Does lidocaine work for piercings

Answer 1

The use and application of any numbing agent is at the discretion of the professional body piercer. Anesthetics are dangerous for many reasons, injection anesthetics can not be legally used by professional body piercers (licensing as a health care provider is required in North America). Topical numbing creams do things to tissue that can literally screw up the piercing due to tissue bloating, by nature they need to absorb into the tissue and this absorption can cause the tissue to distort. Your piercer should be a professional who can conduct the piercing in a clean and simple manner thus minimizing any pain or discomfort. If you are hung up about the pain then you should rethink the piercing, seriously body piercing done by a professional is simple quick and almost painless. If you feel you can't handle a momentary pinch then you need to talk to your piercer about your concerns. But do not apply anything to the area you want pierced before you have spoken to the piercer. Some professionals will refuse to pierce anyone who has used any type of topical solution or cream to the area being pierced.