the strenuous activities that the day has in store. For example, one study looked into the relationship between sleep and pain, and found that sleep is one of the best ways to relieve pain.
One of the most important neurotransmitters in our bodies, dopamine, is released into our system when we sleep. It is responsible for pain alleviation and pleasure, and it can assist us in dealing with discomfort throughout the day. On the other hand, a lack of sleep has been shown to interfere with our brain’s systems for sensing pain, causing us to have difficulty dealing with it.
Another study discovered that a lack of sleep makes it harder for us to cope with physical discomfort effectively. It will also slow down the healing process for any specific injuries we have.
Several further suggestions
To get enough sleep, go to bed early (between 9 and 11 pm, and always before midnight). It’s normal to be enthusiastic about getting a tattoo, but getting enough sleep is critical for healing.
Because your body has a lot of dopamine, it can be easier for it to deal with the pain if you have a tattooing appointment in the morning.
Make certain to eat
A proper diet is vital for good health because it enhances our physical and mental processes and our ability to cope with discomfort. Unfortunately, many individuals make the mistake of skipping breakfast before getting a tattoo done, for whatever reason they may be doing so.
That is just incorrect.
Of course, you shouldn’t try to eat your way out of your discomfort; doing so might make you ill. It’s also no secret that some people pass out from pain; you don’t want this to happen to you because you’re starving.This is especially important if the tattoo you’re getting is enormous and you’ll spend a significant amount of time at the tattoo table.
Several further suggestions :
Try to eat a more environmentally friendly diet and avoid consuming too many carbohydrates before the activity.
Stay Hydrated
When it comes to bodily regulation, water is one of the most crucial factors. Among the numerous things it can aid with are sugar control, dehydration prevention, acid neutralization, pain relief, and a variety of other things.
It also shows that if you drink a lot of water, your skin might be less sensitive to getting a tattoo. This is a claim that has been backed up by scientific evidence.
In one study, an association between water treatment and fibromyalgia was discovered. According to anecdotal evidence, maybe tattooing is one of the cases where skin hydration through water might help alleviate discomfort.
Nonetheless, drink only as much water as you need to be healthy. Similarly, suppose you have a strong appetite. In that case, you may find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing to use the toilet while getting inked, which will cause your tattoo artist significant disruption and make you far more difficult to work with.
Several further suggestions :
Avoid carbonated drinks like soda and sparkling water because they make you more likely to need to go to the bathroom.
Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours before getting your tattoo done. According to one study, those suffering from alcohol withdrawal had greater pain sensitivity.
Wear Loose Clothing
Clothing is one of the most crucial considerations, especially in the tattoo industry. Allow this to serve as both a preparation for your tattoo session and a measurement to be taken once you have completed your tattoo session. When you return, your clothes will interact with your wound, either loosely or firmly. Therefore, it is critical to dress in loose, breathable, and comfortable clothes that will not cause pain, itching, burning, or anything else.
Several further suggestions :
Wear garments composed of linen, viscose, or cotton to keep cool in the summer. It is best not to use heated, synthetic materials, while viscose is often OK.
Reschedule if You Feel Sick
No matter how serious the coronavirus pandemic may be (it is now impacting millions of people globally at the time of writing this post), you should reschedule if you are sick (whether it be a cold, hay fever, headache, or an accident). As a result, you’ll be more irritable, which means you’ll be more likely to have a lot of pain after getting a tattoo.
Also Read :
Is Getting a Tattoo on Your Neck a Bad Idea?
Do Tattoos Damage the Liver and Kidneys?
Are There Certain Times Of The Year That Are Ideal For Getting Tattooed?
Pain Management During The Tattooing Session
If you’ve prepared for your tattoo appointment and are getting ready to have a beautiful tattoo placed on your body, let’s see what you can do to minimize discomfort during the actual tattoo process!
Take Some Pain Reliever
In the case of getting your body tattooed, many tattoo experts and physicians have differing perspectives on what sort of medicine you should take and how often you should take it.
Some physicians may tell you that you should avoid certain medications because they may cause even more significant pain, while others say certain medications should be acceptable.
Most doctors agree that taking Tylenol or paracetamol immediately after getting a fresh tattoo is the safest course of action. However, it is recommended that you take it at least 30 minutes before your tattoo appointment.
Several further suggestions :
You should never take a pain reliever that has aspirin in it, because aspirin is bad for your health. Aspirin weakens your blood vessels.
It’s also a good idea not to take aspirin or any other anti-inflammatory medicine like Ibuprofen before getting a tattoo.
Take a deep breath
We understand that this may appear to be meaningless advice, but it might be of tremendous assistance. Many tattoo artists encourage their clients to relax and divert their attention away from the tattoo they desire while getting it done. So, again, it’s not a massive aid, but concentrating on your breathing regimen will benefit both you and your tattoo artist in the long run.
Several further suggestions :
Yoga and meditation have helped many people deal with the tattooing process, especially if it is long and painful enough to make them give up.
Ask Your Tattoo Artist To Take Breaks
In the same way that dentists take pauses during unpleasant operations, your tattoo artist can also take breaks to allow you to rest from the agony generated by the tattoo needle while working on you. They can take breaks every few minutes or every 10 to 15 minutes, but they’ll also assist you in concentrating on your breathing and relaxing when coping with severe discomfort.
