New piercings are likely to cause skin changes during the healing process. You may notice piercing bumps and keloid scars around your piercing site. However, many people are not aware of the treatment options for skin conditions that may occur after getting a new piercing.
What is Piercing Bumps?
Piercing bumps appear as small lumps after a new piercing. They are commonly seen among people having an upper ear, cartilage, or nose piercings. These bumps can occur when your body’s immune system responds to the new piercing; hence, it starts the healing process. As a result, you are likely to experience an inflammation that causes the piercing bump followed by bruising, swelling, and bleeding at the piercing site in the first few weeks after getting a new piercing. These symptoms do not indicate a serious issue; however, if you notice some whitish fluid releasing from the piercing, crusting, and flakiness or itching around your new piercing, it is best to visit a skin care specialist.
What are Keloids?
Keloids refer to raised scars that may occur due to an injury or trauma to the skin. Similarly, it can appear after a new piercing. It indicates an overgrowth of fibrous tissues followed by excessive production of collagen by the skin cells. As a result, a keloid develops on your skin which can take between three to twelve months to appear on your new piercing site. It starts as a raised scar with a red, purple, pink, or brown shade that may become darker over time. An earlobe keloid scar can be oval or round in appearance and may continue to grow and become larger after some time. Moreover, it can lead to severe itchiness, pain, or tenderness around the piercing site.
Treatment Options for Piercing Bumps and Keloids
Piercing bumps and keloids occur due to the body’s natural response to a foreign object; hence, it can take a few weeks or months to treat them. However, you can take the following steps to allow them to heal completely.
- Avoid changing the piercing for at least six weeks
- Wash your hands before touching the piercing
- Wash the piercing with mild soap and water every day
- Pat dry the piercing site with a clean cloth after bathing to avoid the risk of bacterial buildup
Other treatment options for keloids may include the following procedures.
- Surgery can remove the keloid.
- Cryotherapy and laser treatment can flatten the keloid to make it disappear over time.
- Corticosteroids include medications to shrink the keloid scar up to 50 to 80%.
The abovementioned treatment options can help you get rid of piercing bumps and keloids. However, if you notice symptoms such as pus coming out of the piercing, soreness, nausea, and puffiness around the piercing site, it can be a sign of infection. Therefore, contact your skin care specialist as soon as possible.
