Las Vegas, NV
A 23-year-old male asked:
Can you use emla (lidocaine and prilocaine) cream during the tattoo process?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Lonna Larshanswered
Family Medicine 31 years experience
Not practical: Emla (lidocaine and prilocaine) takes at least 30 minutes to work and then the anesthetic only lasts about a half hour, and the pain relief is incomplete at best. An average sized tattoo takes about 2 hours, so if you want to get your tattoo in one sitting, emla's not going to be that helpful. If you can't stand the pain of the tattoo, you probably shouldn't be getting one.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Troy Grasanswered
Anesthesiology 22 years experience
Yes: Emla (lidocaine and prilocaine) (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) is a mixture of 2.5% Lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine. It is applied to the skin for topical anesthesia. If applied correctly, the cream can cause full-thickness numbness of the skin. This will make a tattoo less painful. Some tattoo artists prefer that clients not use Emla (lidocaine and prilocaine) because it increases the water content of the skin.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 29-year-old member asked:
Has anybody used emla (lidocaine and prilocaine) cream before.?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Einar Ottestadanswered
Pain Management 20 years experience
Anesthetic: Emla (lidocaine and prilocaine) is a mixture of Lidocaine and prilocaine, two local anesthetics, used for skin anesthesia prior to procedures like IV start or injections. I mostly use it for kids.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
How can I get emla (lidocaine and prilocaine) cream 5%?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ankush Bansalanswered
Internal Medicine 18 years experience
Ask doctor: Ask your doctor. It's a prescription. That's the only way to get it legally in the U.S.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Is emla (lidocaine and prilocaine) cream effective?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Orrin Ailloni-Charasanswered
Anesthesiology 30 years experience
For what?: Elma is a topical local anesthetic that aids in reducing the pain of IV placement.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 28, 2015
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