Numbing Creams for Baby & Kids Ear Piercings. These Products Exist, So Should You Use Them Before an Ear Piercing?

Numbing Creams for Baby & Kids Ear Piercings. These Products Exist, So Should You Use Them Before an Ear Piercing?

One of the most common inquiries from our guests at Baby Ear Piercing in San Jose, CA is:

Should numbing cream, gel, or spray be used before an ear piercing?

Numbing Creams and Piercings:

"Are numbing creams safe and effective for ear piercings?"

Let's explore this topic by examining the basics. There are various types of numbing creams, gels, sprays, or injectables available in different strengths. These numbing products can be purchased over-the-counter, prescribed, or administered by a licensed medical professional. The effectiveness of a numbing product's potency depends on the percentage of the numbing agent, the application technique, and the timing of its application in relation to the actual piercing procedure.

Requests for topical creams, gels, and sprays are increasingly popular as they are marketed for ear piercings and to entry-level piercers who may require assistance due to a lack of experience in the speed, agility, and precision necessary for performing quick and conservative ear piercing services. Numbing products are also widely used in the cosmetic industry for permanent makeup and laser treatments, although these services do not penetrate the skin completely as ear piercings do.

For research and study purposes, we have tested many of these products during piercing procedures in trials and can confirm the varying effectiveness of each.

It’s unsurprising that clients are interested in using these products for their ear piercings, as, in theory, they seem appealing. A simple cream, gel, or spray applied to the skin numbs the area, making it easier to get an ear piercing.

However, there is a problem. Topical numbing is not advisable for piercing, particularly ear piercing on babies, toddlers, and kids.

Here's why: it doesn't truly "numb" you.

When we think of numbing, most of us imagine a medical procedure.

After a few sharp injections, these drugs work so effectively that you don't feel anything. However, topical creams, gels, and sprays don't numb in the same way.

If you've used these topical products for piercing before, you know they can slightly dull the sensation, but you still feel the piercing. Over-the-counter products have minimal effect on fully alleviating the sensation of an ear piercing procedure.

Topical creams, gels, and sprays do not numb beyond the skin, and you will definitely feel the ear piercing. This is because the creams, gels, and sprays only partially numb the top layers of skin and don't affect the deeper layers.

Guests using numbing products may enter an ear piercing procedure expecting not to feel anything. They might jump, jolt, or move in surprise when they realize they can actually feel the piercing. I can confirm that you will still feel the piercing, and knowing this makes you less likely to move during your ear piercing service without relying on these products.

Given the existence of these products, should they be used before an ear piercing?

Ear piercing professionals are not medical experts.

We are not doctors, dermatologists, or nurses. We are piercers, meaning we lack the training or licensing to apply numbing products and are unaware of how they might affect you differently. Many of these products can cause severe side effects if they enter the bloodstream or lead to serious reactions if applied to the skin during an ear piercing. Some may argue, “but what about tattoo artists using topical products!” These products contain a low percentage of chemicals marketed and FDA-approved for over-the-counter use in tattooing on adults. Products designed for tattoo procedures primarily numb only the top layer of skin.

These topical products are minimally effective for ear piercings

because an ear piercing penetrates all layers of the skin,

not just the surface.

Numbing creams, gels, and sprays cause tissue constriction. Although topical numbing creams don't completely numb the area, they can alter the texture and tension of the tissue. Most of these products contain lidocaine and vasoconstrictors.

These chemicals constrict blood vessels,

which aids in the numbing process.

This constriction can also cause the skin to move and shift.

As a result, when the product wears off and the skin relaxes,

the piercing may appear different from its originally marked position.

The placement of ear piercings is essential and significantly impacts the service.

Therefore, many experienced Ear Piercing Professionals

avoid using numbing products for various reasons, including

the possibility that these products might lead to

movement that compromises the aesthetically placed ear piercing.

There are several reasons why most skilled Ear Piercing Professionals do not use numbing products. An ear piercing is essentially a puncture wound. Numbing creams, gels, or sprays take about 30 minutes to affect only the skin's surface. However, skilled professionals can complete a piercing in just a few seconds. Waiting for half an hour for a product that offers minimal numbing isn't worth the inconvenience for nervous clients or their families. Moreover, these products come with dosage recommendations for different ages and are considered drugs, posing risks such as severe allergic reactions. Many of these products advise consulting a physician, especially for children under three and sometimes up to 12 years old.

If these guidelines are not followed, the safety practices of the provider and the entire

Ear Piercing Service should be questioned.

Exploring further, there are numbing products used for piercings that are similar to those used for injections, but they contain much higher concentrations of chemicals, which can lead to more severe side effects. Injections are administered by trained and licensed professionals such as nurses and doctors who understand the risks and know how to handle complications. Consider who typically applies a numbing topical before giving a numbing injection; a dentist is a common example. This is not something your local body piercer is trained to do. Body piercing training does not cover the use of topical or injectable numbing agents, nor does it prepare individuals to manage serious allergic reactions that might occur from these products.

Unless individuals are properly trained and licensed to use these products,

they should not be part of ear piercing services.

Numbing creams, gels, and sprays might seem like a good idea in theory,

but in practice, they are not very safe. As a skilled Ear Piercing Professional, I know that using such products can lead to various risks and complications, which I do not want to expose my special guests to at Baby Ear Piercing. Not only can these products cause serious side effects, but they can also result in a misplaced or unattractive ear piercing. Moreover, the sensation is almost the same with or without these creams, sprays, or gels. Most traditional ear piercings are not painful enough to warrant the use of numbing products.

Many fears and concerns about the sensation of an ear piercing are often exaggerated, and these feelings are completely normal. We understand. An experienced, reputable Piercing Professional will strive to make your ear piercing experience as safe and comfortable as possible!

A reliable Ear Piercing Professional you trust will guide you through your

ear piercing experience without relying on numbing creams.

Baby Ear Piercing in San Jose, CA, has developed an expert skill level that guests can trust,

without the need for gimmicks or topical aids.

About the author:

Angel is a DEH LICENSED SAFE BODY ART PRACTITIONER, with expertise in ear piercing and blood-borne pathogens. She founded Baby Ear Piercing, a Licensed Safe Body Art Facility located in San Jose, CA. Since 1987, Angel has been delivering expert ear piercing services to individuals of all ages.

Angel has created a distinctive controlled environment to provide the safest ear piercing services across the nation. She is globally recognized and trusted by parents, medical professionals, influencers, and celebrities for her safe and effective ear piercing and re-opening services for babies, toddlers, children, and adults.

Her proficiency in working with and developing superior metal formulations, along with her insightful advice, has assisted numerous clients in resolving issues related to sensitive and problematic ear piercings, including concerns with earring and aftercare compatibility.

Meet Angel, Ear Piercing Professional