Numbing Cream for Tattoo Sessions

The FDA recommends not using topical numbing creams that contain more than 4% lidocaine, not using abrasive materials to open the skin, and not wrapping lidocaine products with plastic.

Unfortunately, even brands that are operating within the legal parameters of ingredients, changing the application style as recommended by most artists for effectiveness to just letting it dry on unbroken skin effectively negates the numbing power of any of them in our experience.

Fortunately, the lidocaine sprays we occasionally use during the tattoo such as VasoCaine and Bactine are still approved.

Even without considering the risks associated with these products, some artists refuse to work on skin that has been pre-treated with topical lidocaine creams because it can make the skin spongy and cause abnormal healing.

Clients’ safety is our top priority, as well as operating safely and ethically. As a result, it is assumed that some clients who have been using these products without issue will want to continue to use them if they still have them. Please carefully evaluate the risks associated with using these products before continuing to use them.

When lidocaine is applied over large areas of skin, particularly on irritated or broken skin, for prolonged periods, and when the skin is covered, the product may cause serious injury by lidocaine toxicity.

In cases of systemic or severe lidocaine toxicity, symptoms may include

• muscle tremors
• seizures
• respiratory depression
• unconsciousness
• coma
• cardiac depression

Please make sure you understand the risks and check with your artist prior to using topical numbing creams during your appointment.