Regardless of the type of piercing, finding a bump can be a bit concerning. This is totally understandable, especially if you’re a piercing newbie. To help you out, we’ve outlined the differences between piercing bumps vs. keloids, plus what to do for each, below. Most commonly, a bump is a natural response to physical trauma. After all, a piercing literally injures the skin, which triggers the body’s healing response. It’s similar to what happens if you accidentally cut yourself with a kitchen tool, says board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD. The bump is essentially a form of short-lived swelling, she explains, adding that it may feel tender and painful when pressed. In some cases, a bump might mean that the piercing is infected, especially if the surrounding skin is very red or dark (depending on your skin tone). An infected bump might also release pus or blood and develop a yellow/honey-colored crust, notes Ciraldo. To put things into perspective, keloids have three times more collagen1 (e.g., the protein that gives structure to the skin) than hypertrophic scars, or thick raised scars. They also have 20 times more collagen than healthy skin tissue. The excess collagen accumulates at the piercing site, resulting in a skin growth. Other possible keloid symptoms include itching, burning, and pain. You may be more likely to develop keloids if you have a darker skin tone. The same goes if you have a personal or family history of keloid formation, according to Ciraldo. However, if the bump hurts or develops a crust, you’ll want to apply hydrogen peroxide twice a day to the area, says Ciraldo. And if it gets worse? The bump might indicate an infection. In this case, “consult a dermatologist, [as] you may need prescription topical or oral antibiotics,” she notes.
