One of the things that make everyone nervous about tattoos is the pain involved when getting them. Being constantly pierced at a rate of thousand times per minute sounds like excruciating pain indeed! There are a lot of things that people will tell you before getting a tattoo but sometimes the suggestion of a painkiller comes up. In most cases, it’s ibuprofen.
So can I take ibuprofen before a tattoo? Ibuprofen is what is known as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID for short. It is one of the best over-the-counter painkillers out there but it might cause an adverse reaction if you take one before getting a tattoo. That is why you learn all you can about ibuprofen and how it might be dangerous to take it before getting a tattoo!
Key Takeaways
- Ibuprofen is an NSAID. It has blood-thinning properties which is the cause of most of the reasons it is avoided for a tattoo session.
- While it might be safe to take ibuprofen after the session, typically you should still avoid it because the effects can hinder the healing process.
- If it isn’t ibuprofen, you could possibly take other painkillers or use products to help with the pain. It is important to consult your artist before doing so.
- Instead of medication, you can help deal with the pain by following the simple 10 tips to prepare for the pain.
What Ibuprofen Will Do to You When You Get a Tattoo
The one thing that ibuprofen and other NSAIDs have in common is that it causes your blood vessels to thin. This is the major reason why tattoo artists will ask you to avoid taking one before the session. All the following problems stem from this blood-thinning property that ibuprofen has.
Excessive Bleeding
When you are getting tattooed, the needle is penetrating the middle layer of your skin known as the dermis. At the dermis lies small blood vessels called capillaries which will be pierced when you are getting tattooed. This is all part of the tattooing process and you will bleed during the session.
However, if your blood vessels are thinned further from taking ibuprofen, then it will cause more bleeding to occur. This would obstruct the vision of the artist and make it harder for them to work on your tattoo. Having to constantly wipe away the blood will hinder both you and your artist!
Double Vision and Dizziness
With blood loss comes double vision or impaired vision. You will get really dizzy during the session because of constant bleeding during the session.
This is manageable if you are bleeding a little bit. But on ibuprofen, you will be bleeding a lot more! The loss of blood will cause you to get dizzy and make it near impossible for you to continue getting the tattoo.
More Time
With the artist having to constantly wipe the blood away during the session, it will increase the time it will take for them to do the tattoo.
The more time they will take, the more your tattoo will cost as a result! Tattoo artists work on an hourly basis so instead of the usual 2 hours, it might even take an extra hour if you are bleeding a lot!
Longer Healing Period
While ibuprofen does deal with the pain, it will also hinder the healing process! It is an anti-inflammation drug so it will soothe any pain you get from inflammation. But your body getting inflamed triggers the process of healing. With ibuprofen, your body shuts down the inflammation period!
The healing process for the first 24 to 48 hours is the most important. If your tattoo is not healing from the moment you walk out of the shop due to a painkiller like ibuprofen, then it could mean you need an extra few weeks of time to properly heal!
All of the things that ibuprofen does to your body while getting tattooed are interconnected. So if you have one of them, you will have all of them due to the excessive bleeding occurring. This is why most artists will outright refuse clients if they take an ibuprofen pill before the tattoo session.
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Ibuprofen After the Tattoo Session
Now, while ibuprofen is bad before the tattoo session, what about after the session? It might be fine to take ibuprofen after the session if you notice swelling of the tattoo. The ibuprofen will work to reduce the swelling and ease your pain. However, it still has blood-thinning properties and reduces the rate of healing.
If you were to take an ibuprofen pill after the session, your blood vessels will thin. This will cause an excess amount of tattoo ink to be pushed out of your dermis, making your tattoo more faded. This excess ink is needed to set the tattoo in your skin and without it, you might even experience a faded tattoo within the first month, during the healing phase! With the ink comes blood as well. If you take an ibuprofen pill after the tattoo session, you might feel very dizzy and even faint as a result!
Then there is the hindering of the healing properties of NSAIDs. As your inflammation will stop, your body will not respond to help your tattoo heal. This means that it will take longer for your tattoo to heal. The most important part of your tattoo is the first 24 hours. If it does not start healing right away, you might be looking at a tattoo that will blurry for longer and more faded.
