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As the saying goes, ‘no pain, no gain.’ But when it comes to piercings and tattoos, why suffer more than you must? With the right numbing cream for your piercing or tattooing session – like those on this list of the 10 best – you can reduce discomfort and get through with ease.
From Zensa Numbing Cream Lidocaine to LMX4 Lidocaine Pain Relief Cream, we’ll explore each product in detail so that you’re informed about what’s available on today’s market. Plus, we’ll provide key information such as the active ingredients used in these creams, along with safety concerns and potential allergens.
Table Of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Numbing creams can reduce discomfort during piercings and tattoos.
- Look for numbing creams that contain active ingredients like lidocaine, benzocaine, or tetracaine.
- Choose a non-oily, non-greasy formula that absorbs quickly into the skin.
- Test a small amount of cream on your skin 24 hours before use to check for allergic reactions.
Top 10 Best Numbing Creams for Piercings and Tattoos
Getting a piercing or tattoo can be a daunting experience, but with the right numbing cream, it doesn’t have to be! Zensa Numbing Cream Lidocaine, Dr Numb Lidocaine Cream, Ebanel Lidocaine Numbing Spray, Hustle Butter Tattoo Balm, and Fast-Acting Tattoo Numbing Cream are some of the top-rated products you should consider.
WELMATE Lidocaine Numbing Cream is ideal for minor cuts and scrapes, while LMX4 Pain Relief cream offers fast relief from arthritis pain. Lastly, there’s Curist’s extra strength 5% lidocaine tube, which has 50% more than average creams—all designed to make your procedure as comfortable as possible.
Zensa Numbing Cream Lidocaine
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For fast-acting, long-lasting numbing relief you can trust during piercings and tattoos, try Zensa Numbing Cream Lidocaine – a dermatologist-approved cream preferred by professionals across North America.
This maximum strength lidocaine cream offers up to 4 hours of pain relief for sensitive areas on the face or body.
With proper usage tips such as testing a small amount on the skin 24 hours before use, applying a thick layer to dry skin followed by a plastic wrap barrier on top, users have reported effective pain reduction with minimal discomfort through their tattoo session.
- Maximum Strength 5% Lidocaine
- Fast-Acting & Long-Lasting Pain Relief (up to 4 hrs)
- Non-Oily Water-Based Formula Leaves No Trace When Absorbed
- Hypoallergenic & Cruelty-Free
- May Require Reapplication Mid-Session For Extended Relief
- Not Suitable for Use Around Eyes/Nose/Mouth
- May Cause Allergic Reaction in Some Individuals
Dr Numb Lidocaine Cream
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Experience fast and lasting pain relief with Dr Numb Lidocaine Cream. Perfect for those looking to reduce discomfort during piercings and tattoos, this product contains 5% lidocaine to provide a numbing sensation that lasts up to 4 hours.
Trusted by healthcare professionals and aestheticians for over a decade, it’s secured with a child-resistant cap for safety.
Its non-oily formula leaves no trace when absorbed, making it suitable even on sensitive areas like your face or body. Vitamin E also helps soothe skin irritation while reducing swelling and inflammation from the procedure you’re undergoing.
To maximize its effects, apply generously in thick layers before covering with cling wrap or medical tape.
Enjoy an itch-free tattooing session without worrying about harsh chemicals, as this cream is vegan-friendly, hypoallergenic, and paraben-free.
- Fast acting & long-lasting
- Non-oily formula vitamin E
- Hypoallergenic & cruelty-free
- Performance test prior to use recommended
- Child-resistant cap may be difficult to open/close
Ebanel Lidocaine Numbing Spray
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Ebanel Lidocaine Numbing Spray is a fast-acting and long-lasting numbing solution that will quickly soothe your pain, like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. It is formulated with 0.25% Phenylephrine HCl and infused with Arginine and Allantoin to help reduce swelling, inflammation, and soreness while protecting the skin from irritations.
This water-based formula is oil-free, odor-free, and non-greasy for easy application without having to worry about clogged tubes or wiped off stencils when used during tattooing. The FSA HSA eligible spray comes in a 4oz bottle secured by a child-resistant cap for extra safety measures while providing up to 1 hour of relief.
