Numbing cream or painkiller before a tattoo session?

Not sure if this belongs here, but I honestly have no clue where else to start a thread.

So, I’m getting a tattoo on my inner bicep—you know, the upper arm area. When I was getting work done on my back, it hurt like hell, but I’m thinking this spot is going to be way worse since the skin is so thin and sensitive there.

So, question: does anyone actually know how to numb the skin in that specific spot? Like, my dentist always rubs some stuff on my gums and my whole mouth goes totally numb. Is there something similar?

A buddy of mine who's in pharmacy school suggested Deep Relief, but I’m not sure if that’s actually what you want for this. The label says don't put it on open wounds, but does that even matter if I'm applying it *before* the needle hits? Before the wounds even exist?

Anyway, if anyone knows anything, I'd appreciate it...

I find myself harboring some rather profound skepticism regarding that suggestion.
In all my experience, I have never once heard of anyone being advised to take such an approach.
Furthermore, I harbor serious doubts about whether Deep Relief could even be applied effectively, let alone meet any reasonable standard of hygiene.
If you are getting a tattoo, you simply need to grit your teeth and bear it; I trust you are grown enough to handle it.😬

Jeremy Clark55 said:Not sure if this belongs here, but I honestly have no clue where else to start a thread.

So, I’m getting a tattoo on my inner bicep—you know, the upper arm area. When I was getting work done on my back, it hurt like hell, but I’m thinking this spot is going to be way worse since the skin is so thin and sensitive there.

So, question: does anyone actually know how to numb the skin in that specific spot? Like, my dentist always rubs some stuff on my gums and my whole mouth goes totally numb. Is there something similar?

A buddy of mine who's in pharmacy school suggested Deep Relief, but I’m not sure if that’s actually what you want for this. The label says don't put it on open wounds, but does that even matter if I'm applying it *before* the needle hits? Before the wounds even exist?

Anyway, if anyone knows anything, I'd appreciate it...

Tell your friend to drop out of college. I have never heard such nonsense in my life. If you're dead set on getting tattooed, just deal with the pain. The people who invented this whole thing believed that being able to endure pain is what makes a man a real adult. And hey, if you don't feel manly enough to handle it, just take some Advil or Motrin afterward.😉

If you're looking for a local anesthetic that would actually be effective for this situation, you really need to consult a physician first... they might suggest lidocaine via subcutaneous infiltration... but as far as oral options go, what Angela Wright suggested

Look, I'm studying pharmacy too, so maybe my buddy should just flip through pharmaceutical 2 again—or honestly, just keep his mouth shut if he hasn't even hit that chapter yet.
Deep Relief actually uses ibuprofen, which is an NSAID (anti-rheumatic), not a local anesthetic.
There’s a massive difference between using ibuprofen to dial down pain by blocking COX1 and COX2 enzymes—the ones that make prostaglandins hit your nerves, but I won't bore you with the science lecture—versus blocking sodium channels to stop nerve impulses entirely. That's what actual anesthetics do to "numb" the tissue.
The guy really needs to realize ibuprofen isn't going to act like an anesthetic.
And like Sam Hall15 mentioned... since tattoo artists aren't medical pros and aren't legally allowed to hand out anesthesia (not even local stuff), your only real shot is getting a doctor on your side.

Well put. Those pain receptors you're referring to are nociceptors, through which inflammatory mediators act, while NSAIDs function as their antagonists...

I’d suggest just picking up some dolokain cream at a local CVS instead. It isn't pricey, and it actually works for localized pain.

Larry Ortiz3 said:I’d suggest just picking up some dolokain cream at a local CVS instead. It isn't pricey, and it actually works for localized pain.

Or maybe just try EMLA ointment (a local anesthetic).

They’ll give you the full rundown at the shop as to why they skip the numbing agents—but honestly, Deep Relief is an absolute game-changer. I mean, let's be real, a tattoo IS a wound, for crying out loud!

I’ve seriously never heard of anyone numbing down an area before getting tattooed....