Tatoveringer er blevet en international sensation, og det er ikke ualmindeligt at se en stor mængde tatoveringer i hverdagen. Det er blevet registreret, at 59% af alle kvinder og 41% af alle mænd på verdensplan har tatoveret deres krop mindst én gang i deres liv. Det at blive tatoveret kan stadig føles meget skræmmende, selv om en stor del af befolkningen har en.
Hele tatoveringsprocessen ses som skræmmende, smertefuld og ubehagelig, men det behøver ikke nødvendigvis at være sandt, da der er mange forskellige faktorer, der spiller ind, når vi taler om de mest smertefulde tatoveringssteder. Ved blot at tage et hurtigt kig på et diagram over tatoveringssmerter vil du kunne se den enorme forskel på, hvordan placeringer kan forårsage en masse tatoveringssmerter, mens andre virker harmløse. Så hvis du vil lære mere om smerte og dens forhold til tatoveringer, så er du kommet til det rette sted!
Table of Contents
Hvorfor gør det ondt? – Processen med at få en tatovering
Smertefornemmelsen forbundet med tatoveringer kan variere fra person til person, men én ting, der ikke ændrer sig, er selve processen med at få en tatovering. At få en tatovering sker ved gentagne gange at føre en speciel nål (eller nåle) ind i dermis – det inderste hudlag. Denne indsættelse sker 50 til 100 gange i minuttet og har til formål at føre farvet blæk ind i huden, som danner selve tatoveringens design, form og farve.
Denne konstante indsættelse af nålen er den primære kilde til tatoveringssmerte. Fornemmelsen af at blive tatoveret er blevet beskrevet på mange forskellige måder – nogle sammenligner det med, at en kat kradser én kontinuerligt, mens andre beskriver det som en konstant pulserende følelse gennem hele processen. En næsten universel beskrivelse er følelsen af et prik eller et niv ved den første indsættelse, men denne følelse aftager som regel i løbet af sessionen.
Andre fornemmelser, der er blevet beskrevet i forbindelse med tatoveringer, inkluderer: skarp eller stikkende smerte og vibrerende smerte. Vibrerende smerte opleves hovedsageligt, når nålen bruges tæt på et meget benet område. Nålen skaber en højfrekvent vibration, som knoglerne kan opfange, hvilket giver en meget usædvanlig vibrerende følelse. Denne følelse er ikke nødvendigvis slem, men den kan være ubehagelig – ikke direkte kildrende eller smertefuld, men et sted midt imellem.
Hvad forårsager tatoveringssmerter?
Selv om smerten kan variere fra person til person, ændrer de vigtigste faktorer, der forårsager smerten, sig ikke. Når det er sagt, er der et væld af forskellige ting, der får tatoveringssmerter til at opstå. Vi vil fokusere på følgende aspekter i vores blogindlæg:
Størrelse og tid
Tatovørens arbejde
Placering af tatoveringen –
Tatoveringssmertekort
Individuelsmertetærskel
Sindets tilstand
Alle disse underfaktorer er ansvarlige for det, man normalt ville kalde: den smertefulde tatoveringsoplevelse. I dette blogindlæg vil vi forsøge at give så informative svar som muligt på, både hvorfor disse aspekter gør tatoveringsoplevelsen mere smertefuld, og hvordan man bedst forbereder sig og beskytter sig mod enhver tatovering.
Størrelse og tid
Det er en ret indlysende grund til, at nogle tatoveringer gør mere ondt end andre. Størrelsen på tatoveringen og den tid, det tager at lave den, spiller en stor rolle for, hvor smertefuld hele oplevelsen føles. En tatovering på størrelse med en tommelfinger kan være overstået på et par minutter og føles som en leg, mens en tatovering på størrelse med hele brystet eller ryggen højst sandsynligt vil være en mere smertefuld og tidskrævende oplevelse.
Tiden er et andet aspekt, der afgør, hvor smertefuld oplevelsen bliver. Genindsættelsen af nålen(e) vil langsomt begynde at påvirke huden mere og mere, hvilket gør en mere tidskrævende tatovering mere smertefuld. De steder, hvor man kan få en tatovering, som er mindre tidskrævende, bør være dit førstevalg.