It starts working within 2-3 minutes and reaches its peak performance at 5-10 minutes, depending on an individual’s body sensitivity.
- Fast-acting & long-lasting pain relief
- Reduces swelling & inflammation
- Non-greasy formula for easy application
- Child-resistant cap for safety measures
- Suitable for tattoo aftercare and shrinking hemorrhoids rapidly
- Performance test prior to treatment is highly recommended
- May cause irritant or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
Hustle Butter Tattoo Balm
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Hustle Butter Tattoo Balm is designed to heal and protect, allowing you to enjoy the full effects of your new body art. This 100% natural product is made with Shea, Mango, Aloe butter, Coconut oil, Sunflower seed oil, and Rice Bran oils, all combined together into a vegan-friendly balm.
It also includes Rosemary Oleoresin for skin regeneration, as well as Green Tea extract to promote healing. Vitamin E Complex helps reduce swelling, and Mint Arvenis Essential Oil provides an aroma that calms the mind.
Recommended by artists worldwide due to its effectiveness in reducing irritation from tattoos, old or new, Hustle Butter Deluxe will make sure you get the most out of each piece of artwork!
- Vegan-friendly ingredients
- Cruelty-free certified
- No harsh chemicals/petroleum/paraben-free
- Texture requires body heat before application
- Slightly greasy consistency may cause pimples
- Can be inconvenient during application
Fast Acting Tattoo Numbing Cream
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Numbskin Fast-Acting Tattoo Numbing Cream provides fast and effective relief from pain, so you can stay comfortable during your tattooing session. This lidocaine cream, 5%, kicks in after just five minutes and lasts up to four hours on any part of the body.
It’s suitable for laser hair removal too, providing pain relief in 15-30 minutes. Users have reported falling asleep during their sessions due to its effectiveness! It is also useful for line work but may not be as effective with color fill-in tattoos.
However, wrapping tightly with saran wrap and medical tape may enhance the numbing effect throughout a longer procedure like filling colors.
Cruelty-free yet secured by a child-resistant cap, this product has been proven to provide temporary relief without harsh chemicals or additives that could otherwise cause irritation or allergic reactions when used correctly according to instructions provided by the manufacturer prior to use.
- Fast-acting – starts working within 5 minutes
- Lasts up to 4 hours
- Suitable for laser hair removal & microneedling
- Not as efficient at blocking pain signals on more sensitive areas such as the face/eyes
- May not be strong enough if left uncovered while drying
WELMATE Lidocaine Numbing Cream
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WELMATE Lidocaine Numbing Cream can provide fast and effective relief from pain, itching, burning sensations, and swelling. It soothes your skin with Vitamin E to help reduce inflammation. This maximum strength cream is formulated with 5% lidocaine, which starts working in just two or three minutes after application and lasts up to an hour once it has reached its peak.
Plus, the product is vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. It is also non-greasy and contains no harsh chemicals, ensuring a safe experience every time you use it.
The jar makes the product easy to apply before providing discomfort relief right when you need it most. It has child-resistant packaging that prevents any accidental usage of this powerful numbing cream.
On top of that, WELMATE Lidocaine Numbing Cream can be used safely on all types of skin, including sensitive areas such as the face, without fear of irritation developing over time.
- Fast-acting and long-lasting pain relief
- Enriched with Vitamin E to aid swelling and inflammation while moisturizing and hydrating the skin
- Vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, non-greasy, odorless, and contains no harsh chemicals
- Child-resistant packaging helps prevent accidental usage
- Skin may become irritated if used too often
- Jar might be difficult to open
- Not as strong as prescription pain creams
Numb Master Lidocaine Cream
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Numb Master Lidocaine Cream provides fast and long-lasting relief from pain and discomfort, so you can get back to life with minimal hassle. Formulated in the USA by Clinical Resolution Laboratory, this unscented cream contains lidocaine 5% and vitamin E.
It’s a non-oily and non-greasy water-based formula that makes it easy to apply without leaving a mess behind.