Products That You Could Possibly Take/Use for the Session
So with that said, are there any over-the-counter painkillers that you can take before the tattoo session? If we are to stick to the OTC painkillers, then there is one other type that will be available for you, called acetaminophen. You might know it better from the brand name Tylenol. The other one is not a painkiller but could work as well; known as lidocaine cream or numbing cream
Tylenol
Tylenol is an analgesic, which means it works on the neurophysiological aspects instead of the blood vessels. This means that it is in fact safe to take the correct dosage of Tylenol before a tattoo session. However, you should consult with your tattoo artist if you can take one or not.
My advice on Tylenol is that it won’t do much for the pain. In fact, it won’t do anything at all! You will still feel the pain of the needle entering your skin no matter how much Tylenol can inhibit your pain receptors.
Lidocaine or Numbing Cream
Numbing cream works by deadening the area where the cream is applied. This could help you withstand the pain. However, most if not all artists will not tattoo you if you come to the shop with numbing cream on.
This is because numbing cream can disrupt the artist and block their vision. It is especially not good for longer sessions as the numbing cream will wear off and you will experience an immense amount of pain.
A combination of these effects is why tattoo artists will not use numbing cream. Some artists do use it, but you should definitely ask your tattoo artist about numbing cream.
Where Tattoos Hurt the Most?
So with ibuprofen and NSAIDs out of the option along with numbing cream, what’s the best way to deal with the tattoo pain? I would say that choosing an area on your body that is less sensitive can significantly help with the tattoo experience!
Yes, you will still feel the pain, but it won’t be as much pain in other places on your body. The tattoos that hurt the most are the ones where there is a thin layer of skin between the bones.
If it is your first time getting a tattoo, then you should avoid areas such as:
- Joints (ankles, elbows)
- Hands and feet (including fingers and toes)
- Groin
- Breast bone or the sternum
- Spine and lower back
- Collarbone
- Face and neck
If you are someone that cannot deal with pain, these are the areas you should definitely avoid!
10 Tips to Prepare for the Tattoo Pain
If it is your first time getting a tattoo, then there is no shame in wanting to minimize the pain that you feel during the tattooing. So here are some of the tips you can follow to help minimize the pain.
- Eat a healthy meal before your session starts
- Drink plenty of water; bring water for the session too
- A good night’s sleep (sounds cliché but it does help)
- Loose fitted clothing for maximum comfort
- Practice breathing techniques to breathe through the pain
- Avoid alcohol up to 24 hours before the session
- Keep yourself entertained with music, a book to read, or a show you can watch on your phone
- Pick a less sensitive spot for your first tattoo
- It’s good to take breaks especially if you are feeling dizzy; a good tip is to walk around for 5 minutes for every hour you are getting tattooed
- Keep the whole day free so you have time for both the tattoo and taking care of it properly
FAQs
Can you faint when getting a tattoo?
There is a chance that you might faint during your tattoo session. Some people cannot handle the blood and pain and is perfectly fine. If you feel faint or very dizzy, warn your tattoo artist so you can take a break for 5 minutes to walk around and get the blood flowing.
What other medication can you not take before getting a tattoo?
There is a lot of medication that you cannot be on before getting a tattoo. Typically, you cannot be on blood thinners, NSAID painkillers like Advil, acne medication like Accutane, and some antibiotics. If you are concerned about your medication, you should consult with your tattoo artist first.
How long does ibuprofen thin blood?
The effects of ibuprofen can last up to 24 hours. So make sure that you take no NSAIDs 24 hours before the start of your tattoo session.
Final Thoughts
To conclude from this, no ibuprofen whatsoever before your tattoo session! It will do more harm than good for your body when you want to get a tattoo. The whole experience of getting a tattoo is going through the rite of passage through pain. I know some of you might not be able to handle the pain, which is why I also included some tips to better prepare for the pain. Tattoos are a big commitment so you should absolutely be ready for it. So get it when you are both mentally and physically prepared!
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