Hypertrophic Scarring

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We hear all the time "I have a keloid". There is a huge difference between a keloid and a piercing bump, also known as hypertrophic scarring. Keloid formation is rare and happens to people that are already prone to getting keloid scars on other parts of their body. Keloids require medical intervention. Hypertrophic scarring can happen when your body is irritated by the piercing, jewelry, or even dirt, lotions, soaps, cleaners, dander or other irritants. This causes your body to create a granuloma/hypertrophic scar. This is just your body's way of making a callus. The good news is it is easily remedied.

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What is hypertrophic scarring?

Understanding how wounds heal is essential to properly healing your new piercing. When the human body goes through an injury (for example, a piercing), it jumps straight into active healing mode. To do that, your body starts to produce collagen – a fibrous substance which acts as building blocks for new tissue. However, because piercings mean putting jewelry inside the “wound”, sometimes the body produces too much collagen too quickly, which leads to hypertrophic scarring. Hypertrophic scar looks like a raised red bump at the site of piercing, and can be painful and/or itchy. It’s a cosmetic problem and doesn’t cause any medical complications. However, the good news is that it’s possible to prevent those bumps, and treat them should they appear.

 

What causes piercing bumps?

Although scarring is normal for the healing process, some people will scar more than others. Cartilage piercings tend to be the worst offenders, as cartilage contains a lot of collagen in it as it is. It’s important to understand that even if you and your piercer did everything right, it’s still possible for the bumps to happen.

Apart from genetics, there are two main reasons for the bumps: physical injury and chemical irritation. This is why you must stay away from any harsh or perfumed products (soaps, shampoos, make-up, fake tan, hair dye, rubbing alcohol, etc.). Our piercers recommend using the saline solution you purchased when you were initially pierced. If, after a few days, there is no improvement, you should stop by the shop and speak to the piercer on duty.

You should also avoid any injuries to your piercing – sometimes you might not even notice minor snags and tugs, but they all lead to re-damaged piercing, which leads to overproduction of collagen. This is why sometimes even piercings that were healed fully form piercing bumps if they get slightly damaged (i.e. pulled on the hair). Sometimes the piercing may look like it’s healed, but piercings heal from the outside to the inside, so it’s not always possible to tell if the piercing is fully healed just by looking at it, which is why you should always seek advice from a professional piercer.

 

How to prevent piercing bumps?

Our aftercare advice form lays out all the things you should avoid with your new piercings, but now that you understand how the piercing wounds heal, you can use common sense to avoid any chemical or physical irritation of your piercing. If you have any questions or concerns about possible hypertrophic scars, please get in touch with us, or ask during your piercing visit.