N
Velvet Digest

Why do I keep getting piercing bumps?

Author

Ethan Hayes

Updated on June 04, 2026

Piercing bumps can be caused by allergies, genetics, poor aftercare, or just bad luck. With treatment, they may disappear completely.

.

Consequently, are piercing bumps normal?

If you notice a bump forming on or around a new piercing, you have good reason to be concerned. Small or large as they may be, piercing growths are never "normal," although they do occur fairly often. Most people assume right away that their growth is a keloid, but the majority actually aren't.

One may also ask, do piercing keloids go away? Keloids are particularly hard to get rid of. Even when they're successfully removed, they tend to reappear eventually. Most dermatologists recommend a combination of different treatments for long-lasting results.

Additionally, how long does it take for a piercing bump to go away?

When to see your piercer. It can take several weeks to fully heal a nose piercing bump, but you should see improvement within 2 or 3 days of treatment. If you don't, see your piercer. Your piercer is the best person to assess your symptoms and provide guidance on how to care for your individual problem.

How do I prevent a keloid on my ear piercing?

  1. Cover a new wound with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage. Hold the bandage in place with tape so that there is even pressure on the wound.
  2. After a wound is healed over, use a silicone gel bandage.
  3. After ear piercing, use pressure earrings.
Related Question Answers

Can I pop a piercing bump?

NO. With keloids and granulomas there's nothing to pop 'out' of your bump. And with pustules, just because you think you're a dab hand at popping pimples on your face, does not mean you should be popping pustules on your piercings. Visit your piercer for help.

Do piercing bumps go away?

Piercing bumps can be caused by allergies, genetics, poor aftercare, or just bad luck. With treatment, they may disappear completely.

How do you prevent piercing bumps?

Read on to learn about some home remedies that can help.
  1. Use proper aftercare. Proper aftercare should prevent damage to tissue or an infection that could cause a bump.
  2. Use hypoallergenic jewelry.
  3. Use a sea salt solution.
  4. Try tea tree oil.
  5. Apply a warm compress.

How do I get rid of a bubble on my piercing?

Keep It Clean That's where salt soaks come in. Sea salt soaks draw out the impurities, clearing the bacterial infection and loosening dead skin cells and dried puss. Mix 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt with water and soak your piercing blister three times a day until it is completely gone.

What does a keloid look like?

Keloids are raised and look shiny and dome-shaped, ranging in color from pink to red. Some keloids become quite large and unsightly. Aside from causing potential cosmetic problems, these exuberant scars tend to be itchy, tender, or even painful to the touch.

What is a piercing bump?

What is a cartilage piercing bump? Share on Pinterest A person may develop a cartilage bump after a piercing. A cartilage piercing bump may be tiny and appear under the skin, or so large that it changes the shape of the ear. Sometimes the bump is painful and swollen or may even ooze pus. Other bumps may be painless.

Are keloids dangerous?

Although keloids are not harmful to your health, they may present cosmetic concerns. Keloids occur from the overgrowth of scar tissue; symptoms will occur at a site of previous skin injury. They can also develop following the minor injuries that occur with body piercing.

Are keloids permanent?

Keloids may continue to grow slowly for weeks, months or years. They eventually stop growing but do not disappear on their own. Once a keloid develops, it is permanent unless removed or treated successfully. It is common for keloids that have been removed or treated to return.

Should I take my piercing out if its infected?

If a new piercing is infected, it is best not to remove the earring. Removing the piercing can allow the wound to close, trapping the infection within the skin. For this reason, it is advisable not to remove an earring from an infected ear unless advised by a doctor or professional piercer.

How do you get rid of a keloid fast?

Treatments include the following:
  1. Corticosteroid shots. The medicine in these shots helps shrink the scar.
  2. Freezing the scar. Called cryotherapy, this can be used to reduce the hardness and size of the keloid.
  3. Wearing silicone sheets or gel over the scar.
  4. Laser therapy.
  5. Surgical removal.
  6. Pressure treatment.

How do I know if my piercing is infected?

Signs of an infected piercing include:
  1. red and swollen skin around the piercing.
  2. pain or tenderness when touching the area.
  3. yellow or green discharge coming from the piercing.
  4. a high temperature (fever)

How do you get rid of a keloid at home?

Depending on appearance, some people may want to get rid of the keloids they have.

Home remedies

  1. Crush three to four aspirin tablets.
  2. Mix them with enough water to form a paste.
  3. Apply them to the keloid or wound site. Let it sit for an hour or two, then rinse.
  4. Repeat once every day until desired results are achieved.

How do you treat an infected piercing?

Treating the infection at home
  1. Wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing.
  2. Clean around the piercing with a saltwater rinse three times a day.
  3. Don't use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments.
  4. Don't remove the piercing.
  5. Clean the piercing on both sides of your earlobe.

How do you clean nose piercings?

If you're making your own saline rinse, thoroughly combine 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in warm distilled water. You can dip the cotton balls or paper towels in the solution or place your nose in a cup of the water.

How do you flatten hypertrophic scars?

Medical treatments Corticosteroid treatments: Corticosteroid injections are considered a first-line treatment for hypertrophic scars. Injecting a steroid into the scar every six weeks may help flatten and soften the scar.

How common are keloids from piercings?

more likely to develop keloids (80%) than were those who had piercings at <11 years of age (23.5%). Conclusions. Keloids are more likely to develop when ears are pierced after age 11 than before age 11. This observation holds true for patients with a family history of keloids.

Does tea tree oil get rid of keloids?

There's no evidence to support using tea tree oil on existing scars, whether they're acne scars, keloids, or hypertrophic scars. In addition, tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory properties that may help to reduce redness and swelling around wounds.

Can you put rubbing alcohol on a keloid?

Wash the area immediately with soap and water. Keeping the wound clean helps to reduce scarring. When cleaning the wound, you want to avoid using hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or iodine. These can be too drying. Soap and tap water or saline solution will cleanse without drying the wound.

How do you get a keloid?

Keloids are raised overgrowths of scar tissue that occur at the site of a skin injury. They occur where trauma, surgery, blisters, vaccinations, acne or body piercing have injured the skin. Less commonly, keloids may form in places where the skin has not had a visible injury.