The numbing effect kicks in after just five minutes of application while peaking at 20–25 minutes – lasting up to one hour at its peak! Its paraben-free, cruelty-free, and pain-free formulation makes it suitable for all skin types.
Additionally, cGMP certification guarantees its quality, and it has a two-year shelf life stability that won’t let your product expire soon.
- Fast-acting – the numbing effect kicks in after 5 minutes
- Long-lasting effects – lasts up to 1 hour from peak
- Non-oily/non-greasy water-based formula
- Paraben Free/Cruelty Free/Pain Free
- Secure Child Resistant Cap
- 2 Year Shelf Life Stability
- Not effective or may not last longer during microneedling treatment
- Less effective compared to other popular brands
- May require performance test prior to use
LMX4 Lidocaine Pain Relief Cream
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LMX4 Lidocaine Pain Relief Cream is clinically proven to be effective, with Baylor College of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology recommending it for fast relief – in as little as 5 minutes!
This 4% lidocaine cream provides quick and temporary relief from minor cuts, scrapes, burns, abrasions, sunburns, and insect bites. It has a non-greasy formula that absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving any residue.
Ideal for use before painful cosmetic procedures like tattooing or waxing, this product numbs the skin for temporary relief while moisturizing and hydrating it with Vitamin E.
Recommended by dermatologists everywhere, LMX4 Lidocaine Pain Relief Cream is a must-have in every medicine cabinet or first aid kit.
- Clinically proven to be effective
- Provides fast pain and itching relief
- Numbs the skin temporarily
- Contains Vitamin E to help hydrate and moisturize
- Expensive product
- Can cause irritation if used incorrectly
Curist Lidocaine Cream Pain Relief
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Experience fast and long-lasting pain relief with Curist Lidocaine Cream—so you can enjoy your piercing or tattoo without any discomfort. This 5% topical lidocaine has been formulated for maximum strength, providing a much stronger effect than Max Strength Aspercreme 4% Lidocaine.
It’s also 50% more cream than typical 4 oz lidocaine tubes, so it provides extra coverage to treat larger areas of the body.
The lab-tested ingredients used in this product are designed to numb and soothe skin quickly while blocking nerves and desensitizing them against rashes, itching, burning sensations, irritations at injection sites—and even hemorrhoids! With its powerful effects lasting up to 1 hour on average after application is complete, users are able to benefit from reduced pain during tattoos as well as relief from arthritis or muscle pains elsewhere on the body.
- Fast & Long Lasting Pain Relief
- Blocks Nerves & Desensitizes Skin
- Extra Treatments for Hemorrhoids/Anorectal Issues
- More Cream Than Typical Tubes (50%)
- Results Not Significantly Better Than 4%-Lidocaine Products
What to Look for in a Numbing Cream for Piercings
When shopping for a numbing cream for piercings and tattoos, you should pay attention to its active ingredients, safety concerns, and potential allergens. You should also consider the formula type, strength of the numbing agent used, and its effectiveness.
Lidocaine is often found in most numbing creams available on the market today, but there are other anesthetics too, such as benzocaine or tetracaine, that can be present depending on your needs.
Certain formulas may require further precautions, like testing prior to treatment or avoiding sensitive areas around the eyes and mouth. Others may provide additional benefits, such as moisturizing the skin with Vitamin E or helping reduce swelling with Arginine infusion.
Active Ingredients
When choosing a numbing cream for piercings, look for ones that contain active ingredients such as lidocaine, benzocaine, and tetracaine to provide effective relief. These topical anesthetics block pain signals from nerve endings in the skin to give you longer-lasting pain relief.
Make sure it has enough active concentration (5% or more) and consider your skin sensitivity when deciding which product is best suited for you.
In addition, be sure to read application tips on each product package before using it; this will help ensure optimal results with minimal discomfort! Lidocaine creams may also include liposomal technology, which can extend the duration of its numbing effect, so be aware of these features when selecting one.
Ultimately, these active ingredients combined with proper usage are key factors in getting maximum pain relief during piercings!
