Whether you’ve just joined the ranks of the pierced or you’ve had piercings for years, it’s possible to have issues crop up. This article covers some of the things that can happen, why they happen and what you can do about it.
Itching and tenderness, but not puss. There might be some swelling or redness, but not much. Maybe you jerked your nose jewelry out with a hand towel (I did that multiple times) or snagged your eyebrow jewelry with your bath scrubby (Done that too), or maybe you’ve come down with a flu or a cold and for whatever reason it makes your piercings go nuts.
First, keep an eye on it in case it’s the early symptoms of an infection. Second, take care of it so it doesn’t turn into one. Get some saline spray or solution to soak it in. Professional piercer, APP member and friend of the blog Rick Frueh suggests using refrigerator temperature (not freezer) compresses on it to sooth it and bring down inflammation.
I’ve seen a lot of people recommend a chamomile tea bag. After you put it in hot water to make tea, you take the bag out and let it cool a bit, then put it over the piercing. The heat and chamomile is supposed to be soothing. But do let it cool a bit before you use it. This isn’t Braveheart, you’re not using boiling teabags to cauterize a wound. It’s just supposed to be warm.
Rick cautions that doing more may not be the best solution. “Using other products such as the chamomile isn’t always better, sometimes more is worse.” The best option, in his opinion? Check with your piercer.
Your piercing is moving, probably steadily out of your body. When you first get a piercing, the jewelry is a foreign object, much like a splinter. Your body tries to reject it for a while. Areas like the eyebrows and navel, where the piercing goes in and comes out on the “same side” are more prone to migrating during healing. Ears, tongue and places that are pierced clean through are less likely, though any piercing can experience some migration. Once the fistula forms (the wall your body builds around foreign objects it can’t push out) you’re probably fine. Injury of the piercing down the road can cause damage to the fistula and while it’s re-healing you may have more migration.
Watch and wait. If your piercing moves around a lot before healing, or pushes completely out, then you can go back to the piercer and get re-pierced, or get a whole new piercing. Sometimes a new piercing in the same spot will work, and sometimes your body will reject it again, like Wolverine pushing out bullets. It’s also good to note that after the piercing has calmed down some and started to heal, you may have your swelling go way down and it might look like the piercing is moving when it isn’t.
Image of possible migration
First, I should say that infection is so uncommon that Rick said it should go last on the list (I originally had it first). Most of the redness, goo leakage and swelling you’re experiencing post-piercing is just normal irritation and part of the healing process.
But if things get ugly…
Heavy redness and swelling. If you just got pierced, chances are it will be a little red and swollen, that’s okay. Don’t touch it without washing your hands, and follow all of the piercing aftercare instructions that your piercer gave you. If you’ve had the piercing for a little while and notice that it’s redder or more swollen than usual, it’s a sign something might be wrong. It’s normal for some white goo to come out of piercings, Rick says, “Yellow goo is also ok. Green is really the only color goo to be concerned about.”
Over-clean your piercing, clean it every ten minutes with harsh chemicals and touch it all the time with your hands (washed or otherwise). This can cause more irritation, increase the risk of infection and delay the healing process. You definitely shouldn’t take the jewelry out.
Go see your piercer, first. If you’re concerned, you could also go see your doctor, although their advice may not be piercing-friendly.
Seriously.
I’ve seen terrible, horrible pictures of infected piercings. Do not wait until things have obviously gone horribly wrong to talk to someone. A systemic infection – that is, an infection that’s made its way into your body – can cause fever, chills, diarrhea, vomiting, and confusion.
That means toxic shock syndrome or one of its cousins and potentially death. At that point you need to see a doctor immediately.
Not your doctor, the emergency room doctor.
Have you experienced a tiny lump near a recent piercing? It may indicate a keloid scar, aka a keloid. Let's delve into the topic of keloids.
A keloid is a type of scar. It is also known as a hypertrophic scar.
This occurs when the body produces too much collagen during the healing process of a wound. Essentially, keloids are an accumulation of scar tissue that develops around a piercing. They can continue to grow and sometimes become quite large.
Keloids are primarily caused by trauma to the piercing. When a piercing is healing, a scab forms on the inside.
Constantly touching, bumping, or applying pressure to a fresh piercing can tear the scab. This can lead to the formation of scar tissue that extends beyond the piercing site. It is important to keep your hands off your piercing. This is not only to prevent cross-contamination, but also to avoid re-traumatizing the piercing site.
Keloids can occur in any piercing, but they are most commonly found in nostril, cartilage, and industrial piercings. Certain individuals are more prone to developing keloids due to genetics and ethnicity. If you have family members with keloids, you are more likely to develop them. People with darker skin tones are also more likely to develop keloids.
Other factors can contribute to keloid formation. These include using harsh cleansers such as alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.
These cleansers can hinder proper healing of the piercing. It's best to stick to saline sprays, or sea salt sprays for cleaning your piercing. Soap and water can be great, especially if you're already in the shower. Additionally, the angle of the piercing and your body's reaction to the jewelry's material can influence the development of keloids.
Taking good care of your piercing can not only reduce the risk of keloids, but also speed up healing time, and helps to prevent other kinds of piercing bumps and raised scars.
Preventing keloids is easier than treating them. Before getting pierced, it's crucial to do thorough research and choose a reputable and experienced piercer.
Once you've obtained your piercing, avoid touching it or playing with the jewelry. Wash your hands before cleaning the piercing.
Use a saline spray for cleaning. Ensure the area remains dry and clean. Follow a good aftercare routine.
If you notice any signs of a keloid forming around your body piercing or ear piercing, it's essential to consult your piercer immediately. They can recommend suitable treatment options. In severe cases, it may be necessary to see a doctor to have them surgically removed.
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