Are you considering getting a piercing, but worried about the possibility of developing a keloid? 🤔Keloid piercing is a common concern for those who are interested in body piercing. Keloid piercing can form when the body produces too much collagen during the healing process, leading to a raised scar that may be itchy, painful, and unsightly. However, with proper care and attention, it is possible to minimize the risk of keloid piercing formation after a piercing. In this article, we will explore the causes of keloid piercing, the risk factors associated with keloid piercing, and the steps you can take to prevent and treat keloid piercing.
What Is A Keloid Piercing?
When you get a cartilage piercing, it’s important to know that they take longer to heal than earlobe piercings and are more prone to irritation. During the first few days after getting your piercing, you might notice a bump or swelling 📍around the jewellery, which could signify a keloid piercing. Keloid on nose piercing and keloid on belly piercing are examples of keloid scars that can occur after body piercing. Cartilage piercing keloid is another common type of keloid that can develop after ear cartilage piercing.
Keloid piercing is a benign tumour when the body produces too much collagen in response to an injury or wound. Although they aren’t harmful to your health, keloid piercing can be unsightly, itchy, and even painful in some cases. Keloids can appear anywhere on the body but are most common on the ears, chest, shoulders, and upper back. People with darker skin tones, such as African, Asian, and Polynesian descent, are more prone to keloid piercing scars.
If you develop a keloid piercing after getting a cartilage piercing, don’t worry – several keloid piercing treatment options💉 are available. Corticosteroid injections can help reduce inflammation and flatten the keloid piercing, while cryotherapy involves freezing the scar tissue to shrink the keloid piercing. Surgical removal may also be an option for large or persistent keloid piercing. Remember that keloids can be stubborn and may come back even after successful treatment. To be safe, it’s always best to talk to a healthcare professional before attempting to remove a keloid piercing scar.
Where can keloid piercing occur on the body?
Keloids can be formed anywhere on the body. However, they are more common on cartilage piercings. Ear piercings and nose piercings are more prone to them. Keloid formation is also different from person to person. Some people get keloids faster than others.
1 – Keloid Nose Piercing
Can I get a keloid from a nose piercing? The answer is yes; a keloid-on nose piercing is not uncommon. Do keloids on nose piercings go away?” is a common question that people with keloid nose piercing may have, and the answer is that it depends on the severity of the keloid piercing. While some people can get rid of a keloid nose piercing independently, others may persist and require medical treatment to improve. The best way to get rid of keloid nose piercing is to seek medical treatment. Beginning signs of a keloid nose piercing are lumpy, shiny, raised skin and a reddish-brown scar. When a nose piercing results in a raised, red, itchy, and painful scar characterized by nose piercing keloid bleeding, it is called a bloody keloid nose piercing💊. The question is: What causes keloids on nose piercings? Are keloids normal on nose piercings? Keloid piercing is a common concern with nose piercings and can occur due to the nature of the cartilage tissue, making their formation not an uncommon occurrence. You can avoid keloids on nose piercing by using nose piercing jewellery recommended by your piercer.
2 – Keloid Ear Piercing
The ears are the most common part of developing a keloid. If any of your blood relations have a keloid, you can develop a keloid if you pierce your ear.
3 – Keloid Belly Piercing
Keloids are an overgrowth of scar tissue that can form at the injury site. They can also grow on belly piercing. However, keloids on belly piercings are not so common.
4 – Keloid Tongue Piercing
Keloids can come on your tongue piercing as well. If you are a person who is prone to hyper scars, you can have this side effect on tongue piercing.
5 – Nipple piercing keloid
Nipple piercing is very sensitive, and it is prone to infections. Scar tissues can become keloids. These keloids can become permanent bumps at the piercing site and can only be removed by surgery. You are prone to this infection if you have a history of developing scar tissues or your blood relations have keloids.
Cartilage Piercing Bump Vs Keloid Piercing
You may be confused about whether your piercing bump is because of a keloid piercing or a normal healing procedure. When you get a cartilage piercing, a normal healing process involves irritation in the piercing during the initial weeks. A piercing keloid vs piercing bump is difficult to differentiate, but the main difference is piercing bump forms right after the piercing while a piercing keloid takes longer to form. Another sign of keloid piercing is that they can spread beyond the piercing area. Your piercing bump can go away after some care, like changing jewellery, but the piercing keloid remains persistent even after proper care. 👨⚕️
After getting a piercing, you may experience:
- Bleeding
- Redness📍
- Mild pain
- Bruising
As your cartilage piercing heals, you might notice some changes around the area. It’s not uncommon to experience discolouration, itching, and even a yellow-white liquid oozing out. You might also notice a solid crust forming around your jewellery. But don’t worry – this is all part of the normal healing process. Just make sure to keep the area clean and avoid any activities that could irritate it.
