Tattooing is generally perceived to be painful. However, factors such as pain tolerance and the body part being tattooed can affect your experience. A tattoo involves repeatedly piercing your skin with a sharp needle, which is why it is often painful. ) Tattooing is typically the most painful process on the bony areas of the body and those with the most significant number of nerve endings, thin skin, and little fat. Because everyone experiences pain differently, tattoo pain levels can be tricky to measure, especially if it is on your upper or lower back.
Because tattoo pain levels vary from individual to individual, it is challenging to assess tattoo pain levels. For this reason, a tattoo pain chart is beneficial in many situations to determine which area of the body is most suitable for a tattoo based on a person’s choice.
Tattoo Pain Chart
Tattoo pain is comparable to a cat scratch, says the pain and spine clinic. However, individual nervous systems and pain thresholds decide the intensity of tattoo pain. The bony parts with less fat coverings experience more pain than other parts. Among body spots, the more painful areas, according to level of pain, are graded as follows in a tattoo pain chart.
- Feet tattoo pain-9/10
- Ribs tattoo pain-9/10
- Spine tattoo pain-8/10
- Stomach tattoo pain-5/10
- Fingers tattoo pain-8/10
- Chest tattoo pain-7/10
- Shin tattoo pain-8/10
- Groin tattoo pain-8/10
- Head and face tattoo pain-9/10
- Bony ankle tattoo pain-9/10
- Face tattoo pain-9/10
Moreover, the body areas with less pain include the shoulders and parts of the back—the outer arm, the back of the arm, and the outer thighs.
Factors Affecting Tattoo Pain
Tattoo pain may be prolonged due to tenderness of body parts or irritation to the tattoo ink. It may be a burning, stinging, or sharp sensation. The other factors that may aggravate tattoo pain are
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Psychological Behavior
A person going to the tattoo room with higher expectations of pain experiences more pain as compared to ordinary individuals. It can be explained in a way that if you expect and prepare your mind for more pain, you will feel more pain in real life.
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Experience
If a person is going to get tattooed for the first time without any prior experience, chances are to experience more pain. Moreover, if one goes with proper education about the chemicals released during tattoo procedures and their effects on pain management, like endorphins and adrenaline, he may observe moderate pain levels.
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Sex
Females experience more pain as compared to males. As females have more tenderness, lower thresholds, and less tolerance than males, they feel more pain than male partners.
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Mental Health
Those persons who are not in a stable mental condition and are passing through some stress, anxiety, or depression have proved to feel the tattoo pain more than normal individuals. The reason may be they have less pain threshold.
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Lifestyle Modifications
The pain levels depend on how a person carries out his overall health. Smokers, in this case, have lower pain thresholds as compared to those athletes who keep themselves healthy by regular exercise.
How to Avoid Tattoo Pain?
There are a few steps recommended by the pain management in Dallas that can be taken to avoid tattoo pain.
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Do Not Eat
If you are getting a stomach tattoo, you need to eat something before going for a tattoo session.
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Enough Sleep
Make sure you get full sleep the night before your tattoo is done
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Avoid Alcohol
Please do not drink alcohol as it makes your blood thin and causes more bleeding along with bruises.
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Tattoo Artist
While drawing a tattoo, consider an experienced tattoo artist who must be certified and has the latest and sterilized equipment for tattoo drawing
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Hygiene Conditions
A hygienic environment must be ensured, including gloves and a clean room to reduce the chances of infections
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Take Breaks
Insist your tattoo artist to take breaks in between the procedure. This will help to resist pain and increase the threshold.
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Stay Hydrated
Keep drinking water to maintain the hydration level of body muscles that tighten the skin muscles and reduce pain sensations.
Follow-up Plan for Pain Management
Getting a tattoo takes 15-20 minutes, but removing it takes longer. Once you get a tattoo, there is a follow-up care plan to maintain it. It involves wearing loose clothes, washing carefully, and applying numbing cream or moisturizer to avoid skin irritation. You may also observe a change in the shape of the tattoo after putting on extra weight.
Final Thoughts on Tattoo Pain
As previously stated, some pain cannot be avoided due to the intensity of the tattoo on the body. Nevertheless, individuals who wish to get tattoos without pain should choose to get them on areas of their bodies that are less sensitive, as indicated in the tattoo pain chart.
In addition, consult your tattoo artist for advice regarding appropriate ways to cope with the sensation of pain associated with a tattoo. In addition to making their clients feel relaxed to a large extent, many experienced artists also specialize in relaxing sensitive areas like the hands and ankles. An individual who has suffered a spinal injury should consult a pain and spine specialist as soon as possible if an unfortunate event occurs.
