Getting a piercing or a tattoo involves breaking the skin in some way, so there is always going to be some pain involved. Many people wonder whether piercings or tattoos hurt more. There are a few factors that contribute to the pain levels of each.
What Makes Piercings Painful
There are a few reasons why piercings are often considered more painful than tattoos:
- The piercing needle is sharper than a tattoo needle. It has to puncture through the skin in one quick motion, like a sewing needle going through fabric. Tattoo needles are grouped together into a tattoo gun that vibrates, causing less of a sharp sensation.
- Piercings involve sensitive body parts. Common piercings go through areas with many nerve endings and thin skin, like ears, noses, navels, and genitals. These areas are extra sensitive to pain.
- The piercing jewelry is inserted immediately. Right after the needle makes the puncture, the jewelry is pushed through the open wound to keep it from closing up. With tattoos, the needles only touch the skin briefly before moving on.
- There is usually less adrenaline. Tattoo sessions can last several hours, releasing adrenaline that numbs the pain. Simple piercings are often over in seconds before adrenaline can kick in.
Overall, piercings concentrate the pain into a smaller area of the body for a very brief, intense sensation. The cartilage and nerve endings of the ears and nose are especially sensitive to this kind of sharp, piercing pain.
What Makes Tattoos Painful
While piercings may seem more painful at first, tattoos have their own significant pain factors:
- Tattoos cover a larger area of skin. The needle has to repeatedly puncture across the whole tattoo area, rather than just in one localized spot.
- Sessions can last several hours. Even with breaks, you have to withstand the pain for much longer compared to a few seconds for a piercing.
- Bones and muscles are more exposed. Large tattoos inevitably cover areas where the needles penetrate more deeply and hit sensitive nerves and tissue.
- Different levels of pain across the body. Some spots, like the ribs and feet, have higher pain levels that can be emotionally draining to endure.
So while the individual punctures may not seem as painful, the overall tattooing process requires withstanding dull, throbbing pain for extended periods of time. The lower levels of sharp pain can ultimately take a larger physical and mental toll.
Pain Levels by Piercing and Tattoo Area
To compare them more directly, here is an overview of pain levels for common piercing and tattoo locations, on a scale of 1 to 10:
| Piercing Area | Pain Level | Tattoo Area | Pain Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ear lobes | 2-3 | Shoulders | 3-5 |
| Helix/ear cartilage | 4-6 | Arms | 4-7 |
| Nostril | 4-7 | Back | 5-8 |
| Septum | 5-8 | Thighs | 6-9 |
| Navel | 2-7 | Ribs | 7-10 |
| Genitals | 5-10 | Feet | 7-10 |
As you can see, even the most painful piercings rarely exceed the pain levels of the most sensitive tattoo areas. Tattoos on bony, low-fat areas with many nerve endings are considered some of the most painful spots on the body.
Pain Duration Differences
In addition to overall pain levels, it’s important to consider the duration of the pain. Here’s how the time frames compare:
Piercing Pain Duration
- Initial piercing: Less than 1 minute
- Soreness: 1-2 weeks
The piercing itself takes seconds, to a couple minutes at most for more complicated piercings. The hours and days afterwards bring throbbing and tenderness as the wound starts healing.
Tattoo Pain Duration
- Single session: 2-6 hours
- Multiple sessions: Weeks or months
- Healing: 2-4 weeks
A full sleeve or back tattoo requires sitting for hours at a time. Going through the full process of multiple sessions and healing can extend the pain over weeks or months. However, the pain is duller and lower level rather than the intense short spikes from piercings.
Factors That Increase or Decrease Pain
Everyone experiences piercings and tattoos a bit differently, but some common factors can influence the pain levels either way:
Factors That Increase Pain
- Thinner skin or bonier location
- More sensitive areas with lots of nerves
- Time of month for menstruating individuals
- Not eating before the appointment
- Being sick or run down
- High anxiety or fear
- Re-piercing or tattooing over scar tissue
Factors That Decrease Pain
- Healthy diet and exercise
- Properly hydrated
- Rested and calm
- Experience getting pierced or tattooed before
- Friendly, comforting environment at the studio
- Distractions like music or conversation
- Numbing creams for some tattoos
For many people, the excitement of getting a new piercing or tattoo also releases natural endorphins that can act as pain relief during the process.
Pain Management Techniques
If you are worried about dealing with the pain, there are some steps you can take to manage it:
- Numbing products – Creams, sprays, and ointments can numb the surface of the skin for both piercings and tattoos. However, they do not work for everyone.
- Pain relief preparations – Taking over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen before your appointment can help reduce inflammation and sensitivity.
- Eat a full meal – Make sure to eat something substantial a couple hours before your appointment to stabilize your blood sugar and energy.
- Distraction – Listen to music, talk to your piercer or tattoo artist, or zone out into your thoughts to focus less on the physical sensations.
- Comfort items – Bring something that relaxes you, like a stress ball to squeeze or a soft blanket.
- Breathe deeply – Practice deep belly breathing to increase endorphins and oxygen flow.
It also helps to tell your piercer or tattoo artist when you are feeling especially uncomfortable. They can suggest breaks, adjustments, or distractions to make it more bearable.
Conclusion
In general, most piercings involve more intense spikes of sharp pain compared to the duller but more prolonged pain of tattoos. However, everyone experiences pain differently based on factors like their sensitivity levels and mental state.
If you want minimal pain, ear lobe piercings and shoulder or arm tattoos are good starter options. Pain should never reach extreme levels for either piercings or tattoos – if it does, speak up so your piercer or artist can adjust. With the right preparation and techniques, both can be manageable experiences for body art enthusiasts.