Keloids are hard, benign (non-cancerous) growths of scar tissue that form over injuries, such as piercings. Any piercing may ultimately develop a keloid, however some areas of the body have a higher propensity than others.
The most likely places to keloid are the cartilage of the ear, the base of the nose, navel and eyebrow piercing. Piercing infection increases the likelihood of keloid formation. Therefore, taking the proper preventive measures with any type of piercing is the best way to avoid them.
Good aftercare habits such as keeping the area clean, avoiding hot tubs and swims, and following your piercer’s directions are important in avoiding keloids.
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How likely is it to get a keloid from a piercing?
The likelihood of getting a keloid from a piercing depends on several factors, including your skin and health condition, the environment you are being pierced in, the type of piercing, and your aftercare.
The odds of developing a keloid from a piercing are higher for people with certain skin types. People with darker skin, especially of African-American or Hispanic descent, or people with a previous keloid or family history of keloids, are more liable to get one.
In addition, people with certain conditions such as eczema, obesity, diabetes, and immune system disorders are more prone to keloids.
The environment you are pierced in also affects the likelihood of getting a keloid. Only professionally trained and licensed piercers using sterile and hygienic procedures are recommended to reduce the risk of infections and other complications.
The type of piercing you choose can also increase the risk of getting a keloid. Cartilage piercings, such as tragus and daith piercings, have the highest risk of causing keloids, due to the location and the increased amount of time the piercing takes to heal.
Finally, proper aftercare and following instructions from the piercer can reduce the risk of getting a keloid. This includes regularly cleaning the piercing, avoiding snagging it with clothing and not touching it with dirty hands, and avoiding traumatizing it.
Taking into account all of the risk factors, on average, the odds of developing a keloid from a piercing are about one in a hundred. However, certain factors can increase the risk significantly, making it much more likely.
Therefore, it is important to take the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of getting a keloid from a piercing.
How can you reduce the risk of a keloid piercing?
The best way to reduce the risk of a keloid piercing is to ensure you use an experienced and reputable piercer, as they know how to minimize the chances of a keloid forming. Also, make sure the area is properly cleaned before and after the piercing, and any aftercare instructions the piercer gives you should be strictly followed.
If there is any redness, discomfort, or excessive swelling after the piercing, seek medical attention right away. Keloids form due to trauma to the skin such as piercing, surgery, or other injury, so limiting the amount of trauma to a piercing site can also help prevent them.
Lastly, keep the piercing site clean and moisturized with a saline or herbal solution, and avoid excessive friction or pulling on the piercing.
Do keloids form immediately after piercing?
No, Keloids usually do not form immediately after piercing. Instead, it can take a few weeks to months before symptoms are visible. Typically, a person will begin to notice itching, inflammation, and discoloration at the site of the piercing.
As it progresses, the skin will thicken and form raised, firm nodules that can spread beyond the area it initially developed in. If you have a family history of keloid formation, it is best to discuss any piercing, tattoo, or other skin-altering procedure with your physician before proceeding in order to determine if there are any risks.
Additionally, if a keloid does form, you should alert your physician immediately as they may be able to offer treatments to reduce the size.
How do you know if a keloid is forming?
It is usually not possible to tell whether or not a keloid is forming until the formation is already visible. If the area where the keloid will form becomes tender, pink, and/or itchy, it could be a sign that a keloid is forming.
Generally, keloids take several weeks or months to form and fully develop. As the keloid grows in size, it can become raised and bumpy, or have a very shiny, tight appearance. It may also be harder and itchy or painful to the touch.
Frequently, keloids will also develop a purplish or brownish color over time. If you have any concerns that a keloid is forming, you should always speak with your doctor.
Will a piercing keloid go away?
Keloids are an overgrowth of scar tissue caused by an overabundance of collagen that emerges after a piercing or a serious injury to the skin. While they are most common in people with darker skin tones, they can happen in any person.
The good news is that most keloids from small piercings do eventually go away. In some cases, keloids can be relatively small and may fade over a period of weeks or months. However, large or more severe keloids may not completely resolve on their own, so treatments may be necessary if the size or appearance of the keloid causes discomfort or embarrassment.
Treatments for keloids include injectable corticosteroids, cryotherapy, laser or light treatments, and topical steroid creams. Some of these treatments may reduce the size and appearance of the keloid, but unfortunately, a complete removal of the keloid is unlikely to happen without surgical excision.
Surgical excision of the keloid, however, is usually not advised since this may actually cause the keloid to grow back larger than before. For this reason, it is important to talk to a qualified healthcare provider to discuss treatment options.
No matter what the treatment, it’s important to keep the pierced area clean and covered with a bandage in order to help reduce the chance of the keloid returning. Following this advice can help significantly reduce the size and appearance of the keloid over time.
Should I keep my piercing in if I have a keloid?
It is not recommended to keep your piercing in if you have a keloid. Piercing can cause keloids to worsen in size, shape, and texture over time, so it is important to remove the piercing and allow it to heal completely.
It is also important to speak with a healthcare professional about your individual needs and any possible risk factors. If you do choose to keep the piercing in, be sure to take extra steps to keep the area clean, wear protective clothing when possible, and be aware of any signs of infection.
If your keloid grows, changes shape or texture, or becomes very painful, you should see your doctor right away.
How do you stop a keloid from growing on a piercing?
