Why Use a Numbing Cream?

Piercings can hurt without a numbing cream.

You can use numbing creams in a variety of ways for many purposes. Usually, people use numbing creams to reduce pain or discomfort.

Tattoos

There are numbing creams on the market used to reduce pain while getting a tattoo. The problem with these creams is that you must apply them 30 minutes before getting the tattoo, and they last from 30 to 40 minutes. If you plan to get a large tattoo, the second hour will be painful as the numbing cream wears off.

Body Piercing

The same types of numbing creams are actually a great solution for body piercing, which can be quite painful if you have a low tolerance for pain. Though these creams only last a short while, body piercing is a quick process when performed by a skilled technician.

Hair Removal

Hair removal can be incredibly painful. It may be necessary to use a prescription numbing cream just to make the process bearable. During laser hair removal, the technician burns the hair to the root, which can be as painful as waxing. Depending on the area being treated, laser hair removal can take much longer and require frequent reapplication of numbing cream.

Oral Cream

You can also take some numbing creams orally to alleviate pain from oral surgery or some other condition like a cavity or canker sore. Use oral creams and gels inside or around the mouth to alleviate pain or discomfort.

Intimate Products

There are also a number of numbing creams for use during sexual intercourse to extend the duration by slightly desensitizing the man's penis. Intimate creams may decrease sensitivity while simultaneously increasing stamina, making them a good aid against premature ejaculation.

Flu Shots

If you or your children hate getting injections, it may be time to invest in some numbing cream, suggest Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer, director of the Pediatric Pain Program at Mattel Children's Hospital of the University of California, Los Angeles. They can ease the pain when applied to the area of injection.

References

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Take the Sting out of Your Child's Flu Shot