Effective September 11, 2025 Michigan Law prevents the use of numbing creams, ointments and bactine in tattoo shops. If you show up with it on, we will have to turn you away and reschedule. We are not allowed to apply it for you during your session, either. The following information will explain “why” pretty well for those of you asking why:

This regulation was proposed earlier this year and has now officially passed into law. We must comply with all Michigan Department of Health requirements to maintain our liscensing.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Why Michigan's Lidocaine Ban Protects You

The Reality About Lidocaine use:

Lidocaine is a MEDICATION, not just a "numbing cream." Like any medication, it can be dangerous when used improperly.

Documented Health Risks Include:

• Seizures and convulsions

• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)

• Respiratory depression (difficulty breathing)

• Loss of consciousness

• Muscle tremors and dizziness

• In severe cases: DEATH

Why Tattooing Makes Lidocaine MORE Dangerous:

The tattooing process creates a perfect storm for lidocaine toxicity:

• Numbing cream is applied to intact skin

• Then we break the skin barrier with needles

• More numbing cream is often reapplied over the now-open wound dramatically increasing absorption rates to dangerous levels

• What might be "safe" on unbroken skin becomes potentially lethal on broken skin

The Evidence:

• FDA Warning (2024): High-strength lidocaine skin creams can cause seizures and heart trouble¹

• Recent Deaths: Two young women died from numbing cream use, prompting FDA warnings²

• Tripling of Cases: US reported lidocaine poisoning and deaths have nearly tripled over the past decade³

• Case Study: A 22-year-old patient died from lidocaine overdose during a cosmetic procedure⁴

The Unpredictable:

While some people have used numbing cream without issues, others have died. We have no way to predict who will have a fatal reaction. Factors like:

• Individual metabolism

• Body weight and health conditions

• Other medications

• Amount of skin being tattooed

• Length of tattoo session

These all affect your risk level - and we can't assess these as non-medical professionals.

Remember, we Are NOT Medical Professionals:

As tattoo artists, we are NOT qualified to:

• Determine safe dosages for individual clients

• Monitor for signs of lidocaine toxicity

• Treat medical emergencies from drug reactions

• Assess drug interactions with your medications

• Calculate how broken skin changes absorption rates

We CAN tattoo clients who have a doctor's prescription for numbing cream for a TATTOO procedure (not just everyday use). This means a medical professional has assessed YOUR specific health situation, the tattooing process, and determined proper dosage with the understanding that skin will be broken.

Your Safety is Our Priority:

The regulations exist because people are becoming ill and in worst cases, are dying from improper lidocaine use. The tattooing process specifically increases these risks in ways most people don't understand.

If you need numbing for medical reasons, please consult your doctor about getting a prescription specifically for your tattoo, explaining that the skin will be broken during the process. A doctor note must accompany this OR the written prescription must acknowledge tattoo/broken skin.

Sources:

-Dermatology Times - "Minimizing the risk of lidocaine toxicity"

-NBC Washington - "Skin Numbing Creams May Cause Death"

-BMJ Group - "Near tripling in US reported lidocaine local anaesthetic poisonings/deaths"

-Dermatology Times case study

-FDA Press Announcement - "FDA Warns Consumers to Avoid Certain Topical Pain Relief Products"

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