Several further suggestions :
Don’t force yourself to get a second or third large tattoo simultaneously. A tattoo artist will allow you a few minutes to catch your breath every now and then. However, if you’re working on a larger design, it’s best to schedule numerous sessions and give yourself time to unwind between them.
To keep from bothering your tattoo artist, always ask for pauses when you’re being too active.
Bring Headphones
The release of your hormones is triggered whenever something hurts you or if you become extremely enthusiastic about something. This results in increased irritation about certain things. While wearing headphones and listening to music may not completely help with the pain, it will help.
It will help you keep your mind off of things and let the tattoo artist work without you interfering with their work.
Additional Tips:
Consider investing in a pair of headphones that provide sound isolation, since even the sound of a tattoo machine might be enough to scare someone away from the agony. Finally, try to keep as much of the world out of your head as possible.
Ask For Recommendation On Skin Numbing Creams
The agony associated with getting a tattoo might be unbearable. As previously stated, this is due to the needle piercing the body during the procedure. Not everything, however, has been lost. Many tattoo creams, for example, work in a way that makes the skin numb, allowing the tattoo artist to work on the tattoo without causing too much pain.
It is possible to request skin-numbing ointments from your tattoo artist. However, we urge you to look into the three choices in the other advice section.
Additionally, suggestions :
Ink Scribd Numbing Cream: This one does not require a prescription and is composed of 5% Lidocaine, sufficient to numb your skin before your tattoo appointment. It absorbs very quickly, so you may use it 15 to 20 minutes before your tattoo session without any problems. However, depending on the circumstances, the effects might linger for one to two hours. It also has a high concentration of vitamin E, which is beneficial to the skin.
Ebanel Topic Cream: It is one of the most effective topical creams available because of its unique soothing, numbing, and moisturizing characteristics. It takes only 15 to 20 minutes to get to work and will keep your skin protected for more than an hour. In addition, it has the same amount of Lidocaine as other tattoo creams, as well as vitamins that help keep the skin moisturized.
Dr. Numb Tattoo Cream: Tattoo cream Dr. Numb’s tattoo cream, which looks like toothpaste but contains 5 percent Lidocaine and is made with a hypoallergenic formula, is guaranteed to work in 15 to 20 minutes from the time of application.
Pain Management After the Tattoo Procedure
It will take 3 to 6 weeks for your tattoo to completely heal. After that, you will need to take additional measures to care for your wound until the healing benefits are noticeable. The good news is that some of the advice from the earlier sections of this article applies to this portion as well, including the following:
- Dressing in comfortable clothes
- Getting adequate sleep and eating on time
- Maintaining proper hydration, among other things.
But, what can you do to make your health situation better right now?
After First 24h Keep Your Tattoo Exposed
For the first 24 hours after getting a tattoo, it’s critical to keep it protected with an ointment and a bandage that will keep it protected from moisture and germs getting into your wound throughout the healing process. However, after 1 to 2 days, you can remove the treatment and let the tattoo wound dry and heal on its own. This is thought to be safe.
Several further suggestions :
If your tattoo artist tells you to cover the tattoo for a longer period of time, don’t be afraid to do so. Your safety and health are the most important things to think about.
Use Topical Anesthetic Spray
There are several different topical anesthetic sprays that you may use to alleviate the discomfort. It is well known that a tattoo should be kept dry, and even while taking a shower, it is recommended to use a sponging motion to protect your tattoo and guarantee it does not become moist. It is for this reason that sprays are recommended.
Several further suggestions :
We discovered that HUSH anesthetic spray effectively alleviates pain and discomfort during the first few days after getting a tattoo. Customers should spray it after the tattoo has been outlined but before they start coloring it in, the company says. It also works well as an aftercare product.
Use Ointments That Will Rid You Of Pain & Itching And Speed Up The Healing
For this reason, many tattoo artists recommend to their customers that they apply ointments and gels that will help reduce the amount of discomfort and sensitivity they experience after their tattoo. Some of these gels are also beneficial for itchy skin and promote the healing of tattoo wounds.
Talk to your tattoo artist about which ointments to use, but we’ve included some of the most highly recommended and effective ones below for you to consider using.
Several further suggestions :
Bactine is a calming liquid gel that may help reduce the irritation of a wound and prevent the spread of infection. It has a gentle feeling and doesn’t hurt like ointments that include alcohol, which can be irritating.
In quest of an ointment that does everything in one go? Look no further than Hustle Butter Deluxe. Hustle Butter Deluxe is made up of natural and vegan ingredients that are safe to use on the skin and help to speed up healing time.
Tattoo Goo Original Mini Balm provides pain treatment and soothing moisturizing in a more compact version of the giant cream. It is made up of 98 percent natural therapeutic elements like olive oil, lavender, cocoa butter, and other natural ingredients.This product makes the tattoo feel softer and aids in the healing process when the process is lengthy and complex. Additionally, it will avoid needless scabbing.
Know More Details:
Tattoo Infection: What You Should Know
How Do You Fix a Tattoo Blowout?
It is better to give than to receive!
