Troubleshooting a Piercing

Healing is not always perfectly smooth, and that is normal. Here is how to tell what is going on and what to do. When in doubt, come in or call us. We would always rather take a look than have you worry.

Is it infected?

Often what looks like infection is simply a build up of healthy lymph fluid, which is completely normal after a piercing. Do not ignore a build up, but try not to panic either.

Signs of a genuine localised infection include skin that is red, swollen, tender and warm to the touch, swollen lymph nodes, and green, smelly discharge.

A piercing is a wound held open by jewellery, so infection is always possible. The body usually clears a minor one on its own. If you are medically able to, anti inflammatories such as ibuprofen and twice daily hot chamomile compresses can help. See your GP if symptoms last a week or more.

Please do not remove your jewellery, especially with an infection. It gives the infection a way to drain. Taking it out can trap the infection inside and lead to more scarring. Be aware that some doctors and pharmacists may suggest removing it without realising this.

Could it be rejecting?

Any piercing can reject if the body decides to push the jewellery out, forming scar tissue behind it. Some piercings rarely reject, such as lobes, while navels, eyebrows and surface piercings are more prone to it. A red line connecting the entry and exit points can be a sign.

Often a piercing is just irritated rather than rejecting, so pop in and we may be able to save it by changing the jewellery. Surface piercings often need downsizing as they heal, so come in quickly if one side starts to sit higher than before.

There is a bump

Most piercing bumps are not keloids or true scars. They are usually fluid build ups, most common in cartilage, and they often flare and settle on their own. You can help things along in two ways.

• Make sure the jewellery is high quality, mirror polished, internally threaded or threadless, and not too long. An over long bar irritates the piercing, so come in for a downsize, or add a silicone disc to gently compress the area.
• Use hot chamomile or saline compresses. Steep a pure chamomile teabag with no real tea or caffeine, let it cool to as hot as you can comfortably bear, and hold it on the piercing until it goes cold. Do this twice daily in place of your usual clean.

It may look worse before it looks better as the fluid drains. Do not pick it, as that only adds scarring.

Scarring

Because jewellery keeps a wound open, piercings can swell and sometimes produce extra scarring. Hypertrophic scars are small raised lumps that often settle over time with well fitting jewellery and gentle massage using a vitamin E oil such as Bio Oil. Keloids are larger and harder to treat, so see a dermatologist if you are worried a scar is not improving.

A stretched ear that suddenly feels sore or lumpy

This can be a blow out, often after stretching too soon or a knock. Downsize straight away, perhaps several sizes, to a piece you know suits you, ideally single flared and inert like borosilicate glass. Clean twice daily with sterile saline, and once it settles, massage daily with a vitamin E oil. Wait at least four weeks before stretching again, and never more than 1mm every four weeks.

Allergic reactions

An allergy usually shows within 24 hours as redness, swelling and intense itching, and in worse cases blistering or broken skin. Reactions to inert materials like titanium are very rare, while nickel, found in silver, is a common culprit. Switch to a material you know you tolerate so the piercing stays open while it recovers, and pay attention to how your skin reacts to anything new.

Stretching safely

• The safest way is slow and natural: wear inert jewellery until it feels loose, then move up a size with no discomfort.
• Never stretch more than 1mm every four weeks, and let a fresh piercing heal for at least eight weeks first.
• Keep jewellery in at all times, or wear a retainer, so the stretch does not shrink.
• Avoid double flared or porous jewellery such as wood, horn or bone in a fresh stretch.

We are always happy to stretch for you, free of charge. Just ask.

Whatever the issue, and wherever you were pierced, get in touch. We will help as much as we can.