Discussion: Is Severe Swelling Around Tattoo Normal?
Sunday May 20, 2007
Ta2duk writes: "It's a week ago tomorrow that I had my foot tattoo done. I'm worried that the tattoo is infected. My foot is twice the size of my non-tattooed one, and it's really shiny, red and stretched. The swelling has gone onto my toes and has started creeping up my ankle slightly. I thought that the swelling had peaked on Wednesday, but it seems to be getting worse.The tattoo is really scabbed over (which I expected), but some of the scabs are really deep, and the tattoo is oozing yellow/green/bloody gunk constantly...I'm really scared that something bad is happening. Surely I should be able to walk and apply a little pressure to my foot now?"
Comments
GO TO THE DOCTOR YOU COULD HAVE INK POISON.
Get to the freakin’ hospital! And when you feel better show the artist/studio these pictures. If they are a good place they’ll try and figure out what happened.
See a doctor. Could also be an ink allergic reaction from the red. An infection could be starting. Red and yellow are common for allergic reactions! The doc will give you an anti-biotic.
If it’s starting to creep up your ankle it could very well be a staph infection. Staph lives on the skin in some people and just waits for an opportunity to get into your system. Your foot looks really bad and I’d get myself to a hospital before it spreads to the rest of your leg.
SEPTICEMIA!!! BACTERIAL INFECTION…GONE TO BLOOD STREAM…CAN DIE WITHOUT ANTIBIOTIC!!!
NOT GOOD!
All this is is an infection from the tAtoo ink that is lingerin around your foot and ankle! Basically it’s a bacterial infection!!! This happened to a friend of mine not to worry though all you need is an antibiotic!!
I would see a doctor, it is obviously and severely infected, the doctor will probably give you a technis (or however you say it) shot and an antibiotic, to heal the infection, in the future, make sure where ever you go you know that they are clean, and sterile. I go to the same person all the time because i know that he is clean and sterile. I have never had an infection, i have 6 and my boyfriend has 29 and never had one either from our tattooist.
That don’t look good.
You might wanna see somebody.
Somebody like a doctor.
Cuz you know, they have degrees and stuff.
Dylan
you should really see a doc and fast!!!!! and put some ice on that sh**.
Oh my God!!! How could you possibly have let that continue to the point it is at now??? One clue is the oozing of yellow, bloody discharge!! I can’t imagine anyone leaving something so dangerous, taking a picture of it and then sending it to a website waiting for a response.
Do yourself a favor and get to an emergency room and have that taken care of before it creeps up your calf and maybe even further.
Hopefully, you didn’t wait too long so that meds will clear it up without any lingering effects.
Hi, thanks for featuring my tattoo!
I called an emergency helpline (NHS Direct) as soon as I realised that it had got infected. I was advised to get an emergency appointment with my doctor the following day. I wasn’t able to get an appointment so I went to the hospital. After a 7 hour wait I saw a doctor and was prescribed antibiotics.
I had a swab taken so the hospital could culture and grow it so I can find out what kind of infection it is.
The swelling has calmed down now, although the redness is still there.
Honestly? I don’t know anyone personally with foot tattoos, so I assumed the swelling was normal. Obviously I was wrong, but my foot is under control now.
I actually chose this artist after a lot of recommendations. I drove 2+ hours to the studio, which was clean/sterile etc. I also looked through the artists portfolio and spoke to a couple of his regular clients.
I checked out the shop before scheduling the appointment.
I’m hoping that this 7-day course of antibiotics will clear things up and I won’t need any touch ups.
This is the morle of the story folks!Tattoos on feet are VERY RISKY and very hard to care for even from very reputable artists… Thats why lot’s of reputable artists refuse to tattoo on feet, and if they did, they will not guarantee for touch ups because of the every day wear and tear on the tattoo, rubbing on the shoe will fade it in no time!