Tatovøren
At få en erfaren professionel tatovør til at udføre din tatovering vil altid være en bedre idé end at få det samme arbejde udført af en amatør. Dette er ikke kun i forhold til tatoveringens smerteniveauer, da mere erfarne tatovører er kendt for at være mere blide og omsorgsfulde, men også i forbindelse med at få et bedre resultat. Selvom vi forstår, at den mere erfarne tatovør vil koste flere penge og kan føles som en kæmpe investering at betale på forhånd.
Men vi garanterer, at investeringen er umagen værd, da det kan føles som en massiv byrde at have en dårligt lavet tatovering. Desuden er processen med at få fjernet en tatovering endnu mere smertefuld og irriterende end at få den første tatovering. Hvis du er interesseret i at lære mere om tatoveringsfjernelse, så anbefaler vi på det kraftigste at tjekke vores andet blogindlæg, som går i dybden med alt laserbehandlingsrelateret.
Placering af tatovering - Tatoveringssmertekort
Det er en ret indlysende grund til, at nogle tatoveringer gør mere ondt end andre. Størrelsen på tatoveringen og den tid, det tager at lave den, spiller en stor rolle for, hvor smertefuld hele oplevelsen føles. En tatovering på størrelse med en tommelfinger kan være overstået på et par minutter og føles som en leg, mens en tatovering på størrelse med hele brystet eller ryggen højst sandsynligt vil være en mere smertefuld og tidskrævende oplevelse.
Tiden er et andet aspekt, der afgør, hvor smertefuld oplevelsen bliver. Genindsættelsen af nålen(e) vil langsomt begynde at påvirke huden mere og mere, hvilket gør en mere tidskrævende tatovering mere smertefuld. De steder, hvor man kan få en tatovering, som er mindre tidskrævende, bør være dit førstevalg.
Source: Healthline.com
Det kan virke, som om disse følsomme områder er uforudsigelige og tilfældige, men i virkeligheden falder alle disse følsomme områder ind under en eller flere af følgende kategorier. Disse kategorier er hovedårsagen til, at nogle områder forårsager ekstrem tatoveringssmerte, mens andre er ret harmløse:
- Knoglede dele
- Kildne områder
- Tyndt lag hud eller fedt
- Masser af nerver
- Beskadiget væv
De mindst smertefulde tatoveringssteder
Bagdelen
At få en tatovering på balderne er faktisk ikke en særlig smertefuld oplevelse. Balderne består for det meste af et større fedtlag, hvilket gør det perfekt til at beskytte mod den smerte, som nålen(e) kan forårsage. Derudover er mængden af nerveender i balderne meget lav, hvilket gør det endnu mindre smertefuldt. Men husk, at jo mindre fedt der er omkring balderne, jo mere smertefuldt bliver det.
The upper thighs
- Similar to the buttocks, the upper thigh is an area with a lot of fat and very few nerve endings. So if you are aiming for a good placement for your next, or first, tattoo then the upper thigh is a good choice.
The forearms
- The forearms are no different than the buttocks and the upper thigh, as it is protected by a semi-large fat layer, that makes the needle(s) have a less painful effect while being reinserted repeatedly.
The shoulders
- A fatty, non-bony, non-tickles areas with few nerve endings, this is the perfect description for the outer shoulder. This combination of characteristics make the shoulders a perfect place to get a tattoo, while remaining one of the least painful spots to get a tattoo.
The back
- As shown on the tattoo pain chart, both the upper and lower back, have semi-low pain levels. This is mainly due to the fact that the upper and lower back contain a relatively low amount of nerve endings and a layer of fat that helps protect from the needle(s) – Keep in mind that the spine isn’t in the same category as the upper and lower back, as getting a tattoo on the spine is very painful.
The Most painful tattoo spots
The head, neck and face
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Head, neck and face tattoos are infamous for being extremely painful. These tattoos usually only have a thin layer of fat to protected them from the needle(s). In addition, some areas around the head, neck and face have an enormous amount of nerve endings, which makes getting a tattoo much more painful. This is also why almost every part of the tattoo pain chart is red around these areas.
