Even though some people may find piercing scars to be sexy, the majority of people don’t! Piercing scars can be rather off-putting, especially when you’ve gone through a lot to make sure that your piercing heals properly. Even though scars occur for various reasons, fortunately, most piercing scars eventually fade on their own and you’ll barely notice them.
There are two main types of scars that occur as a result of piercings –hypertrophic scars and atrophic scars. Here is how you can minimize the appearance of piercing scars.
Minimizing Hypertrophic Scars
Slightly raised scars that occur as a result of your body producing excess collagen when healing from a piercing. These scars are less than 4mm raise and slightly hard to touch. Initially, a hypertrophic scar is red, but as it ages, the color begins to lighten.
Here’s how you can minimize hypertrophic scars.
Scar Ointments and Treatments
One of the best ways to get rid of hypertrophic scarring is to apply a scar ointment or treatment on it. You have various options ranging from silicone gel to an all-natural option like tea tree oil. You should consult your piercer before applying anything on your piercing scar to ensure that it is safe to use. Moreover, you should also ensure that your piercing is fully healed before applying any cream as the chemicals in such products tend to irritate the healing process of a piercing.
Gently Applying Pressure on the Scar
The excessive production of collagen leads to hypertrophic scarring. Apply some gentle pressure on the scar can help break down collagen, ensuring that the scar won’t be too raised. Even though the scar will still remain red, it will become lighter over time, leaving behind a tiny dot or line. You should consult your piercing specialist before performing this tip because if your piercing isn’t completely healed, you could be causing it damage.
Give It Time
The best solution to allow your hypertrophic scar to heal is to give it time. Even though using ointments or applying pressure can help your piercing scar to heal, it’s pivotal to know that these scars take almost a year to completely heal.
Minimizing Atrophic Scars
An atrophic scar occurs as a result of interruption during the piercing healing process that causes the tissue beneath the skin to be unable to be produced. This results in a small mark, which is very familiar to the scars that occur after chickenpox.
There are high chances that you can experience scarring if your piercing has migrated or has been rejected. Moreover, scarring can also occur if your piercing experiences a traumatic event during the healing process. Since the scarring typically occurs beneath the skin, you won’t notice any discoloration.
Here’s how you can minimize these piercing scars.
Fillers
Fillers are used to filling up the spaces and gaps that cause the pockmarks. A dermatologist uses a syringe to fill out the atrophic scar, giving immediate results. Even though this treatment method is quite effective, the results aren’t always permanent.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels help get rid of the damaged layers of your skin, effectively reduce the appearance of atrophic scars. However, you need to be quite patient with this treatment option as chemical peels deliver results in a few weeks. This method is extremely effective for those with extensive atrophic scarring.
Let’s face it, scars can affect your appearance negatively, but fortunately, they don’t have to be an eyesore! If you start to notice a piercing scar on your body, don’t panic. Wait for a while until your piercing has completely healed, discuss it with your piercer, and then use any one of the above-listed methods to minimize the appearance of piercing scars!