Tattoos will always need touch-ups eventually if you want to keep it looking good. I have a tat on my foot and had no problems. If you do get it touched up, make sure you follow the tattoo artists instructions for keeping it clean and whenever possible during the healing process, keep the tattoo exposed to the air. I had my foot tattoo done in the middle of January but whenever I was at home I would go barefoot…it healed very nicely.
Hope the antibiotic clears it up! This is not normal and don’t let it stop you from adding to your body art…TATTOOS ARE ADDICTIVE!
You could have a staph infection which requires agressive medications and sometimes a hospital stay – although treatable. Tattoos should NEVER swell like that. See a doctor immediately.
Glad to see you went to the Doc. Hate to see everyone immedatley put the blame on the artist! I am a tattoo artist and shop owner, both feet are tattooed and I’ve had swelling trouble every time( including touch ups)and even came home from a convention with a infection in my tattoo.Feet are after all on the ground most of the time! Trouble can come from a variety of places it’s not always the artists folks!
There are reasons for laws, sometimes when common sense rolls out the window.
the feet and hands are a great place for bacteria to grow. My feet are plain foul!!! All the sterilization in the world wont change the fact that the feet, and or hands are not a great place to ink, unless the person getting the tat plans on doing nothing at all, except waiting for it to heal. I tattooed a foot once, and they had a problem. It was not even close to being that severe, and had more to do with the tight sock that she was wearing. No infection, just some lost ink. I wont do it again. I have, and hope i dont ever see something like this. And , it looks like staff, and I am not a doctor.
*M.R.S.A.*
EXTREMLY BAD INFECTION! EXTREMLY DIFFICULT TO TREAT!
FEET ARE CLOSEST TO GROUND,DID YOU WEAR OPEN SHOES ALL THE TIME INSTEAD OF CLOSED OUTSIDE WHILE HEALING?
COULD TURN TO GANGREEN!
REPORT THE PLACE IMMEADITALLY, THO IT MAY NOT BE THEIR FAULT IF THEY GAVE YOU PAPERS TO SIGN AS TO HOW TO TREAT THE WOUND.
STILL, THEY WILL BE CHECKED AS REGULATIONS ARE GETTING TIGHTER.
DID THEY SHOW YOU INSTRUMENTS AND NEEDLES IN UNOPENED STERILIZES PACKAGES?DID THEY SHOW YOU UNOPENED POTS OF PAINT THEY WILL USE? HOPE YOU’RE DOING BETTER. PEACE.
Cut your foot, besides that tattoo isnt that cool…. lol!!!
Crackhead go to DR
Hi
glad to know you went to the doctor.
Igot a tattoo of my kids name on my ankel and it did the samething, I went to the er when i started seeing red and they had to cut it open and they gave me 2 different antibiotics to take. Iv been fighting this now for over a mounth. hope you get better.
I had the EXACT same thing happen to me..last week i got a top of the foot tattoo…my whole foot and ankle swelled like the one in the pic…Dr says, its not uncommon, since its on the foot, feet are on the ground…shit happens….got some antibiotics….hopefully it will heal soon…but it frikkin hurts bad!!!!! the end
I have a foot tattoo and a tattoo from my calf to my ankle on the same leg. It swelled just as yours but within a few days he swelling disappeared. I was affraid when my ankle swelled toi twice is size. But after speaking with he artist I fel much better. Now I love my tattoos. Th flip side is I got a tattoo on my other foot as well with no problems. Just so you would feel better and you can put your concerns to rest see a doctor.
Good Luck
Hope u ok?
what u do 4 it?
i got i a tattoo 3 days ago 2007
an it swelled up to
he said take MORTEN
my arm is is a little sweeled up what to do?
