Foot Tattoo Swelling

Foot tattoos look very beautiful, sensual and attractive. So more and more people, particularly women, are interested in getting a tattoo done on their feet. However, foot tattoo healing time is very long. It can range between a few days to few weeks depending on the size and location of the tattoo. Once the tattoo is done, the possibility of foot tattoo swelling is high. The entire foot including the toes and ankle get swollen. It is maximum in the area surrounding the tattoo which becomes red and is warm to touch.

Why does the Foot Tattoo Swell?

When you have decided to get tattoos on feet, you should be mentally prepared to experience more pain followed by swelling because of the tattoo. There are several nerve endings and capillaries in the foot. They are not cushioned with muscles like in other parts of the body. As a result, you will get more pain and more bleeding is going to occur. The greater the amount of bleeding, the higher the chance of swelling. This is one part of the body where blood circulation is not adequate and is therefore susceptible to a lot of stress which makes it prone to swelling. If you wear shoes and socks, heat, sweat and friction worsens the situation further. And of course, the feet are exposed to a lot of dust and dirt which also make it more susceptible to infection. Read more on foot tattoos - do they hurt.

Preventing Foot Tattoo Swelling

When you have got a foot tattoo done on your feet, you must take all possible measures so that it does not get infected. This will help to reduce the risk of swelling and even if you get swelling, it should go at the earliest.

Keep the size of the tattoo small. Avoid any such designs that require too much of detailing. You are bound to get a number of foot jerks when the tattoo is being done and the tattooing requires a long time to finish. When the tattoo work requires more time then it is likely to give a lot of swelling.

During foot tattoo healing, allow as much of air possible on the foot tattoo by not wearing shoes. When you are required to use footwear, wear flip flops. If you go barefoot for maximum time, both the foot tattoo pain and swelling will diminish faster. After the swelling goes down, if you want to wear shoes, wrap the foot with sterile gauze and then wear a pair of socks. Or else, foot tattoo swelling will flare up once again due to friction with the shoe.

As swelling and soreness of foot tattoo is likely to occur, you may have to take time off from work until the tattoo gets healed up. In case, your job demands that you stay on your feet for long hours, then you have to take a break for not just few days but a couple of weeks. If you cannot afford to take such a long break, wait and go for tattoo only when you can take time off.

Keeping the foot clean all through the day is a major big challenge. Wash the foot 2-3 times a day with the help of a mild anti bacterial soap and warm water. Dry it up thoroughly with a soft piece of cloth without rubbing the cloth over the tattoo. Apply a tattoo care lotion that contains vitamin A and D. Rub the lotion with a gentle hand and dab off the excess using a paper towel. Do this a number of times a day to keep the skin moisturized which in turn will help to heal the tattoo fast. Read more on foot tattoo care.

Drinking plenty of water will keep you hydrated and decrease the chances of water retention in your feet. This will prevent the tattoo from further swelling. Eating a balanced diet and intake of vitamins during the recovery period will speed up the healing process. Light aerobic exercises will improve the blood circulation of the feet and thus help to bring down the inflammation.

You can get a lot of relief from the swelling, if you keep feet in an elevated position while sleeping or sitting in a chair. Application of ice wrapped in a soft cotton cloth will help if the foot tattoo swelling starts itching. Most importantly, strictly follow the foot tattoo aftercare instructions given by the tattoo artist. Read more on foot tattoo aftercare.

Foot tattoo swelling keeps going up and down. One morning it may seem that the swelling has gone down and the next morning you may find that it is hurting too much. Keep a close watch on the swelling to check out for any infected tattoo symptoms. If you observe that there is too much of swelling with some secretions from the skin surface, then it means you have got infection. In that case, consult the doctor immediately to start the necessary medical treatment for the foot tattoo swelling.