💉Is It Necessary To Seek Medical Treatment To Get Rid Of A Keloid?
While a little bump and redness are typical, more severe symptoms could be a sign of infection. You can also take advice from a reputable piercer running piercing shops in your area. They can also recommend you a doctor or tell you tips to take care of keloid piercing.
If you undergo any of the following, instantly consult your piercer or doctor🩺:
- Uncomfortable pain or swelling
- Unusually thick or foul-smelling discharge
- Yellow, green, or grey discharge
- Fever Chills🤒
- Nausea
- Vomiting 🤢
- Dizziness
Although it might feel that removing jewellery can solve all the issue and you can back off from the piercing, do not do it if there is any symptom of infection. Removing your jewellery in the presence of symptoms can result in a painful abscess.
How To Get Rid Of Piercing Keloids At Home?
If you do not have severe symptoms, make sure to follow these tips. These tips will reduce the risk of developing keloid piercing. It can even eliminate it before formation. All the following tips are practical and simple and you can take care of your keloid piercing at home with the help of them.
#1. Change Your Piercing Jewellery.
Consider changing your piercing jewellery if you experience contact dermatitis or an allergic skin reaction, which can lead to keloid piercing, bumps, and cysts. Allergic reactions to certain metals, such as nickel, are pretty common. Symptoms may include intense itching, skin sensitivity, redness or a rash around the piercing, and a hole that seems larger than the jewellery. To solve this issue, replace your jewellery with something hypoallergenic.
If your piercing is still healing and is less than a year old, or you’re uncertain about its healing status, it’s recommended to seek advice from your piercer. They can examine your piercing for any allergies and safely introduce a new piece of jewellery.
If you’ve had your piercing for over a year, you can likely switch out the jewellery safely at home. Consider selecting jewellery made from 18 or 24-karat gold, stainless steel, or titanium for your piercing. After changing jewellery, you will likely notice an improvement in the piercing area, and it should take one to two days to heal.
#2. Clean Jewellery
If you want to maintain your piercing clean, it’s important to clean your jewellery every now and then. It will help you to avoid the formation of keloid piercing formation. Dirty jewellery can cause infections, irritation, keloid piercing scar and other problems. You can follow these steps to clean your jewellery:
- Cleaning hands: It’s important to wash your hands before touching your piercing area. Wash your hands with soap or hand wash. It will prevent the spreading of germs and contaminating jewellery even more.
- Remove the jewellery: Carefully remove the jewellery from your piercing. Use clean hands or gloves to handle the jewellery.
- Clean the jewellery: You can clean your jewellery using various methods. One option is to soak it in a saline solution for 5-10 minutes. You can make a saline solution by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt with 8 ounces of warm distilled water. Alternatively, you can use an antiseptic solution specifically designed for cleaning piercings.
- Rinse the jewellery: After cleaning the jewellery, rinse it thoroughly with warm water.
- Dry the jewellery: Gently pat the jewellery dry with a clean paper towel or let it air dry. Avoid using cloth towels or other materials that could leave fibres on the jewellery.
- Reinsert the jewellery: Once the jewellery is clean and dry, you can reinsert it into your piercing.
#3. Clean Your Piercing
complete healing period. 🚿Regardless of its appearance, cleaning your piercing daily for at least three to six months is essential to develop the keloid piercing scar formation. Before handling your piercing, such as during cleaning, ensure to wash your hands meticulously with warm water💦 and soap.
Then, use an antimicrobial soap devoid of any fragrance or the cleaner suggested by your piercer to clean the piercing and the nearby region.
However, some products are harsh and can cause irritation in piercing. It is recommended that you refrain from using the following products for cleaning:
- Benzalkonium chloride (BZK)
- Iodopovidone (Betadine)
- Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens)
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
🧼After cleaning, make sure to rinse the area thoroughly, as any residual soap can cause irritation.
To dry your ear, gently pat it with a paper towel. Using a cloth towel can increase the risk of contamination with bacteria and may snag on your earring. Make sure to use a clean paper towel. Do not rub it on your piercing. Gently pat it.
Clean With A Saline Solution Or Sea Salt Soak
To keep your piercing clean, you can use a saline solution or a sea salt soak, which helps eliminate harmful bacteria🚿 and remove dead skin cells and debris that can lead to the formation of keloid piercing.
If you prefer not to purchase a saline solution, you can easily make your own by combining fine sea salt with warm water in specific proportions. Avoid using larger salt crystals, as they may not dissolve properly and can be harsh on the skin.
To soak your ear, fill a cup with the saline or sea salt solution and hold your ear under the water. Alternatively, you can soak a paper towel in the solution and apply it to your ear. Soak for five minutes, then use a clean paper towel to gently pat the area dry.