GOOD DAY
WELL I HAVE A TATTOO I JUST GOT TWO DAYS AGO AND I WAS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET BECAUSE I COULDNT FIGURE OUT WHY IT WAS SWELLING AND NOW I KNOW ITS BECAUSE ITS INFECT THANKS THIS CRAP WAS REALLY HELPFUL BUT YEAH YOUR FOOT DOES LOOK BAD YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR.. I HAVE BOTH OF MY FEET TATTOOED AND I ALSO HAVE ALOT OF OTHER TATTOOS AND THIS IS THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE HAD SO GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE IT GETS BETTER AS WELL AS I HOPE MINE GETS BETTER
I get infected spots all the time even using packaged sterile needles. Me and my son do our own tats. Use Bacitracin ointment from the time you get the tattoo for a week or longer. It will clear up. Don’t let it scab over. Keep it moist and the color will look better. Maybe a little touch up where the infection was and it will look great.
wow that looks really bad! I got a tattoo in pretty much the same spot and it didn’t swell like that.. I was walkin on it the same say.. it was just a lil sore..
I had a tattoo done 6 days ago, I traveled 2 an half hours to go to a guy I felt was most specialised. The tattoo is located on my left inner fore arm, jus before the fold. For the last 2 days around the tattoo and uo the outside of my arm has been swollen. I have called the shop and they said that swelling like that is due to the skin being so thin in that area. I have had tattoo’s previous and never had the problem, have done the exact same routine. There is no ouzing or anything. Just wondering is swelling normal. Its not as severe as this girls bu swelling is always a worry!
Glad to know you’re on antibiotics and on the road to recovery. I just got a tattoo on my foot less than a week ago and it became infected. Not nearly as bad as yours (in comparison mine is like an infected paper cut if the degree of infection can be put that way). I’m on antibiotics for ten days in which I should be fine and dandy. I’m just glad I caught it early.
Good luck with recovery and happy inking!
i just got my foot done on sunday and its soooo swollen and red. im going back 2 the shop today. guess i should go to the doctors to. its so painful to walk on
OMG!!!! Ur foot looked bad!!! I just got a tat on my foot 2 days ago and it swelled up but nothing like that, I’m glad u went to the doctor to get that checked out.
Just got a rather large koi on my leg. Starts at the ankle and ends up close to my knee. This is day 3 and my ankle is kinda puffy. No pain, redness, or hot to the touch. The sitting was a little over 2 hours and I had to work the next day. Is this normal? I’ve been putting ice on it throughout the day and it seems to help for a little while. Any ideas? Thanks!
I have a foot tatoo, and it had also gotten infected. not as bad as yours though. but dont worry, go to the doctor. he will give you strong antibiotics & an injection. Thats what i had done. Also avoid putting pressure. When you lie down, keep your feet allivated on a few pillows. it helps the swelling go down. good luck
im goun through the same thing rite now i can barel;y walk i have tons of tatts and none have ever feltr like this how long till u got better
This is a prime example why it is a good idea to wait until summer( ya know sandal or barefoot weather) to get a foot tattoo. Even the best tattoo artist in the world couldn’t keep a tattoo from getting infected if it isn’t cared for properly (ie allowed to have air to it, lotioned, cleaned, etc..)
I dont mean to be rude, and i sincerely hope your ink healed properly without anything too serious having to happen, but do you not have any common sense? Did your Tattooist not take you roughly how long it should take for your ink to heal and how to care for it properly? Aftercare is the most important part of a tattoo…sheesh. None of my tattoos have ever caused swelling, and to be honest, the fact that its oozing green gunk would have made me go to the Doctor straight away! Use your brain, if you fell over and cut yourself on something, and it went green and swollen, would you just leave it a week and see what happened? A tattoo is an OPEN WOUND, albeit self inflicted…
Dont get any more tattoos until you have learned to look after them properly, and RESEARCH what you are doing before you do it!!
Sorry if thats a little harsh, but you give artists a bad name if you cant care for your ink properly!
I got a foot tattoo a mth ago and haven’t been the same since. I swelled 3 times the size of my other foot and had severe pain that just didn’t go away.Ended up in the hospital and winded up bein allergic 2 the blue dye and went on 4 antibiotics.Still no change and had more tests done.Tattoo artist went 2 deep with the needle and hit my tendons and nerves and I lost feeling in my toes and ankle.I am now in physical therapy hoping my foot will function normal again.Worst experience I have ever been thru!!!