The armpits
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The combination of a thin layer of fat, a lot of nerve endings and a ticklish sensation makes the armpits a living hell to tattoo, both for the tattoo artist and for the individual. Armpit tattoos have been reported as being one of the most painful tattoo spots. In addition, some tattoo artists actually fully advise against getting armpit tattoo, because of the extreme tattoo pain and discomfort.
The rib cage
- Rib cage tattoos are a clear example of how a bony area can cause tattoo pain, as shown on the tattoo pain chart. The thin layer of fat, in combination with having the bone so close to the needle(s) is a sure-fire way to feel discomfort. Rib cage tattoos can often be quite large, which also makes the whole experience even more painful.
The ankles & shins
- Getting a tattoo on one’s ankle or shin isn’t a stroll in the park. Conversely, ankle and shin tattoos are usually very painful as they have similar characteristics as the rib cage; only a small layer of fat and close to the bone. The one good thing about ankle and shin tattoos, is that they are usually very small, which means you won’t have to endure the pain for very long.
The fingers, hands, toes and feet
- It is no secret that these areas are very popular tattoo places, but the experience of getting these tattoos aren’t as pleasant as you might think, which is why almost all these areas are fully covered in red on the tattoo pain chart.
- You might have experienced being stung by a bee on your hand, and feeling your hand automatically closing into a fist. Now imagine that feeling being performed 50 – 100 times per minute, doesn’t seem very pleasant, does it?
The kneecap & elbow
- The tattoo pain chart shows that these two body parts are very painful spots to get tattooed, and that is very much correct. Both the kneecaps, as well as the elbows, are as close to the bone as possible. The tattoo pain in connection with getting these parts tattooed is extreme, and we suggest staying clear of these parts, unless you have a very high pain threshold or use numbing cream.
The spine
- Although the spine stretches throughout a long area, it is still a painful experience, no matter where you place your tattoo. This is largely because of the 31 pairs of nerve endings that run down the spinal cord. We won’t get too much into the technical side of these nerve endings, and how they might effect tattoo pain, but trust us, when we say it hurts like hell.
The groin
- Going into detail here might be a little overboard – If you are ever thinking about getting a tattoo on the groin, prepare for some tattoo pain, and we mean a lot of tattoo pain…
Individual pain threshold
A persons individual pain threshold is unarguably one of the biggest factors that come into play while getting a tattoo. No matter the placement, size or time spend on the tattoo, one’s individual pain threshold will always be either a blessing or a curse. A high pain tolerance and pain threshold will be an huge help in going through the entire tattoo process with fewer problems.
Conversely, if you have a low pain tolerance and pain threshold, you won’t be able to withstand the extreme tattoo pain of some of the most painful tattoo spots. A low pain threshold also makes the process of getting tattoo more annoying and frustration, for both you and the artist, as the tattoo artist most likely have to deal with unpredictable movement and longer breaks.
Not everyone is aware of their individual pain tolerance and threshold. This can be very annoying when trying to research where to get one’s first tattoo. We would recommend choosing a rather small tattoo for your first session, as it would give you an idea of how much pain you are able to tolerate and where your pain threshold is. Afterwards you will be able to determine, if you wish to get a tattoo on some of the more painful spots.
The state of mind
A persons state of mind doesn’t necessarily change the objective tattoo pain that the needle(s) will cause. Although, it might actually change your individual perspective and perception of how painful the whole experience is.
Having extreme anxiety or stress before coming to a tattoo session, could activate your fight-or-flight responds. A variety of consequences could arise from this excessive amount of anxiety. In-and-of-itself, the adrenalin rush is harmless and even slightly positive, as it helps increase heart rate and assists oxygen flow throughout the body. But the consequences can be very negative after the initial adrenalin rush, as the tattoo pain will most likely increase and cause extreme discomfort.
We recommend having plenty of distractions near you, if you have anxiety towards the tattoo needle(s). It is also highly recommended to bring a friend along, to have some sort of company, while being another distraction from the needle(s) itself. Having a talk about the whole process and techniques that the tattoo artist use, could help with understanding what is about to happen, and help calm you down. To learn more about the medical side of fight-or-flight: click here.
