06/14/2026
Pitting edema is a type of swelling where pressing on a swollen body part leaves behind a dent or “pit” that takes time to refill. The deeper the dent and the longer it takes to refill, the more severe this swelling is. It’s usually a symptom of chronic conditions that affect your circulatory system. Pitting edema happens because of fluid overload. That means there’s too much fluid trapped with nowhere to go. Fluid overload usually happens because of a combination of factors and causes.
Pitting edema is most likely to affect your extremities. That usually means your legs and feet, but your arms and hands are also likely places to see it. Pitting edema can happen anywhere on your body under the right circumstances. Treatments mainly depend on the cause.