How Bad Do Palm Tattoos Hurt?

  • Written By Dan Hunter on February 03, 2022
    Last Updated: February 3, 2022

The palm of your hand is said to be four times more sensitive than some other tattoo locations on your body, but how badly do palm tattoos hurt? Let’s look at the considerations before committing to this kind of tattoo.


Palm Tattoo Pain Factors

Design Choice

The first consideration is the type of tattoo that is best suited for the palm. It’s going to be on display permanently so it’s essential that you want everyone to see it. 

Consider the design carefully and keep an image of it in plain sight, such as your phone wallpaper, for at least a year. If you still adore it as much as you did when you first saw it, only then, commit.

The palm regenerates faster and in a different way than the rest of your hand so it’s not the same as getting finger tattoos or having other parts of your hands tattooed.  This means that a tattoo on your palm is more likely to fade than one on your arm.

Color

Color on the palm will fade immediately, so you’ll need a design with strong, thick, and deep lines in order to keep it from swiftly diminishing.

Small Detail

Small-detail tats are a no-no since they’re too delicate not to fade. Simple, solid geometric lines and blackwork are sometimes all there is on offer. 

Even when it heals, don’t anticipate it to remain completely black. The tattoo may fade to a subdued blue/gray tone due to the thickness of the skin above it. 

Distortion

Even with a simple line design, you may not get the expected result. The palm is uneven, and moving and flexing permanently, so what looks good on paper may not transfer well to this surface. You may also notice that this region blurs considerably more quickly than normal skin.

Difficulty

The next consideration is will the tattooist take on the challenge of a palm tattoo, or be competent enough to do it satisfactorily.

On season 8 of Ink Master palm tattoos were used as a challenge. This demonstrated that they were not only beyond the abilities of a regular experienced tattoo artist, but that even an experienced celebrity tattoo artist may fail to accomplish them successfully.

Furthermore, when nerves in your palms are irritated by a tattoo needle, they may experience excruciating spasms, making tattooing an extremely unpleasant experience.

Biology Counts

Pain is different for people who are biologically female and biologically male. According to the tattoo pain chart, it seems biological females can take pain much more than their male counterparts. 

On a scale of 1-4, where one is the least pain and four is the most pain, the palm registers a two for females, but a four for males.

What Are the Medical Risks?

Being inked on the palm of your hand has the same risks as getting tattooed anywhere else. An allergic reaction to the ink, keloid scars, skin infections, granulomas, and blood disorders are all conceivable.

Always follow the directions for aftercare. Aftercare is important for healing and reducing the risk of complications.

How Long Will the Discomfort Last?

Throughout the procedure, the pain intensity will fluctuate. It depends on the tattoo artist’s technique, such as using a single needle for a tiny detail or going over the same location several times to fill in color.

The discomfort will subside after the procedure, and you should only experience moderate soreness for 1 to 2 weeks, which will progressively improve as your skin recovers.

During the healing period, unpowdered latex gloves should be worn for safety. To keep the tattoo clean and moist, apply a healing lotion or oil first. Replace the gloves four times a day, washing, drying, and moisturizing between each change.

Pain Relief During the Procedure

To aid with pain relief during and after your tattoo, follow these guidelines:

  • Don’t take pain medicine within 24 hours of being tattooed as it might increase bleeding.
  • Alcohol beforehand won’t help you relax. It will make you more sensitive to pain, increase bleeding, and perhaps dehydrate you.
  • Keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of water before your visit and keep some on hand to sip throughout the procedure.
  • Don’t go on an empty stomach. The last thing you want is to pass out through hunger while getting tattooed. 
  • If the discomfort becomes too much, ask your tattoo artist to take small pauses. It won’t bother a professional, and he or she will want to keep you at ease.
  • Distract yourself. Listen to music or, if the artist is okay with it, converse with them to keep your mind off the pain. Bring a companion with you if you’re allowed.

For people wanting a little extra assistance for dealing with the pain, a good tattoo numbing cream can really help to take the edge off.

One of the most effective tattoo numbing products currently on the market is Zensa Numbing Cream, which contains the highest level of Lidocaine allowed by the FDA for over-the-counter use. The feedback left by thousands of customers for this product is nothing short of exceptional.

Just follow the instructions supplied with the cream and apply shortly before your tattoo appointment is due to begin so that you can look forward to a less painful and more comfortable tattooing experience. The amount of cream you get in a tube also ensures you have more than enough for a large tattoo. Click here to buy from Amazon

Conclusion

The pain while getting a palm tattoo records a two for females and a four for males on a pain scale of one to four, with one being the least discomfort and four being the most excruciating.

Because the skin on your palms is not only thicker but also different from that on the rest of your body, many tattoo artists will refuse to ink it and will advise you against it. The tattoo may be limited to thick lines and geometric shapes. 

With the curvature of the palm’s surface, the tattoo may also vary from the original design.

Latex gloves should be worn during the healing process, with regular changes and cleaning and moisturizing in-between.

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