You finally got that piercing you’ve been doubting for weeks. A helix, conch or flat maybe. It looks great. Until after a while you suddenly notice a small lump appearing. Red, sensitive, sometimes a little painful. And yes, there it is: the piercing bump. No stress!
A piercing bump is super common. Especially with ear piercings. And the good news? In most cases, it’s not a big problem at all and you can fix it just fine. Without drama, without weird home remedies and without saying goodbye to your piercing.
In this blog we explain everything about the piercing bump. What exactly it is, how you can recognize it, why it occurs and what, above all, you should not do. We also explain how we at INKORPORATED help you with experience, honest advice and high-end jewelry.
What is a piercing bump anyway?
A piercing bump is a thickening of the skin around your piercing. You often see it with ear piercings, such as a helix bump or another piercing bump in the ear. The skin gets irritated and reacts with a small bump.
Such a bump can look different for each person. Sometimes it is red or pink, sometimes more skin-colored. Sometimes it feels sensitive, other times you hardly notice it except that it is there.
Important to know: a piercing bump is not an inflammation and usually not a keloid. It is mainly a signal from your body that something is not quite right in the healing process.
Is it a piercing bump or a keloid?
This is perhaps the most frequently asked question in our shops. And understandably so, because online you read all kinds of things.
A keloid is a genetic thing. That means you must be predisposed to it. It often grows on and becomes larger than the piercing itself. A piercing bump, on the other hand, is caused by irritation and can also disappear again. Are you in doubt? Then our advice is very simple: come by. We will look at it with you and explain exactly what is going on. Without panic and without difficult words.
How does a piercing bump occur?
A piercing bump never just happens. There is always a reason. Often it is little things that combine to cause irritation. A common cause is pressure. Think of sleeping on your ear, always holding your phone against the same spot or headphones that are just a little too tight. Especially with a helix, we see this often. A helix bump is simply a reaction to too much pressure.
Jewelry also plays a big role. If a rod is too short or the material is not of good quality, your skin does not get the space to heal peacefully. The body then starts working against it instead of cooperating.
In addition, we often see people wanting to take too good care of their piercing. Cleaning too often, brushing too hard or using all kinds of different products mixed together. Well intentioned, but unfortunately it often has the opposite effect.
The sea salt mistake (yes, it really exists)
Sea salt is often cited as the solution to everything. And fair is fair: a saline solution can help. But this is where things often go wrong. Too much salt, too hot water, soaking too often.
Your skin dries out and becomes even more irritated. The result? Right: a bigger or more persistent piercing bump. Our advice: use a mild saline solution no more than once or twice a day. Keep it simple. Your piercing will not heal faster from extra attention.
What should you especially not do with a piercing bump?
We say this with love, but this really does go wrong more often than right. Don’t twist your piercing, don’t pick, don’t pinch. And above all: don’t experiment yourself with tea tree oil, alcohol or any of the other aggressive remedies you find online.
A piercing bump needs rest. No struggle.
What does help with a piercing bump?
Rest, patience and the right jewelry make the biggest difference. Make sure your piercing has plenty of room to heal. That often means a slightly longer rod in the early stages. In addition, the material is important. At INKORPORATED, we only work with high-end jewelry made of safe materials such as implant grade titanium and solid gold. This greatly reduces the chance of irritation.
Daarnaast kijken we altijd naar jouw leefstijl. Slaap je veel op die kant? Draag je vaak een koptelefoon? We geven gepersonaliseerde tips voor een smooth genezingsproces. Kleine aanpassingen kunnen al een groot effect hebben op je piercing bump.
How does INKORPORATED help you?
At INKORPORATED, we won’t let you muddle through. Do you have a piercing bump? Then you are always welcome in one of our shops in Amsterdam. Even if your piercing was not made with us. We will look at the situation, check your jewelry and give you honest advice that suits your body and your piercing.
Our piercers have years of experience and take the time for you. No judgment, no rush. Just personal attention and quality. Want to know more in advance or schedule a check-up? Book an appointment or stop by, walk-ins are welcome!
When do you need to take action?
A piercing bump is usually harmless, but always listen to your body. Is the pain getting worse, do you see a lot of pus or don’t feel well? If so, sound the alarm. Better to ask once too many questions than to go on too long.
Recap
A piercing bump is common and is usually a reaction to irritation. It is slightly different from a keloid and often resolves well with rest, proper care and good jewelry. Avoid pressure, over care and wild remedies.
Heb jij last van een piercing bump, een helix bultje of een ander piercing bultje? Loop gerust binnen of plan een plan een afspraak via onderstaande knop. Je bent welkom. Altijd.
