running. An inner bicep tattoo can cause pain but the area is slightly more tolerable than other placements thanks to the natural muscle mass. Sitting for long periods on hard surfaces is a common cause of ischial bursitis. Areas of the body that have less fat tend to hurt more. Try a numbing product on your skin before getting your tattoo to reduce the amount of pain you experience. Your ankles and shinbones will experience repetitive needle movements, causing your bones to rattle. Its most commonly felt in areas a tattoo artist has worked on for a long time, caused by a combination of your skins rawness and the repeated trauma resulting from a tattoo needle piercing your skin in the same place. Before my 50th birthday, I decided to do something to reach this milestone. But there are factors affecting how much pain you as an individual experience while getting inked. Scratching pain is a very common pain, and as the tattoo starts to dry out, you will find that the skin around the tattoo also tends to dry out, and you will have the overwhelming urge to want to scratch. The upper outer thigh is one of the least painful places to get a tattoo, with pain low to low-moderate in most people. You can go for walks, but not while the tattoo is still fresh, especially the back of the neck. First up, they can be incredibly sexy, bringing attention to your shapely legs. Calf tattoos are great for vibrant designs and large artwork. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Ischial bursitis causes pain in the buttocks and upper legs. Although the skin on the upper chest is usually thicker and tattoos here should be more tolerable, the proximity to bone and the lack of fat means youll have virtually no cushioning to work with. Here, well take a closer look at the most and least painful places to get tattooed. For instance, a hip injury may radiate down to the legs. How do I stop the pain of a new tattoo? An ankle and shin tattoo generally causes intense pain since there is very little fat surrounding these areas. In the picture below, the various body parts are described with a pain indicator that describes how much pain you have to endure when getting tattooed in that spot. This article discusses what ischial bursitis is, how to treat it, and when to see a doctor. Older skin may be more likely to bruise or feel pain than younger skin. Vibrating pain isnt usually intense, but it doesnt exactly tickle either. Although cheap tattoos may feel like a bargain, youll want to be careful to visit an artist with clean tools and a professional who will observe your reactions and adjust their approach accordingly. Tattooing can be a painful process, but its important to remember that it is a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Dermabrasion is most effective for smaller pieces. While not as searing, the continuous discomfort can wear you down after a while. In fact, youll actually burn calories during a tattoo because your metabolism speeds up in response to tension. If you move your tattoo just below the kneecap, youll also experience extreme pain from the patellar tendon that runs down to the shin. Laser Tattoo Removal Can Cause Blisters Here's Why and How to Treat Them. This doesn't indicate weakness; fear is your mind's way of making you evaluate a situation. Youll be surprised at how much water you actually need to drink. You should avoid strenuous activity for the first week after getting a thigh tattoo. Gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean towel. Apply a thin layer of tattoo aftercare ointment to the tattoo. Keep your skin moisturized. Being familiar with these sensations before getting tattooed can give you an idea of what you can expect to feel and how to tell when your pain isnt normal. If pain persists, or if the area is red and warm, visit your doctor to make sure you dont have an infection or allergic reaction. This kind of pain is usually quite intense, and it feels like the needle is poking deep into your skin. The healthcare professional can help the person avoid exercises that might worsen the problem or cause injuries. If you stand for longer, it will affect the healing process. Getting a thigh tattoo can be a painful experience. An upper outer thigh tattoo will cause low levels of pain thanks to the muscle that pads your nerves and bones. A less painful spot, the bicep is a great place to get a tattoo and comes with fewer nerve endings and thick muscle tissue. It is important to keep the tattoo clean and dry during this time. Mayo Clinic Staff. People with higher body fat percentages struggle more with the stomach area because the skin is looser and will be more disturbed by the needles movement. Leave this in place for at least a few hours, or until your tattoo is no longer bleeding. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox The skin on and around your lips is generally loose with lots of nerve endings. A tattoo on your lips will almost certainly cause severe pain, and could lead to bleeding, swelling, and bruising. It involves cutting out the tattoo with a scalpel and stitching up the wound, which creates a surgical scar. Youll also want to consider how you are going to care for your thigh tattoo when its healing.