I got a tattoo on the top of my right foot about three wks ago and it still isn’t healed. It really doesn’t matter how clean you keep your foot or how much air can get to it… My foot still swelled 3x the size of my other foot. I made sure to wear open shoes and to keep ointment and lotion on the tattoo but it still was infected. I went to the dr. a wk after I got it done and all the dr could do is give antibiotics. The tattoo looks like sh** now cause of all the swelling. The outline of the design looks like it is popped away from the rest of the skin. I also have to say that this was the worst tattoo I have gotten eva. I will have to get it touched up when it is completely healed but its gonna take alot of persuation to go thru that again…
wow! I don’t know about the whole “normal for your foot to swell” thing! I got a tattoo on my foot almost two weeks ago now and I never had any swelling what so ever! It didn’t hurt, it didn’t ooze anything, and hardly scabbed either! I would have gotten it checked out immediately. And I would think it was also a dirty place or your just extrememly sensitive! Hope everything is all better see’ing as this was posted two years ago LOL!
My husband is a tattoois, I have watched him do several tattoos on feet. I know quite a few of them personally said it was the worst spot to get one done as in the ouchness of having a tat done. But afterwards none of them ever swelled,nor did they turn red. I have tattoos everywhere. I have yet to have an issue with any of them. I decided to put one on my foot a week ago tomorrow. I have to say it did NOT hurt an ounce to get this done, I never had any swelling or redness either. Just the typical itchiness of the healing. It looks great and is almost completely peeled already. I just dont think any of the severe swelling is normal.
I had the same damn thing and it got infected I went to my doctor two days later and they gave me pills and check me for blood clot with a machine and i came out good. The red really hot skin went away in a few days and i took the pills untill it was all the way gone and for some reason… My ankle and leg have been swollen since then… I can prop it up over night but as soon as i step on it its swollen again… No signs of infection! but swollen all the time and my ankle is starting to hurt now… month later like i said… ive gone to doctor two times for it… gave me water pills told me use rash ointment the 2nd time!… diffrent doctor!.. Didnt do anything for my leg.. dont wanna waste anymore money dunno what to do!..
You are an idiot, you are making the artist look bad giving us that tattoo a bad rap! I swell in tender places, my tricep was the worst 2 days, hard, hot and sore. But its an open wound and the body works to fix itself, thats the reaction!! You have no business getting ink if you don’t even understand the process or research what you are doing WITH YOUR BODY!! collect stamps or something and leave the art to the rest off… Maybe I should also tell you “don’t lick the stamps”…
I had my foot tattooed at a music festival (beginning of a 3 day festival – stupid me) i did everything wrong, went partying straight after, lost the bandage, went bare feet with no bandages in the sun and water for 3 days. It did swell a lot once i stopped moving, but when i returned home, i stayed off my foot for a day, kept it clean and elevated. The very next day the swelling was gone, the scabs formed and fell off and i have a perfect koi fish on the top part of my foot and up my ankle. Its 2 weeks today and its perfect, still a little sensitive to touch and a bit itchy, but no redness no swelling nothing. I do have other tattoo’s and do not normally go to a tattoo artist i do not know, or who tattoo’s out of a tent….BUT i did and i was willing to deal with the consequences. Bottom line what happens to your tattoo after you leave the artist is up to you, if you do not take care of it the way you are suppose to you cannot blame someone else for it. I was very lucky, as I absolutely committed every taboo ever told about what NOT TO do after a tattoo, but once I was in a sane state of mind, I did what I was told and I healed perfectly. ……I have to add this, the most painful place to get a tattoo is definitely your FOOT! I have one behind my ear, on my wrist and on my spine, the foot is the most sensitive, normally you forget the pain straight after the tattoo, but I can still remember it this time…a little, and it did hurt a bit…!