Pain zones in tattoos: the 11 places that hurt the most

Although the degree of pain associated with each area of ​​the body is relative and will vary according to the tolerance threshold of each individual, there are generally some parts of the body that hurt more than others. There are several factors that influence the degree of pain felt in each area of ​​the body, it will affect the thickness of the skin, being more painful when it is thinner, the amount of nerve endings that reach each area and if there is fat that protects the skin. bone and endings.

These free endings are responsible for connecting and bringing information from both the outside and the body itself to the brain. In this way, the areas where there are more of them will be more sensitive and therefore we will feel more pain, mention for example the groin or the palm of the hand. In this article we will explain why we feel pain when tattooing and We will mention which areas are the most painful to tattoo and what may be the cause.

Why do we feel pain when we get a tattoo?

Everyone to a greater or lesser extent tends to feel pain or discomfort when tattooing, it will depend on the degree of tolerance that each person has, the pain threshold varies, and the same area can cause a lot of pain to an individual and almost not notice it at all. other, but other factors also influence such as the size of the tattoo or the area of ​​the body that is tattooed.

Our body is made up of nerve or free endings that have an afferent function, that is to say, to capture and send information both from our own body and from abroad to the brain. These endings are what allow us to feel heat and cold, pressure or pain, allowing us to act appropriately according to the stimulation that comes to us, that is, it has an adaptive function.

In this way, there will be parts of the body such as the palms of the hands or the feet that will have more nerve endings and for this reason they will be more sensitive. Likewise, the areas of the body that have more fat, will cover and protect the nerve endings, causing them not to capture as much or as precisely the stimulation from the outside. This fact can also be translated by saying that in the regions where the bone is more visible or the skin is thinner, the painful sensation will be greater.

Also if we bear in mind that To get a tattoo, a needle or set of needles have to penetrate our skin multiple times to introduce the ink., thus causing a wound, it is to be expected that the free endings notice the stimulus and send the information and alert the brain to the painful stimulus so that it can act, this being the adaptive and functional reaction.

The areas of the body where it will hurt the most to get a tattoo

So, now that we have more idea of ​​how our body captures painful signals and stimuli and in this way feels pain and what characteristics the parts most sensitive to it have, we will present the regions or areas of the body where you are most likely to notice more pain or bother you more when they tattoo you.

1. The face

In this case, being a large region, with different distribution of muscles or fat, there will be a difference between the different areas in reference to the sensitivity and pain felt when getting a tattoo. We will say that of the parts of the face where it hurts the most to get a tattoo is on the temple, since it is considered one of the most sensitive and delicate areas of the human body and also in the area around the eyes, since in this area the skin is thinner, producing a more direct contact of the needles with the bone.

2. The chest

The chest is a painful area of ​​the body to tattoo, especially in the part of the sternum, part of the body that connects the ribs with the cartilage. As we have already mentioned before, the areas with less fat will hurt more since the nerve endings better capture the painful stimulus. In this case, the tattoo is done in an area where there is almost only only skin and bone, and it is very likely that it will hurt more.

Thus, if the tattoo is very close to the nipple or in it, since it is a very sensitive region, formed by very fine and delicate skin, the pain that we will feel will be more intense. In the same way, the recovery time of the wound generated by the tattoo will be longer, presenting a greater risk of infection if it is not cared for well.

3. The armpit

If it already hurts when the hair is pulled out when waxing our armpits, this discomfort and pain becomes more intense and unbearable when this area is tattooed, since as we have pointed out before, the areas where there are more nerve endings will be the ones that generate more pain when the needle penetrates the skin, the armpits being one of these regions of the body that concentrates the greatest number of pain transmitters.

Also note that in the armpits the skin is thinner and more delicate and although some people do not feel pain as such, the tingling sensation that appears when we activate this area can cause discomfort.

4. The back

The back is not an area in which fat normally accumulates, and specifically in the region close to the spine, that is, where the bone is less protected by muscles, it will hurt more to be tattooed.

5. The ribs

In the same way that we have mentioned the sternum as an area of ​​pain given the little fat it presents, the same will happen with a region close to it, the ribs, where the accumulation of fat is also low and you have the feeling of being tattooed directly bone. There are those who consider it the most painful area to get tattooed.

6. The knee and elbow

Both the knees and the elbows are parts of the body where it hurts to get a tattoo, since they are mobile areas where the skin is thinner and the punctures occur closer to the bone.

Especially of these two parts, the areas that hurt the most are the back ones, that is to say, the fold areas, since they are quite sensitive, the skin being thinner and less fat accumulating. In the same way, the joints are less protected, thus feeling more the discomfort of the needles.

7. The hand

The whole hand in general is quite painful to tattoo, both the side, the knuckles or the fingers, as well as the front (upper part). Even so, the majority of people who have tattooed this area believe that the part that hurts the most is the palm of the hand, not only compared to the other parts of the hand but also compared to other areas of the body.

The palm of the hand is one of the most sensitive parts of the body, which will detect and act faster when faced with a painful stimulus, where a high number of nerve endings arrive, which, added to the fact that they are not covered with fat, allow it to detect and discriminate stimuli very well.

8. The feet

In the same way that happens with the hands, the feet are also one of the areas of the body that hurts the most to be tattooed, both on the instep since the skin is in direct contact with the bones, as well as the sole of the foot in the same way that the palm of the hand, this is alsoIt is made up of many nerve endings, easily pick up stimulation, in this case needle sticks.

9. The English

The groin is also one of the areas of the body that hurts the most to tattoo, due to the fact that a high number of nerve endings also arrive, it is a passage area for many arteries and there is little fat to protect. In this way, the pain will be extreme, causing even the tattooed person to faint.

10. The neck

The neck is made up of different parts, the degree of pain between them will vary. The front is one of the areas of the neck that hurts the most, since as we have already been commenting, the skin is thinner and the needle will have an almost direct contact with the nut of the neck. In the same way, this area is also a passageway for many arteries.

11. The genitals

The genitals are a delicate area, therefore being a region of high pain if we tattoo. In the same way that we have seen with other parts of the body, the genitals will also feel different intensity of pain depending on the area or part of these that is tattooed. It is a very sensitive area, with many nerve endings that will pick up painful stimuli very quickly and very intensely.

Likewise, if we get a tattoo on the genitals, we must be especially careful and careful so that the healing takes place as well as possible, since it is an area prone to infections and constant friction with clothing.