Tattoo bubbling increases your risks of damaging your tattoo and getting an infection. I've been getting a sleeve from knee to ankle on left leg. Thank you for this post. Aquaphor is a commonly recommended part of a tattoo aftercare regimen It has hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties that can speed healing and make the process more comfortable. I have a desk job so I can't elevate it as much as I'd like - or as much as it needs to be - but I'm doing what I can. I Have a Lip Liner Tattoo is Surgical Option a Good Choice to Remove It? This is the body's natural mechanism for protecting the skin from further damage and helping it heal. I do not wear tight socks, but you would think I do because when I remove my sock you can see every stitch. I would do it again as I love my artwork - but ice, elevation and rest are not helping deflate the swelling or reduce the hurt.Any suggestions? Yes thank you! I finished my leg piece this past Sunday and this time the swelling was more then the last but as you said normal. How long did it take for your ankles to go down? Take some over the counter anti-inflammatory's. He also suggested for me to let it dry heal for a day or two until the leaky plasma subsided. I can put my fears to rest now.. glad that so many people experienced it and shared. This helped me calm down and feel better. When I got the outline done I had no problems but as soon as I gotten the color weeks later (3 days ago) I got very conserved from the amount of swelling. I turned to google for a bit of reassurance and found this post. Ankle and large lump on my shin not near where the tattoo is. Thank you for sharing this. Glad it's not an infection - I did think maybe a reaction to the ink. And we have to remember that pressure will go to the lowest point of the body i.e. xx. Great advice Rachel xxx. At first though it looked like redness, today it looks like bruising. It's work very softly. How To Reduce Tattoo Swelling And Redness? (Treatment)[2023] Whoee 6 months of this is going to be hard with work lol.How do you post pics I'd love to show the black and gray tatt if I cld. I, like so many others, was a little worried about the swelling around my ankle after having a large tattoo done on my lower right leg, so you have definitely put my mind at ease. But the pain, inflammation, and redness should get better with time, not worse. Blackout Tattoo: Process, Pain Level, Healing Time & More - Healthline When to see a doctor. This helped! Worked like a charm! My tattoo guy said my ankle would swell up and to have fun with it Lol but my entire calf also seemed to swell up! It's killing me it hurts so bad this is number 30 and number 11 by the same artists as this one. Elevating and icing for sure! Depending on the diagnosis and severity, it may take multiple antibiotics to clear the infection. Oh bless you! Feb 20, 2010, 10:02:44 AM to Tattoo issues I had my first tattoo done on Jan. 13th of this year on my right calf. If I had know about keeping it elevated i would have sat in the back seat while my husband drove. Tattoo Swelling - How To Reduce & Ensure Proper Healing - PrettyJust.com 5 Causes Of A Tattoo Rash And How To Treat It - SkinKraft I agree, this totally summed it up. I got basically half of my lower And thank you so much xx. Personally I would pop along to your GP so they can take a look as after 8 days it shouldn't really be painful or red, but I'm not a medical professional, just going off experience from others and myself. Then you apply too much ointment or lotion. The added swelling and discomfort can make it difficult to walk and go places while you heal. Inside of my ankle on Saturday ( it's Tuesday). I was beginning to worry, but after reading your blog and the rest of the comments, I realized there are worse cases than mine. It might be a reaction to the ink. Thank you! Thank you for your reassurances! Had my ankle tattoo Saturday. This usually doesn't impact the healing of your tattoo and won't compromise your ink. If youre getting some new ink, or have just gotten a tattoo, you may want to consider using Aquaphor. I just finished a cover up that covers 90% of the back of my thigh, extending from the underside of my butt cheek to the back of my knee on 8/3. I had the feet swelling, but is better today (Sunday. Then I slept with it on pillows and this morning It's gone way down. 3. The entirety of your legs, for one, is prone to swelling. Do tattoos hurt? What it feels like, areas, pain relief, and more Looks fully swollen. Increase in the size of the stomach area. What you are describing may not be abnormal for that area, and we would suggest if you have any concerns, make an appointment with your treating physician and let them determine if anything is, in fact, wrong, or is this part of your normal healing process. Thank you for your comment.They are always appreciated and always read. , No standing on your feet for that long won't have helped with the swelling and pain. It is not necessary to apply a barrier between the tattoo and your sock. Try laying down for a few hours, elevate the tattoo above your heart (if possible), take an anti-inflammatory such as Advil, cover the tattoo bandage with something like a CLEAN t-shirt or hand towel, and apply an ice-pack. Good luck! If some swelling/redness is present the day after your tattoo, and it is uncomfortable or bothering you, it is appropriate to use ice (20 minutes) and/or an NSAID (ibuprofen, Advil, aleve, naproxen) to help bring the swelling down. ;), whew ! I'm a wife. Thank you so much for this! dko 9 yr. ago. Being a teacher, today has been my first full day on it and the swelling has got worse with more reddening. I recently had a cover up done on my foot. I can't have it elevated when I want to. Glad to find a couple sites on this topic. :), Because of some foot problems, we face knee aches or disease related to our knees.A foot massage machine helps to get relief from these foot disease,foot aches as