Cartilage Piercing Bump
- Cartilage piercings are more irritable than ear piercings as they take longer to heal.
- They are prone to irritation, and you may notice some swelling or a bump around the pierced area a few days after the procedure.
- Other signs that could show up are redness of the skin, bruising, mild pain, and bleeding.
- The symptoms don’t go away quickly; cartilage piercings can take anywhere between 4 to 12 months to heal completely.
- More than that, you’re also likely to experience symptoms such as itching and discoloration of the skin while the pierced area is healing.
With that in mind, let’s look at cartilage piercing bumps in detail:
What is Cartilage Piercing Bumps?
Bumps appearing after a cartilage piercing is a very common phenomenon, and they are usually caused by the irritation discussed earlier. The bumps can form right after the piercing or even after some time. The swelling decreases as the pierced area heal with time. However, if you still have a bump on the skin, it might be due to:
- A granuloma, which is a lesion that shows up 6 weeks after a piercing
- A pustule: a pimple or blister with pus
- A keloid: a thick scar that develops on the pierced area
Piercing bumps can also be caused by poor aftercare, genetics, allergies, and bad luck. It’s definitely hard to avoid bumps caused by the last one. However, these bumps do completely go away with the right treatment.
When to Get Medical Attention
While some swelling and redness of the skin are expected, more severe symptoms related to a cartilage piercing bump can indicate a more complicated health issue. You should consult with a doctor if you experience:
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Unusually smelly or thick discharge
- Uncomfortable pain or swelling
- Green, gray, or yellow discharge
Treatment for Cartilage Piercing Bumps
- You can deal with cartilage piercing bumps yourself if the symptoms are not severe.
- The first step to take is to try and change your jewelry. Some people are allergic to certain metals, while some might experience irritation due to contact dermatitis.
- Changing jewelry to remove it from your skin for some time can help.
- The irritation could also be caused by a dirty piercing.
- Try cleaning out the piercing if changing it doesn’t work.
- Finally, try out compresses, such as chamomile, to get more blood into your cartilage and pump it full of antioxidants.
- This can help you heal quicker.