What is a piercing bump?
Piercing bumps are soft and temporary areas of swelling that can appear after a piercing. They are typically the size of a small pea and often occur on the nose and ear cartilage. A piercing bump manifests as the body’s immune response to a wound or a trauma due to piercing.
What is a keloid?
A keloid is a benign growth of extra scar tissue formed over a healed wound. These fibrous scars are firm, massive, and vary in color. It takes three to four months for a keloid to grow fully. Though less common than piercing bumps, keloids are more troublesome.
Piercing bump vs. keloid
The difference between a piercing bump and a keloid is as follows:
- A piercing bump is temporary, but a keloid is permanent.
- A piercing bump occurs beneath the skin’s surface, but a keloid grows on top of the skin’s surface.
- Unlike a piercing bump, which is limited to the hole of piercing, a keloid expands in size and spreads beyond the piercing site.
- Unlike piercing bumps, you can’t get rid of keloids on your own, even if you remove the jewelry.
What causes piercing bumps?
Piercing bumps can be caused due to multiple reasons:
- Trauma, such as accidentally twisting the jewelry
- Choosing the wrong-size jewelry
- Going for a piece of jewelry that is made of poor material
- If the piercing is done when you are suffering from a cold or experiencing high stress, or undergoing hormonal changes
- If the piercing is done at an incorrect angle
What causes keloids?
Listed below are the factors that can trigger keloid growth:
- Acne or burns
- Body piercing
- Insect bite
- Hair removal
- Vaccination site
- Minor scratches
Piercing bump treatment
Listed below are a few easy tips to manage your piercing bumps:
Change your jewelry
Make sure your jewelry is of the correct size and has good material. Nickel and metal allergies are quite common, so you can opt for implant-grade titanium, as they are hypoallergenic and cost-effective.
Keep your piercing clean
Clean the piercing with a saline solution and products recommended by professionals. Never use Dettol, soaps, disinfectants, alcohol, or other products that may dry or irritate your skin.
Follow the correct aftercare.
Keep up with the optimum aftercare practices to ensure proper healing of your piercing. In addition, if your piercer provided specific instructions, keep them in mind.
Keloid treatment
Given below are the various techniques that are used to treat a keloid:
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroid injections are effective for shrinking the keloids. On average, four corticosteroid injections, when administered over three to four months, can completely cure a keloid.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment can also be useful for flattening and fading scar tissue.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy involves freezing the keloid to soften and shrink it.
Dr. Shehla Ebrahim is a renowned skincare physician in Vancouver, BC. She provides the best treatment for many skincare conditions, such as acne scars, infections, pigmentation issues, lumps, and bumps. So if you are looking for a keloid treatment, book an appointment with us.