Safety Concerns and Potential Allergens
It’s important to consider safety concerns and potential allergens when selecting a numbing cream for piercings. Before applying any product, always read the label carefully and follow the instructions.
It is also recommended to test a small amount of cream on your skin 24 hours before use in order to check for allergic reactions or adverse skin reactions. Be aware of possible symptoms such as itching, hives, swelling, or redness, which could indicate an allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention if experienced following topical application with needles or injections.
If you experience any side effects after using a numbing cream, contact your doctor immediately or call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 (TTY: 1-866-889-4225). Doing so will help ensure proper usage while avoiding potentially harmful consequences from misuse of these products.
Formula
You should consider the formula of numbing creams for piercings, such as lidocaine content, to ensure you get relief from any pain or discomfort. But how do you know which cream is right for your piercing? Compare ingredients and reviews to make an informed choice.
Look out for application techniques that may enhance numbing duration. Pick a brand with quality products and vegan formulas containing Vitamin E. Also, choose water-based solutions with aloe vera extract like Uber Numb 5% Lidocaine Cream and Hustle Butter Deluxe Natural Tattoo Balm.
Strength
Strength is an important factor to consider when choosing a numbing cream for piercings, as you’ll want something that will provide the maximum level of pain relief. Check potency levels and concentration levels of active ingredients like lidocaine or benzocaine on each product before buying.
Look for strength rankings such as 5% lidocaine found in Numb Master Lidocaine Cream or Maximum Strength Lidocaine Pain Relief Cream from CVS Health. Dr Numb’s 5% Topical Anesthetic has been used by healthcare professionals and Ebanel’s spray offers a fast-acting solution with 0.
For best results, follow application tips such as testing small amounts 24 hrs prior, applying thick layers directly onto clean skin, then covering it with plastic wrap until the desired effect is achieved – 45-60 minutes after application should be enough!
Effectiveness
You’ll want to look for a numbing cream that’s fast-acting and long-lasting, so you can enjoy your piercing with minimal discomfort. Look for products containing topical anesthetics like lidocaine or benzocaine in different strength levels.
For best results, apply a thick layer of cream, cover it with plastic wrap, wait 45-60 minutes, and then experience the relief from pain and swelling during the healing process! Choose quality brands offering user experiences without the risk of irritant or allergic reactions, plus safety information when using the product around children or pregnant/breastfeeding women.
Numbing creams provide long-lasting relief while ensuring safe application — ideal for tattoos too!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long should I wait before using a numbing cream?
Before using a numbing cream, wait 30-90 minutes for it to take full effect. Its fast-acting formula can block pain signals and last 2-6 hours depending on the product. Test a small amount 24 hours before use to avoid reactions and apply thickly on clean, dry skin with plastic wrap over top for best results.
Is it safe to use numbing cream while pregnant or breastfeeding?
It’s best to play it safe and consult a doctor before using any numbing cream if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Despite being effective, these creams contain ingredients that could potentially cause harm.
How often can I use numbing cream?
It is generally safe to use numbing cream for short-term pain relief; however, it should not be used more than several times a week. Check the label instructions and consult your doctor if you have any concerns or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Are there any side effects to using numbing cream?
Yes, there can be side effects from using numbing cream. It may cause irritation or allergic reactions if not used correctly. Avoid contact with eyes, nose, and mouth; follow manufacturer instructions to prevent adverse effects.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult a doctor before use and stop if any symptoms worsen.
Does numbing cream work on all skin types?
Yes, numbing creams are designed to work on all skin types. Over 95% of people who use the top recommended brands have reported successful results with reduced pain and inflammation.
Conclusion
Nowadays, it’s important to make sure you’re using the best numbing cream for piercings and tattoos. From Zensa Numbing Cream Lidocaine to Curist Lidocaine Cream Pain Relief, the top 10 numbing creams on the market are sure to provide long-lasting relief.
When selecting a numbing cream, make sure to look for active ingredients, safety concerns, the formula, the strength, and effectiveness. This way, you can be sure the numbing cream you are using is the best for the job.
With the right numbing cream, you can make sure your piercing or tattooing experience is as painless and safe as possible.
