Pain Relief

The first thing people want to know is how much tattooing hurts and what pain relief options are available. The answer varies. The important thing is that it probably will hurt. Tattooing involves a number of needles rapidly piercing your skin. How can it not hurt? Depending on your tolerance for pain, you may find it almost too much to take, or you may find that it doesn't bother you at all. But if you are one of the unlucky few who finds the pain intolerable, what can you do to get some pain relief?

Pre-Tattoo Pain Relief

If you're going in for your first tattoo, you may be nervous about the pain you're about to feel. It's natural to want to avoid as much pain as possible, but it's also important to remember that the pain will probably not be as bad as you expect. While some body parts will be more sensitive than others, remember that you're volunteering for this procedure. Having the right attitude when you walk in the door will help before the needle even touches your skin. If you're still worried, though, there are a few things to do (and not do) to help.

What Not To Take

• Illegal drugs or alcohol. A lot of people think these will take the edge off, but really all they do is make the tattooing process a lot less safe. These products can thin the blood and this can increases the amount of bleeding. Additionally, they can dull your judgment. Most artists do not want to deal with drunk people, and in many states, it is illegal for the artist to give a tattoo to a person who's had too much to drink.
• Aspirin or ibuprofen. While some people think these over-the-counter pain killers can help, what they really do is thin the blood, making the tattoo bleed more.

What To Take

• Nothing.
• Tylonel or acetaminophen. These over-the-counter pain killers do not thin your blood, so they're safer. How effective they are remains to be seen.
• Hypnosis. According to a hypnosis healthcare website, using self-hypnosis to dull pain is quite effective.

During the Tattoo

While it may hurt when the needle first breaks the skin, you may find that after a few minutes, the pain seems to fade. This is because the body will naturally release endorphins that dull the pain. Another thing that will help during the tattoo is the vibration. Many people who get tattoos report that the buzzing from the tattoo machine actually makes for a somewhat pleasant sensation. Other report more of a feeling of heat than pain.

If you feel a lot of pain, tell the tattoo artist. Sometimes taking a quick break can help you to catch your breath, and a good artist will have nothing against a breather.

Bactine and other sprays that contain lidocaine may help keep the tattooing process from hurting, but these sprays only work on skin that has already been broken, so they cannot be applied before the artist starts. Some artists may have these kind of sprays on hand. Ask ahead of time if you're worried.

Post Tattoo Pain Relief

While some people think that the worst of the pain is over the minute the needle leaves the skin, others find the healing process the most painful. If the pain seems to be more than you think it should be, make sure you don't have an infection. Barring an infection, however, there are a few things that can help you.

• Neosporin (or similar antibiotic gel) with pain relief in it. While some artists suggest not using this type of product on a healing tattoo, others recommend it. Depending on how you deal with your healing, you may want to slather some on to help the pain.
• Ice. This one is rather simple, but it can be effective. Make sure to wrap a towel or cloth around the ice pack – you don't want to get the tattoo wet.
• Over-the-counter pain relief. Now's the time to grab whatever normally sits in your medicine cabinet. You will want to stay away from anything that may thin the blood during the first day or two of healing, but after that, you should be safe to use anything that you've found helpful for pain relief in the past.

Remember, getting a tattoo may be painful, but it's also permanent. Approaching your tattoo with the right attitude can make all the difference to how much it really hurts.

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