Has anyone used EMLA cream for a tattoo? I am getting a few small stars on my inner wrist tomorrow. My first tattoo and I am nervous as anything because I have a low pain threshold and because I don't know what to expect.

The tattoo place said I could use this if I wanted but it has mixed reviews on the net. Just wondered if anyone had actually experience of using it.

I'm wondering whether to buy some after work!

Yes! I have a tattoo on my hip, about 2 inches in size.

I used this and then asked my tattooist to tell me when he started, and he said he'd almost finished! All I felt was the stinging the next day. You are aware of something but it's not pain!

I read all sorts online, but my best friend works in a chemist and has her whole back tattoo'ed, and she recommended it to me. Some tattooists aren't keen because it makes your skin all rubbery and it can be harder to work with, but if they've suggested it, it won't be a problem!

Using it was the best decision I made after seeing the pain a friend was in with her wrist!

Think I may try and get some after work then!!

Make sure you follow the instructions! My sister had a very small tattoo on her wrist and they put numbing cream on first (she bought her own but then decided to use the one they have at the tattooist instead). Her tattoo hurt because the cream didnt have time to work! The tattoo only took about five mins but the numbing effect didnt kick in until after it was done and onthe way home!

Yeah the tattoo place told me to put it on an hour before my appointment and wrap it tightly in clingfilm. I've bought it, just don't know whether to use it or to "man up" as my sister told me lol

I have 5 tattoo's and found it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. When I had my 1st one I barely noticed any pain until about 40 mins in when he had finished the outline and started the colour.
Only one of my tattoo's was really painful, and only when the artist was doing the bit near my big toe, the rest was fine.

It is only a small one I am having, 4 little stars on the inside of my wrist. I would attach a picture but I'm not sure how too on here

I have 4 tattoos (and booked in for 5th and 6th) - I don't find them painful at all. Just a little uncomfortable.

Small stars on your wrist will literally take 10 minutes to do.

They use this for doing injections on paediatric wards... the thought of adults requiring it to have tattoos amazes me, I have tattoos and after the first couple of seconds you feel nothing as the area becomes numb any way

Man up or don't bother OP!

Well some people want the tattoo but don't deal we'll with pain (like me) hence considering using the cream. I don't think it's a case of I shouldn't bother just because I might want to avoid some pain!!

I have tattoo on my wrist, didn't hurt at all, just put on an hour before and wrap in clingfilm like you said, you won't feel a thing.

Numbing cream? hahaha sorry but man up, it doesn't hurt that much.

What Nate says. Pain is part of the experience.

Pain is only part of the experience for some people. I am interested in the end result!!

Get some Bepanthen.

That's sad

Mine goes across the whole of my inner wrist, the only bit where I felt anything was slap bang in the middle at the vein, and even that wasnt painful. The pains really not as bad as people make out! So you may well be fine without it, but if you feel you need it then use it!

I've got 5 tats including a black tribal one that goes right across my shoulders and top third of my back which means it's a lot of ink, and another on my right forearm (underneath) which takes up most of the area there, and they really don't hurt. My wife has some too and she actually falls asleep in the chair while they're being done. It's no worse than getting a cat scratch, and even then it's only while they do the outlining.

Once the outlining is done your body should be producing endorphins which means that you'll be aware of it being coloured, but it's more of an unpleasant tingling than actual pain. If it's quite a large tattoo I'd forget the Emla as it will wear off before it's done. I would also recommend having a bottle of Lucozade and a Mars bar beforehand as well because the one of my shoulders took around 5 hours and as I had skipped lunch I started to feel really faint towards the end.

A quote by Dean Koontz in the Good Guy more or less sums up tattoos: "A scar is not always a flaw. Sometimes a scar may be redemption inscribed in the flesh, a memorial to something endured, to something lost."

I love the pain of getting tattoo's. It's strangely addictive.

Still can't decide whether to use it or not !think it would make me feel less nervous!!

I have a small tattoo on my inner wrist and I didn't think it was that bad getting it done. Only took about 5minutes. It wasn't really that sore getting it.

The anticipation of the pain is far worse than the pain itself, it's really not that bad

It's not the pain itself I am scared of I don't think. I pass out very easily if things hurt and that is what I am scared off!!

If its your first tattoo the guy will let you feel it first before he starts with the ink so you know roughly what it'll be like. Well he did with me.

If they've told you to use it and you've already bought it you might as well just use it. No-one else knows how painful you are going to find it so if you are worried you may as well do what you can to avoid the pain.