There has been a significant increase in the use of numbing creams (topical Lidocaine) recently. As the use has increased, so has the incidence of side effects ranging from faded-looking tattoos, rashes, and even (on rare occasions) heart complications and seizures due to Lidocaine toxicity. The FDA recently put out a warning to avoid certain unapproved products, (link to that statement is below) and since the use of these products seems more and more common among our clients we feel the need to address this.
People have been getting tattooed for centuries without numbing their skin. If anything, modern tattooing is more gentle on the skin than at any other time in history due to high quality instruments and materials. No one has to sit for any tattoo longer than their body can handle, and of course anyone can break up almost any tattoo into multiple sessions if the pain is too much. But, after tattooing thousands of clients for 20+ years, we feel confident in assuring you that almost anyone can handle the pain of a tattoo without numbing their skin first. If you feel that you absolutely must use a topical numbing cream for your tattoo, we require you tell your tattoo artist PRIOR to your appointment, so we can discuss the risks with you and so you can tell us which cream you are using. Your safety and health are important to us. Some creams we know cause problems. Some creams are way above the safe limit of Lidocaine for your body. Some creams are manufactured in foreign countries and due to insurance restrictions we simply cannot allow their use in our shop. We will ALWAYS want you to do a test run a few days prior to the tattoo to make sure you’re not allergic to the product.
PLEASE READ THIS PART:
If you show up to your appointment with a topical numbing cream on your skin and you have not discussed this with your artist first, your appointment will be canceled and you will lose your deposit. If you show up to your appointment and while at the shop you develop a reaction to the cream, your appointment will be canceled and you will lose your deposit. It is entirely up to your tattoo artist whether or not they want to tattoo numbed skin, and they will discuss this with you during your consultation and before booking any appointment. Just like it is up to the tattoo artist to turn away a client if they show up drunk, it is also entirely up to the artist to turn away a client if they show up with numbed skin. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR ARTIST PRIOR TO BOOKING AND LEAVING A DEPOSIT.
As always, we are available to answer any questions you have and talk to you further about this subject. Feel free to contact the shop at 707.273.5111 or email us at sevenstarshumboldt@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
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