Some, but not all, tattoo artists do make use of numbing creams. "Numbing cream is typically considered safe to apply before tattoo treatments, especially in areas that are particularly sensitive," Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, told us. "However, the numbing cream may or may not be effective depending on the type of ingredients used. Furthermore, numbing cream starts to wear off as soon as it's wiped away, so it may not last the entire treatment duration." If you're interested in making use of numbing cream during your tattoo appointment, be sure to ask the artist beforehand if they use it, if so, which creams.