A: Yes, as long as you follow the directions. A nice thick coat of cream, along with an air-tight wrap, and you will be a happy camper.
Q: Do I really need to keep it wrapped for the 90 minutes, even though it feels numb?
A: Yes, because it needs time to go deep into the skin. Even though it feels numb, it can deactivate quickly because it is only a surface numb. This can result in only 30 minutes of numbness.
Q: How long does the cream last?
A: Everyones' skin type is different, but on average, we see 1 hour to 2 hours of numbness. In some more rare cases we see it work well for 3 hours. Many people use the spray to re-numb once the skin is open, as it is much faster acting, and can prolong the numbing during the procedure.
Q: How long does the spray last?
A: The spray typically lasts about 30-45 minutes, depending on your skin and metabolism.
Q: Can I use the spray after the cream wears off?
A: Yes, you can use it when the cream wears off. They work great together, and this is a common practice we've seen with artists and clients.
Q: Any tips on making the cream last longer?
A: Yes, we call it the “sardine roll,” courtesy of legendary tattoo artist Rick Walters! When you have an outline already done, you cover the tattoo, and the artist peels the plastic wrap away as needed. The cream does not start to deactivate until it is exposed to air, so no air means it is going to stay numb until your artist is ready to go to that area. (Note: do NOT have more than one 8.5" x 11" sized area covered at a time)
Q: Can I use the spray before the tattoo?
A: No. It has no effect until the skin is broken. The skin must to be open for it to take effect. You get about a ¼” bleed numb margin from where the skin is punctured. Sometimes, if you have lines that are far apart, artists can take a shading set of needles and open the skin without ink and then use the spray to get a broad quick numb if needed.
Q: Can someone "over-use" the spray?
A: Yes. Over-use can cause a lidocaine burn which can result in a more painful healing process (which is rare). It is always best to use it when you feel the pain coming back - not just to spray every 10 minutes to hope you never feel anything.
Q: I noticed the numbing spray has epinephrine in it, and I have heard that some people have reactions to epinephrine. Is this true, and what is the reaction?
A: Yes, this is true. People have allergic reaction to all kinds of things, including peanut butter. The most common reaction that people have is that they tend to have a harder heal or a heal that is more of a thicker scab versus the typical flaky scab. We always recommend testing a small part on your tattoo, if you are concerned about this, but it is not a common reaction.
Q: Does your numbing cream have epinephrine?
A: No. The cream does not, as it goes on unbroken skin, so epinephrine would not have a purpose.
Q: Do you have a numbing spray without epinephrine?
A: Coming soon. We already have it formulated, and we are in the final stages of tests and production. We expect it to be released in the Fall of 2011.
Q: What makes your healing products different from other healing products?
A: We really spent a lot of time working with credible and experienced artists, along with ourselves, to test these products to make sure they meet all the demands of the artist and collector alike. We also created a few different types of healing products to make sure we covered the different styles on how people heal. This way, you can pick what works best for you, or what your artist recommends.
Q: What makes your sunscreen a “tattoo sunscreen?”
A: Our sunscreen is water resistant, UVA and UVB broad spectrum SPF 30. Sunscreen under 30 blocks 93%, while 30SPF and higher block 97% max (so higher than 30SPF doesn’t really give more protection). We also went through many formulations to get the right consistency. This is important for two reasons: how it feels, and how it looks. It is a non-greasy formula, that still goes on smooth. Then, one of the best features is that it does not distort the colors or shading of black-and-grey tattoos (I can’t tell you how many other products out there make your skin and tattoos look grey and chalky). Finally, our tattoo sunscreen has hand-selected botanicals, which keep the skin moist, while most sunscreens do not provide moisturizer (thus, you'd become dry and flaky at the end of the day). Always make sure to re-apply every two hours or after towel drying!