#4. Use A Chamomile Compress
To utilize the healing properties of chamomile, apply a warm compress made from chamomile tea. Chamomile is renowned for its potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits, and the warmth from the compress helps boost blood flow to the cartilage avoiding keloid piercing. Here are the steps for making a warm chamomile compress:
- 💦Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Steep a chamomile tea bag in warm water for 4 to 6 minutes.
- Place the tea bag on the piercing and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Reheat the tea bag with warm water every two minutes if necessary.
- Afterward, rinse the piercing with water and dry it with a paper towel.
- 🚫You can alternate between a sea salt soak or saline solution and using a chamomile compress. Just keep in mind that chamomile is not recommended for individuals with ragweed allergies.
#5. Apply Diluted Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a natural antifungal, antiseptic, and antimicrobial agent. For this reason, many people swear by it to avoid keloid piercing!💪
If you intend to use tea tree oil on your bump, it is necessary to dilute it with water or saline solution. Additionally, before applying, conduct a patch test.
To prepare your diluted tea tree oil:
- Apply a small quantity of diluted tea tree oil on your forearm and wait for at least 24 hours. If you experience no irritation or inflammation, you can apply it elsewhere. After passing the patch test, you can choose to include tea tree oil in your cleaning routine by
- Directly applying the diluted oil to your piercing using a cotton swab once or twice daily.
- Adding three to four drops of tea tree oil to your saline solution or sea salt soak.
#6. Vitamin E oil🍶
Applying vitamin E oil to keloid piercing may take some time before noticeable results are seen, but many people have found success with this treatment. It may take several weeks or even months and in some cases up to a year before differences are observed. 💧Apply the oil to the keloid piercing several times a day and monitor the progress closely to see the results for yourself.
#7. Pressure
The pressure method involves using only your fingers and is typically suggested for keloid piercing located on the ear.
To use this method, apply pressure to the keloid for at least three to five minutes, at least three times a day.🤕
In the case of an ear keloid, wearing an earring clip may be enough to eliminate the keloid. However, it’s important to note that it may take several months before a noticeable difference is seen.
When Should You See Your Piercer?
While some issues may improve within a few days of improving your cleaning routine, others may take much longer. Keloid piercing can take weeks or months to fully disappear.
If you’re not seeing any improvement in keloid piercing, talk to your piercer. They are best equipped to evaluate your symptoms and advise you on the treatment. They can suggest you the following medical treatments.🩺
Steroid Injection💉
The most common medical treatment for keloid piercing is likely steroid injection. It works by slowing down the production of collagen, which reduces scarring. The most commonly used steroid for injection is TAC (triamcinolone acetonide). Injections are usually given every four to six weeks. While the success rate varies, it is generally quite good.
Cryosurgery🩺
Cryosurgery is another popular technique for eliminating keloid scars, which involves freezing the scar tissue with liquid nitrogen, much like how warts are frozen off. However, the downside is that the treatment may require repeating every three to four weeks. To achieve better outcomes, cryosurgery may sometimes be combined with steroid injections.
Excision🔪
This method for getting rid of a keloid scar is exactly what its name suggests: cutting and removing it.
It’s a scary option, but if the keloid scar is large enough, it may be preferable. Excision alone rarely succeeds in preventing keloid scars from reforming. However, if steroid injections or radiotherapy are used after the operation, the results are much more promising. Talking to a healthcare professional will help you with this idea.
Removing Keloid Piercing With Lasers💥
A commonly used method to address an acne keloid is laser removal. Fractional CO2 lasers and Er: YAG lasers are the two types of lasers generally used for acne scars, with the latter being less invasive. They function by eliminating old tissue to allow new, healthier tissue to regenerate. Laser keloid piercing removal usually necessitates multiple treatments.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a highly controversial treatment due to the very low but frightening risk of replacing a keloid scar with cancer. It involves using an electron beam to eliminate any remaining tissue after removing a keloid by excision. Post-operative electron beam radiation reduces the chances of keloid recurrence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cartilage piercing can undergo keloid piercing scar formation, but there are many precautions you can take to avoid keloid. Keloid piercing can form when the body produces too much collagen during the healing process, leading to a raised scar that may be itchy, painful, and unsightly. People with darker skin tones are more prone to keloid piercing scars. Various treatment options are available. It’s important to seek advice from a healthcare provider who can evaluate your piercing keloid and recommend appropriate treatment options. Remember that keloid piercing can be a persistent issue and may require multiple treatments over time. A little bump and redness are typical after getting a piercing, but more severe symptoms could be a sign of infection, so it’s essential to seek medical attention if necessary.
