I think my situation is pretty rare, but mine flare up periodically, maybe every other year, almost on a schedule.
It usually starts in one of the reds, and spreads inch by inch over the course of a few weeks. It gets raised and itches like crazy, and lasts 2-3 days in a small area before spreading. It's a real struggle not to scratch.
Unfortunately 1/4 of my body is essentially one giant tattoo, so it's got plenty of room to spread. The small patches of surrounding un-inked skin are completely unaffected, so I suspect it's definitely the ink.
When the first red tattoo I got REALLY swelled up, the tattoer told me it's rare but he'd seem it before, and some people don't take red well. From what I understand the red ink 20 years ago was formulated differently than now. I'm not entirely convinced it's just that color, because all of mine itch.
Hey, I would definitely get that checked out with a dermatologist. Tattoos flaring up WITH swelling is a strong indication of a systemic allergic reaction to the ink. Tattoo ink migrates around the body and among other things deposits in lymph nodes; Which may then also exhibit the same allergic reaction overtime. Do not underestimate the severity of the potential fallout.
