Bony areas such as the ribcage, ankles, and shins are typically the most painful places for receiving Tattoos because there’s less fat padding to soften the blow of needle insertion.
Other variables, including age and sex, also affect pain levels while tattooing. Older individuals typically experience less discomfort while tattooing than their younger counterparts.
Nipples and Breasts
Nipples and breasts are sensitive areas that can produce extreme discomfort when tattooed. This is due to the absence of fat or muscle padding, making the experience all the more intense.
Chest and upper back tattooing is also quite painful due to the bones beneath thin skin and the lack of fat covering them. Vibrant pain occurs when high-speed needles vibrate against these bones, sending out nerve signals that trigger pain throughout the body.
Groin
Tattoos on both men’s and women’s groins can cause excruciating pain when inked with needles. The area contains numerous nerve endings, which needles may further damage. Its lymph nodes connect directly with this sensitive area, adding to its sensitivity and discomfort when receiving ink in this region.
Elbows and Knees
The elbow and knee areas are two highly delicate tattoo locations due to limited muscular padding and exposed bones beneath the skin. As such, tattooing these areas is especially painful. Pain that feels like something hot pressing against your skin for an extended period can often accompany the sensation of having a needle pierce bone and activate nerves.
Lips and Inside of the Mouth
Lip Tattoos may be trendy now, but they’re extremely painful. Inner lips contain numerous nerve endings, likely resulting in intense discomfort and possibly even causing bruising when tattooing there. Sharp pain has been described as stinging and often feels like the needle is digging deep into your skin.
Hands and Fingers
The hands and fingers contain many nerve endings with limited fat padding, creating an area prone to pain. This stinging pain has been described as cat scratches or bee stings and typically manifests itself when an artist carves fine details on a canvas. It can also happen if an inexperienced tattoo artist uses too much pressure when using their needle, leading it through multiple layers of skin at once.
Areas that tend to hurt less when tattooing include those with thicker skin and fewer nerve endings, such as outer arm and calf tattoos. Upper and lower back Tattoos also tend to be less painful due to muscle and fat padding and reduced nerve endings. These spots rank from low-moderate on the tattoo pain scale.
