A pustule, or piercing blister, looks like a pimple on or next to the piercing. It is a type of localized infection. It is usually safe to treat these infections at home with warm compresses and frequent cleansing. Sometimes, the blisters go away and return.
Mix 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt with water, and soak your piercing blister three times a day until it is completely gone. This can also help to remove discharge from your piercings. "At the end of the day, [piercing bumps] come from irritation," says Smith.
That little bump could be a pustule, which looks like a little pimple or blister — and just like with a pimple or blister, you shouldn't try to pop it. Pustules are a sign of an infection, and they can be filled with blood and even pus. Ouch!
If you've had an ear or nose cartilage piercing, small lumps can sometimes form around the piercing. The lumps, called granulomas, are trapped fluid. You can treat them by soaking a pad in warm water then holding the pad against them once a day.
They are generally small, starting soft and getting firmer over time. If the piercing is removed, the lump will almost always disappear. They can be sore, itchy and bleed easily. While it is possible that you have a keloid, they are incredibly rare.
You can also use Piercing Healing Discs, or buy them from us. Those are little silicone discs that slip onto your piercing and press down on the bump to flatten it. You might need to wear it for several months before the bump disappears, but that is the recommended option.
If your piercing is actually infected, and you remove the jewelry on your own, you may spread the bacteria. Instead, see a dermatologist, who will likely swab the area for a culture and start a course of topical and/or oral antibiotics to treat the infected skin piercing.
Some pain and redness are part of the normal healing process for pierced ears. It can be easy to confuse those with signs of infection. If there's a bump on the back of the ear piercing, it's not necessarily infected. Small bumps called granulomas can sometimes form around the piercing.
They can happen on any side of the piercing, front or back, or both sides. They look like small red or skin colour bumps or lumps pressed up against the jewellery. They can be painful to touch or to apply pressure to for example: when you are wearing headphones or sleeping on them.
There is nothing you can put on a bump that will make it go away. The only way it will go away is by leaving it alone. Always feel free to come by to have us assess the situation in person. This just means you need a longer piece of jewelry to accommodate for the swelling.
Piercing bumps are typically restricted to the area around the piercing site. Development: Usually appearing soon after obtaining a piercing, piercing bumps might last for a few weeks or months. On the other hand, keloids may take several months to appear following an operation or injury and may continue to enlarge.
In some cases, the keloid will disappear over time without treatment. In other cases, home remedies may be ineffective, and surgery might create bigger scars. Even after surgical removal, keloids often grow back.
If you find a keloid has become very tender it may be infected. There will usually be some inflammation or the skin will be warm to the touch. If this happens it's a good idea to see a doctor. Some keloid infections can develop into pockets of pus.
Ear keloids are firm, rubbery, fibrous nodules that form on the ear after minor trauma, most commonly after ear piercing. They can occur in earlobes as well as in the skin and cartilage higher on the ear. Ear keloids can vary in color, from flesh colored to pink to dark brown. Keloids can be itchy or painful.
Gently pat dry the affected area with clean gauze or a tissue. Then apply a small amount of an over-the-counter antibiotic cream (Neosporin, bacitracin, others), as directed on the product label. Turn the piercing jewelry a few times to prevent it from sticking to the skin.
Whether you're getting your ears pierced or having a more unusual piercing like a smiley, you may develop a piercing bump. They're common, but as you can see, they're easy to deal with. Look after your bump, and you'll soon have a properly healed piercing you'll love showing off.
As it heals, it may look swollen, lumpy, or like a bump. In the days immediately following a cartilage piercing, the body's immune system triggers inflammation and swelling to heal the wound, sometimes leading to a cartilage bump. Over time, cartilage piercings may develop other bumps due to infections or scarring.
If untreated they may be prone to infection. They may occur from allergies, genetics, poor aftercare, irritation, trauma, or sometimes just bad luck. With treatment, they may disappear completely. Your piercing bump or lump is likely to be a granuloma!
Some common symptoms of an infected ear piercing include: Redness and swelling that spreads beyond the piercing site. Increased pain or tenderness, especially when touching the area. The area feels warm to the touch.
Also, they must always follow the aftercare instructions carefully until the wound has healed. Most infected ear piercings can be treated at home and will improve within a few days, although, in some cases, antibiotics may be necessary.
While it depends on the severity and the area affected, generally an ear piercing infection should clear up in one to two weeks with proper care, according to the doctors we spoke to.
Begin as a raised pink, red, or purple scar.
A keloid is usually a raised scar with a flat surface. The color tends to darken with time. It usually ends up being darker than the person's skin, with the border being darker than the center.
Applying tea tree oil to piercing bumps can help reduce redness as well as keep the area sufficiently clean - allowing them to reduce in appearance over time. While piercing bumps are totally normal during healing, they shouldn't be ignored.
Swelling typically takes anywhere between 1-3 weeks. Warm saline rinses, ice or any other cold foods, and anti-inflammatory medicine should help with swelling and pain. With all oral piercings, you are entitled to a free piece of fitted jewelry after the swelling has subsided.