The best way to stop a keloid from growing on a piercing is to not get the piercing in the first place. This is because the majority of keloids tend to form when skin is punctured or cut, so avoiding piercing entirely is the best way to reduce the risk of forming one.
However, if the piercing has already been done, there are a few self-care tips that may help. Firstly, clean the pierced region regularly and diligently to avoid any type of inflammation or infection.
Secondly, if possible, avoid any additional trauma to the area as this may worsen the keloid. Also, avoiding sunshine for prolonged periods would help as the UV radiation may worsen the skin condition.
In addition, if the keloid is already formed prescriptive medications can be prescribed. It is best to consult a medical professional so that the exact course of treatment can be identified.
How long does it take for a keloid to show up?
It depends on many factors, such as the person’s age, the size and depth of the wound, and the individual’s genetic makeup. Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for a keloid to appear.
In some cases, it may take even longer. Once a keloid has formed, it can remain unchanged for many years or can grow very slowly when exposed to constant trauma or inflammation.
What does keloid formation look like?
Keloid formation is a common occurrence after wounds and surgery. It appears as a raised growth of extra collagen along the area of inflammation or injury. These raised areas can be red, pink, or purple in color and can form within several weeks or months of an injury.
Keloids can range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter and can occur in any area of the body, but are more common in the shoulder, neck and earlobes. The ill-formed keloid can also cause itching, tenderness, and localized pain.
The shape of a keloid can be irregular, with tendril-like strands extending from the main mass. The raised, disfiguring lesions can affect a person’s self-esteem, and usually require specialized treatment in order to reduce their size and improve the person’s appearance.
How common are keloids from ear piercings?
Keloids from ear piercings can be quite common, depending on the individual. They occur when the body produces too much collagen in the healing process, causing an overgrowth of tissue, resulting in a raised, hard mass.
While anyone can develop a keloid after getting their ear pierced, they are more likely to form in people with darker skin tones, especially those of African, Latino, and Asian descent, as well as people with family histories of keloid formation.
It’s important to keep in mind that even the cleanest tools and safest procedures can still lead to keloid formation in some individuals. It’s also important to note that piercings located on or close to the earlobe are more likely to form keloids than piercings placed further away from the ear.
If you suspect that you have a keloid, it’s best to visit a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
How do you flatten a keloid naturally?
There are a few steps you can take to help ease the raised texture and itching associated with keloids.
1. Place a warm, wet cloth or piece of ice on the keloid for 5 to 10 minutes two to four times a day. This can help relieve the itching and inflammation associated with keloids and reduce swelling.
2. Use an everyday over-the-counter anti-inflammatory cream or lotion to reduce itching and swelling.
3. Massage the keloid with gentle pressure, using either your fingertips or a squishy object like a stress ball. This can help reduce the tension in the keloid and make it less raised.
4. Use Vitamin E oil on the keloid. It helps by moisturizing the keloid, improving elasticity and has antioxidant effects.
5. Use silicone gel sheets to flatten the keloid. This is one of the most effective treatments for keloids, as the sheets decrease pain, reduce scar size and improve appearance.
6. Apply a herbal paste to the keloid, such as turmeric mixed with honey or jojoba oil.
7. Rub a mixture of 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water or apple cider vinegar onto the keloid.
Ultimately, it is important to discuss any natural methods for treating keloids with a doctor first. They can help determine appropriate treatments and how long any natural treatment should take for the best possible outcome.
Do keloids from piercings go away?
Keloids resulting from piercings can be permanent, though they may be treatable. Keloids are caused when an exceptionally large amount of scar tissue is produced after injury, and piercings can sometimes induce the body to produce this excessive scar tissue.
While some keloid formation can be prevented by taking good care of the piercing directly after getting it done, once one begins to form, it may not go away on its own. Treatment of keloids from piercings can range from creams and gels that contain steroids, silicone, or other anti-inflammatory ingredients, to the application of laser or light therapy, or even the use of injections of corticosteroids.
In some cases, keloids may even require surgical removal. The best way to determine the most appropriate treatment for your keloid is to speak to your doctor.
What causes a keloid on a piercing?
Keloids are caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue at the site of a pierced area. When a piercing is done, the body may respond by forming more scar tissue than usual, leading to the keloid formation.
The tendency to form these types of scars runs in families and is more common in males and younger people. Other factors that can contribute to keloid scars include excessive sun exposure, heavy and/or frequent friction on the pierced area, poor aftercare and even an individual’s medical history such as diabetes or skin infections.
People with darker skin tones are more prone to this type of scarring than those with lighter ones. If a person is aware of their risk of scarring, they may want to speak to a piercer or doctor before getting a piercing to ensure that the procedure is done safely and to determine their best course of action for care afterwards.
Do you always get keloids after piercing?
No, not everyone will get keloids after piercing. While keloids are common after piercing, they are far from inevitable and depend on a variety of factors, such as your genetic disposition, the type of piercing in question, and the skill of the piercer.
Even if you come from a family with a predisposition to keloids and have had them in the past, there is still a good chance that you will not get keloids from piercings. To minimize your risk of keloids, it’s best to go to an experienced piercer who will take steps to increase your comfort and safety, such as using clean tools, using hypoallergenic jewelry, and using clamps to minimize the amount of skin punctured by the needle.
In addition, the right aftercare routine is important and can help avoid complications, including keloids.
