A commonly known and used ointment (or patch) is Emla, which is applied before breaking the skin's continuity, at least an hour before the procedure. Other preparations such as Bactine Spray, Blue Gel, and Vasocaine, are applied to open tissue and start working after a few minutes. The active ingredient in all of them is lidocaine, enriched with tetracaine or benzocaine, which not only provides anesthesia but also reduces swelling and the risk of bruising, disinfects the tattooed area, and stops bleeding. Some of them additionally contain cooling substances.

Sounds great, right?! Well, it's time for the downsides. Firstly, local redness and softening of the skin may occur, which makes it difficult for the tattoo artist to work. We also have to deal with itching and burning during application (this applies to preparations administered during the procedure), which can be really unpleasant. Excessive use of them often complicates and prolongs the healing process. And most importantly - the action time of these agents is about 2 hours, during which the pain is significantly reduced or disappears, allowing for a faster work pace. Unfortunately, it returns later, and if we overdo the intensity of tattooing during anesthesia, it can be unbearable later...

Anesthetic preparations to alleviate pain can be satisfying for small tattoos when the tattoo artist can complete the entire work during the action of the product. They are also useful at the end of a longer session when the skin is highly irritated, and there is still a lot of shading ahead of you, but once the numbing effect wears off, give your skin a good rest.