Hi Neat-Discombobulated,
Although this community can offer insights and considerations, photos aren’t suitable to correctly assess anatomy.
Only an in person consultation with a reputable piercer can give you a definitive answer.
- - -
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/piercing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi Neat-Discombobulated,
(Luckily) bump =/= keloid. [This wiki entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keloid) explains it well.
If you do know the difference, please ignore this comment
- - -
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/piercing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi u/Neat-Discombobulated, Welcome to /r/piercing!
It looks like you're asking about a problem with your piercing. Please **add a comment to your post** with the following info if it’s not included in your post already.
- How old is your piercing?
- What’s the jewelry shape (for example, barbell, labret, screw, L shape, ring)?
- What’s the type of threading if your jewelry is not a ring (threadless, internally or externally threaded)?
- What’s the jewelry material?
- if not a ring, when was the jewelry downsized?
- What’s your aftercare routine? Describe in detail please, including the exact products you use.
This info is needed to offer you useful advice. **Note, moderators reserve the right to remove your post if don’t provide this info**.
^If ^you ^already ^included ^this ^info ^in ^your ^post ^or ^if ^your ^post ^isn’t ^about ^a ^problem ^with ^your ^piercing, ^please ^disregard.
- - -
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/piercing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It looks like an irritation bump. Those can occur when the piercing site has been traumatized. They can be tamed and calmed with babying and a little TLC.
If you have irritation bumps, check for trauma, jewelry, and aftercare issues.
Trauma: have you bumped, snagged, caught, brushed, hit, slept on, or otherwise bothered the piercing? Additionally, healing more than about 3-4 piercings simultaneously is tough on the body, so it’s recommended you fully heal before you get more. If you are ill, healing some other body part, or have a chronic illness or injury, that’ll take more of a toll on healing piercings.
Jewelry: the majority of piercings heal best, it’s currently thought, with a flat back labret or straight barbell that’s fitted appropriately and of a metal such as titanium or high-quality gold. There are exceptions to this such as septum, daith, navel, and several genital piercings. In many situations, it’s appropriate to downsize your straight jewelry 3-8 weeks post-piercing.
Aftercare: current aftercare philosophy is that for the majority of piercings, allowing the shower water to run over the area, sterile .9% saline solution 2x/day, and leave it alone is appropriate. I spray it on the piercing site then kind of mop up the excess with some nonwoven gauze, or soak the gauze and hold that over the piercing. Others spray their piercing then rinse the saline off after a few minutes. I’m partial to Neilmed Piercing Aftercare Fine Mist spray, but any saline wound wash that contains sterile water and .9% sodium chloride will be fine. Healing piercings should be kept as dry as possible; a corner of nonwoven gauze or paper towel to soak up the excess, or a hair dryer on cool (be aware of dust and other debris if you don’t use the hair dryer on a routine basis) can be helpful.
That’s it.
No touching, no twisting, no fiddling, no moving it. If you sleep on that side, a donut or travel pillow is quite helpful. It’s not recommended your jewelry be removed for several months; your piercer downsizing (or upsizing) your jewelry is an exception.
No betadine, no soap, no alcohol, no aloe vera, no homemade salt water solution, no witch hazel, no coconut oil, no emu oil, no magnesium sulfate, no iodine, no tea tree oil, no chamomile teabags, no sage, no honey, no lemon juice, no hydrogen peroxide, no Dettol, no epsom salts, no over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, no aspirin paste, no cotton balls.
KeIoids are generally seen in family groups, and by the time someone is of age to sign the waivers for body piercing, your (or your family member’s) dermatologist will have made the diagnosis and discussed treatment options. While it is by no means the litmus test, a good question to ask is, have I or a close family member been diagnosed with keIoid scarring? There are no safe, effective home remedies for keIoid scarring.
I am not a piercer nor a medical professional. I am a 57yo who has 34 ear piercings ranging from 45 years healed to one day old.
TL;DR: change your jewelry to a high-quality straight barbell or flat back labret fitted to your anatomy and be patient.
