The tattoo has become a common body adornment for millions of men, a way for a guy to express himself in a visible, permanent way. Yet, perhaps due to the penis pain that can result, most men tend to avoid tatting the body part which most visibly identifies a person as male. Although obtaining a penis tattoo is rare, those who do opt to get inked need to make sure that they practice appropriate penis care in order to make the experience as easy as possible.

Caution

Although getting a penis tattoo is clearly a personal decision, any man who considers it needs to approach it with caution. First and foremost, it’s important to choose a tattoo artist who is both experienced and reputable; getting a tattoo in an unhygienic environment - whether one the penis or elsewhere - can result in some serious health issues. (This assumes that a man can easily get a tattoo artist who will work on the penis; many of them do not provide this service. Those that do are likely to charge extra - possibly quite a bit extra.)

If a guy has never had a tattoo, it’s not wise to start with one on the penis. After all, the process involves sticking needles into the area to be tattooed. The penis is more sensitive than other body parts, so the potential for penis pain is greater; but at least if a man has previously been tatted elsewhere, he has some idea of what to expect.

Most tattoo artists will use a numbing cream to help deaden the sensation; however, this merely lessens the penis pain. It does not eliminate it completely.

The process

A tattoo is generally applied to the penis while it is flaccid, but in order to cover it appropriately, the penis has to be stretched, Sometimes the customer handles the penis for this, other times the artist needs to. While the stretching doesn’t induce the level of penis pain that the needles can, it can still be uncomfortable.

But it is the needling that tends to cause the most discomfort. Exactly how much depends upon an individual’s threshold for this kind of sensation.

Interestingly, some men report that the more lingering pain that they experience comes not from the stretching or the needling, but from wiping. The tattoo specialist may need to be constantly wiping away ink, which can cause irritation and chafing that has a more lasting effect.

Removal

Hopefully, a guy who gets a penis tattoo will be happy with it and want to keep it all his life. But some people do change their minds. Removing a tattoo can be challenging and often involves the use of lasers, which can be distinctly painful on the penis. (On the other hand, penis tattoos usually "come off" more easily than tattoos in some other parts of the body, due to their closeness to the lymphatic system, which is sympathetic to lasers.)

Afterward

So what should a man do to address the pain from getting a tattoo? He should leave the bandage on for as long as recommended by the tattoo expert. When it is removed, he should gently wash it with warm (not hot) water and a mild anti-bacterial soap with no fragrances. He may find an over-the-counter pain reliever can help with mild pain.

Once the tattoo is completely healed, he may want to address the lingering penis pain by pampering his member. Application of a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) is a sensible idea. The crème will need to include a combination of moisturizers, ideally a high end emollient (shea butter is excellent) and a natural hydrator (like vitamin E). This will soothe the traumatized skin and help ease it back to health. Keeping bacteria at bay is essential, so choosing a crème that boasts vitamin A’s anti-bacterial properties is wise. Building up the penis’ natural health with a potent crème will help to ease lingering soreness from the tattoo process.