Pain during aftercare
Now you might be thinking, what about the aftercare process? It is just as painful as the actual tattoo session? Although most of the pain occurs during the tattoo session, it is still a very good question, as the aftercare process comes with its own obstacles.
We were actually so fascinated about the aftercare process of tattoos, that we wrote an entire blogpost about everything aftercare related It contains all the information, you might need to know about the aftercare of tattoos, as well as how to properly deal with the whole aftercare process. So if you haven’t already, we highly recommend reading that blogpost
Best way to relieve the pain
There is no better solution to relieving pain in relation to tattooing than using some form of numbing cream. You won’t be able to feel a thing! It is almost like magic. Numbing cream is your savior when it comes to overcoming any tattoo pain.
The benefits of using numbing cream for your tattoo sessions are massive. Numbing cream doesn’t just relieve the pain, it helps with keeping you calm and comfortable throughout the session. You will be able to conquer any tattoo, regardless of size, placement or individual pain threshold.
In addition, it will make life much easier for the tattoo artist, as they won’t have to worry about unpredictable twitching or jerking. This will help the tattoo artist keep all of his or hers focus on making the best possible tattoo. Numbing cream is a win-win for everyone. So if you haven’t already considered purchasing numbing cream for your next session, then we would highly recommend it.
Useful tips before getting a tattoo
Educate yourself.
- Staying up-to-date with everything tattoo related, has never hurt anyone. Understanding and educating yourself before going to your tattoo session, is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety. A great place to learn more about tattooing is throughout our other blogposts.
Eat well and bring water
- Remember to get a good and healthy meal before going to your tattoo session. We would also recommend bringing some water alongside you, especially if you have a long session ahead of you. Otherwise just sit back and relax, while the tattoo artist does their magic
Keep yourself distracted
- Trying to lift one’s focus away from the needle(s) and onto something else, will always be a great technique, while undergoing your tattoo session. There are plenty of ways to keep yourself distracted from the needle(s), so here is a short list of some of the easiest and most reliable methods to keep your mind distracted:
- Listen to music / podcast
- Watch a show
- Talk with a friend
Bring a friend
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It is always a great idea to bring a friend alongside you. A friend is both great company, and a perfect way to keep yourself distracted from the pain. They can be your helping hand, if you start to get nervous or have second thoughts about the tattoo process. Having the ability to talk to someone you know also helps with lowering one’s anxiety level.
Don’t take it too seriously
- It is important not to take the tattoo process too seriously, even though you have just read an entire article about pain and how tattoos can be very painful. Going into a tattoo session with as little anxiety as possible, is the best thing you can try to do. In addition, trying to transform the anxiety into excitement is a strategy that could drastically change the whole experience. Instead of thinking about how much it will hurt, think about how cool the tattoo will look afterwards. Keep your focus on the positive
Minimize jerking or unpredictable movement
- Every tattoo artist has they own favorite type of customer – some might like the talkative kind, other might find the quiet customer more appealing. But one type of customer that everyone dislikes, are the customers that twist, jerk and move unpredictable, while getting their tattoo. Try your best to minimize weird movements, Especially for when getting tattooed on areas that red on the tattoo pain chart. If you think that’ll be impossible for you, then consider using numbing cream.
Use pain relieving numbing cream
- The use of pain relieving numbing cream is nothing short of a cheat code to lessening the pain. With the use of numbing cream, you’ll be able to stay calm and relaxed, while enjoying the entire tattoo process without any pain whatsoever. So what are you waiting for? Make NoPain your life long companion on a journey to no pain tattoos
Final thoughts
Thank you very much for reading through this entire blogpost, and accompanying us in learning more about what pain is in relation to tattoos. Having read this blogpost, we hope you have found all your answers to questions, such as; what causes tattoos to be painful? What are the most painful tattoo spots? And properly the most useful of them all; How do I lessen the pain when getting a tattoo?
As this blogpost is coming to a close, we would recommend checking out our other content – We offer everything from blogposts about the aftercare process of tattoos to permanent makeup and other exciting content which can be found on our blog