well as knee problems. Today is 1 week exactly since I got it. Swelling has diminished in ankle, but seems more prominent by tattoo now. Had a 3 hour sitting 4 days ago, a large piece on the back of my calf. I hope it is much better now! Tattoo bubbling is what happens when scabs become too wet This begins when you dont fully dry off your tattoo after showering, and scabs become saturated with water. Nothing appears infectedjust very sore, and hard to walk. Thanks for the information in detail. On my first two sessions I did not blister. I was writing my last will & testament as I was sure I was going to die! It's kinda scary but sounds normal. Instead, some tattoo artists recommend topical skin-numbing products. Ice will help if it swells up so to ease it when you land. Should be fine. Might just need some extra time. This was a cover-up n i have lots more tattoos ova my body but first time anything swelled. So thanks for your post. I want to thank you as i thought something was seriously wrong. But, I cant not cover it because my jeans would rub it raw. I got a relatively large piece this weekend, and while not my first it's definitely my biggest (tattoo took 9 hours) and my leg/ankle are ridiculously swollen, and as it's wrapped in saniderm, I was worried. Anyway! I'm glad I came across this post. Likewise, tattoos on the top of your foot are often extra painful because of the lack of fat and cushioning there, plus the presence of more nerve endings. A general rule of thumb is that you should not let your body contact a hot area for the next 2 days after getting the tattoo. Hot to the touch for about 24 hours after is pretty normal, and draining again sounds fairly normal if there is a lot of dense colouring/shading. I had quite a bit of edema that lasted about 48 hours, then went away. I had gotten a leg piece as well, today will be day three. Then when on the fourth day, my friend said that my leg probably got infected, I got so scared. I bruise easily on the left leg and have been telling myself this, my tattoo is outlined with a hickey looking ring. I had gotten 2 tattoos on my lower right leg, front and back, fairly large. All my tats are below my knees and they've all made my entire legs and feet swell up like I'm 9 months pregnant. I had a lower ankle/calf tattoo done 1 week ago and it is still swollen, but does seem to be getting better. The amount of swelling can be reduced by eating the right foods and/or taking the right supplements. Some people just have a higher pigment in their skin tone so look redder for longer. How To Reduce Tattoo Swelling On The Arm? Thanks for your post! Well today I got up and drove 7 1/2 hours and when i got to the hotel my left leg is twice the size of normal and feels as if my skin is going to pop open. I'll try to ice it and take some anti inflammatory, Yeah definitely sounds like all the pressure! Healing time is generally three weeks, but will vary for each patient. Peeling. That's exactly what it feels like. It's was helpful knowing that this is normal. Gently wash your tattoo area twice a day with soap and water and gently pat dry before reapplying the antibacterial/Vaseline ointment. Flying shouldn't be a problem, though should for obvious reasons be avoided if possible. No mention of excessivswelling. It is dress weather finally and don't need to sport cankles. Tattoo swelling after getting fresh tattoo is normal. the foot, so they tend to swell much more than any other part. Thank you for writing this article! Thank youu thank you very much! Though it breathes it was simply too tight and abrasive. Top 10 DOES A TATTOO SWELL UP Answers WOW! I think my sock was too tight too esp bc I had to fold it down so as not to cover it. :) xx. Just sensitive I suppose. I'm glad I found this so now I can put my mind at ease. Thank you!! Cant say I will ever get the back of my calf ever done again though! I work and stand on my feet 8 to 10 hours a day. If after 5-7 days the lumps and bumps havent gone down, or are getting worse, it may be worth speaking to a doctor for their advice. It is still super swollen, painful when try to walk, and tender. Immediately I follow what you said, and elevate my leg on a small stool. Thanks so much for the info, I'm more at ease after reading this. How much swelling is normal/Is my tattoo okay? : r/tattoos - Reddit Thank you for easing my mind, I just got a sizable piece done on my left lower calf and the swelling was freaking me out, normally the Internet is all gloom and doom you are dying, this however made me comfortable knowing, thank you!!! thanks for this post! I'm glad my post helped you. You know that rush of blood feeling you get when you've cut the circulation to one of your feet by sitting on it too long? 7 comments. :). Ice in the form of a bag of frozen corn or frozen peas- applied 15 minutes on once hourly may also be beneficial. Ps. Skin that holds a dimple, also known as pitting, after it's been pressed for a few seconds. I got my tattoo yesterday and today I had to go to school. Keep it clean. This is my ninth tattoo and I've never experienced swelling or pain like this, but glad to know it's normal! Its about the same level of pain caused by tattooing over your rib cage. This. It's most likely the dense shading creating the tight feeling as the tattoo turns into a scab as part of the healing process. Vulnerable Tattoo Location. Probably doesn't help the fact I was on my feet 10 hours today working, and will have to go into work tomorrow as well (hoping it'll go down a little by tomorrow :/) but if I stand still and I'm not walking around, it'll feel like a Charlie horse in that one spot, and tighten up really badof course I had to look on internet and see stuff, and get all worried and freak out, HOPING its not infected. I also had this happen while working on my 1/2 sleeve, particularly the inside of the upper arm. Is this normal this is my second tattoo. So I guess I will elevate my foot and pop an ibuprofen.