Hello,

This is my second but largest of my tattoos. I got it about an inch or so down from the crook of my arm. Kinda big (for the area, at least)... About five inches wide, 3 or 4 tall.

As mentioned in the title, I got it 3 days ago (Monday, Feb 25th). It's still swollen and my arm hurts to use. Understandably, the skin is tight but it hurts underneath, if that makes sense. My elbow joint hurts a little bit too from time to time. I try to just let my arm chill and not move it as much as possible but, you know, I have stuff I inevitably have to do. After carrying something that weighs more than, say, 2 lbs (so not very much) or using my arm to open a door, the skin around it becomes bright red. When I'm not doing anything, it's normal. It is raised and dried out a little too which I'm also a little concerned about. My other one didn't start this quickly.

I wash it 2-3 times a day (usually just 2) and use Eucerin lotion when it feels especially tight which ends up being 2-4 times a day.

The place I went was reputable, I have no doubt about it. I would go show it to my artist but he's an hour away and I have little spare time these next few days.

Should I go to the doctor or is this normal for the location of the tattoo? It has been getting better, I think, but you don't want to take chances with infection.

Thank you very much! This may sound silly but you don't realize how much you actually use both of your arms until it hurts to use one of them haha.

Yeah, that sounds pretty normal. I've had redness and irritation for a week after getting a large tattoo. Pictures would help though.