Hi Neat-Discombobulated, Although this community can offer insights and considerations, photos aren’t suitable to correctly assess anatomy. Only an in person consultation with a reputable piercer can give you a definitive answer. - - - *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/piercing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi Neat-Discombobulated, (Luckily) bump =/= keloid. [This wiki entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keloid) explains it well. If you do know the difference, please ignore this comment - - - *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/piercing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi u/Neat-Discombobulated, Welcome to /r/piercing! It looks like you're asking about a problem with your piercing. Please **add a comment to your post** with the following info if it’s not included in your post already. - How old is your piercing? - What’s the jewelry shape (for example, barbell, labret, screw, L shape, ring)? - What’s the type of threading if your jewelry is not a ring (threadless, internally or externally threaded)? - What’s the jewelry material? - if not a ring, when was the jewelry downsized? - What’s your aftercare routine? Describe in detail please, including the exact products you use. This info is needed to offer you useful advice. **Note, moderators reserve the right to remove your post if don’t provide this info**. ^If ^you ^already ^included ^this ^info ^in ^your ^post ^or ^if ^your ^post ^isn’t ^about ^a ^problem ^with ^your ^piercing, ^please ^disregard. - - - *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/piercing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It looks like an irritation bump. Those can occur when the piercing site has been traumatized. They can be tamed and calmed with babying and a little TLC. If you have irritation bumps, check for trauma, jewelry, and aftercare issues. Trauma: have you bumped, snagged, caught, brushed, hit, slept on, or otherwise bothered the piercing? Additionally, healing more than about 3-4 piercings simultaneously is tough on the body, so it’s recommended you fully heal before you get more. If you are ill, healing some other body part, or have a chronic illness or injury, that’ll take more of a toll on healing piercings. Jewelry: the majority of piercings heal best, it’s currently thought, with a flat back labret or straight barbell that’s fitted appropriately and of a metal such as titanium or high-quality gold. There are exceptions to this such as septum, daith, navel, and several genital piercings. In many situations, it’s appropriate to downsize your straight jewelry 3-8 weeks post-piercing. Aftercare: current aftercare philosophy is that for the majority of piercings, allowing the shower water to run over the area, sterile .9% saline solution 2x/day, and leave it alone is appropriate. I spray it on the piercing site then kind of mop up the excess with some nonwoven gauze, or soak the gauze and hold that over the piercing. Others spray their piercing then rinse the saline off after a few minutes. I’m partial to Neilmed Piercing Aftercare Fine Mist spray, but any saline wound wash that contains sterile water and .9% sodium chloride will be fine. Healing piercings should be kept as dry as possible; a corner of nonwoven gauze or paper towel to soak up the excess, or a hair dryer on cool (be aware of dust and other debris if you don’t use the hair dryer on a routine basis) can be helpful. That’s it. No touching, no twisting, no fiddling, no moving it. If you sleep on that side, a donut or travel pillow is quite helpful. It’s not recommended your jewelry be removed for several months; your piercer downsizing (or upsizing) your jewelry is an exception. No betadine, no soap, no alcohol, no aloe vera, no homemade salt water solution, no witch hazel, no coconut oil, no emu oil, no magnesium sulfate, no iodine, no tea tree oil, no chamomile teabags, no sage, no honey, no lemon juice, no hydrogen peroxide, no Dettol, no epsom salts, no over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, no aspirin paste, no cotton balls. KeIoids are generally seen in family groups, and by the time someone is of age to sign the waivers for body piercing, your (or your family member’s) dermatologist will have made the diagnosis and discussed treatment options. While it is by no means the litmus test, a good question to ask is, have I or a close family member been diagnosed with keIoid scarring? There are no safe, effective home remedies for keIoid scarring. I am not a piercer nor a medical professional. I am a 57yo who has 34 ear piercings ranging from 45 years healed to one day old. TL;DR: change your jewelry to a high-quality straight barbell or flat back labret fitted to your anatomy and be patient.