Heal bumps in the cartilage around your piercing

Content

To step
Method 1 of 3: Professionally recommended treatments
Method 2 of 3: Unverified home remedies
Method 3 of 3: Prevent bumps
Tips
Warnings
Necessities

If you have a piercing through the cartilage of your ear or nose, you can get "bumps" around it - small, raised scars around the piercing hole. Sometimes these are caused by a loose fitting or incorrect piece of jewelry, by handling the piercing too roughly or by piercing with a gun. Often it is just bad luck. While these bumps are not dangerous, they can feel uncomfortable or itchy. If you want to get rid of bumps in your cartilage, you will have to have a lot of patience as they can take a long time to disappear. But if you persist, they should be gone within two or three months, and your piercing will look as good as new again. Continue to Step 1 to get started.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Professionally recommended treatments

Soak in a bath with salt. A bath of salt is the safest, most effective way to deal with these bumps - they get smaller and disappear completely over time. To take a bath with salt, do the following:
- Put 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in a cup of boiling water. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved.
- When the salt water has cooled a little (it should be as warm as possible, without burning your skin), dip a clean cotton ball in the dish.
- Hold the cotton ball against the bump for two minutes. You can leave your piercing in, but don't pull or push it.
- Repeat this twice a day until the bump has disappeared.
Use a bath with salt and chamomile. Adding chamomile to the salt water will soothe the skin around the piercing, so this is a good option for those with sensitive skin. To prepare it do this:
- Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of salt in boiling water as described above. Add a bag of chamomile tea to the water and let it steep for five minutes.
- When the tea is brewed, dip a cotton ball in the solution and hold it against the bump for five minutes. Repeat this twice a day.
- Some people soak the bag of chamomile tea in hot water, then take it out, let it cool for a while, and then press the bag against the ear.
- Make sure to use pure chamomile tea, without additives, and do not use this method if you are allergic to ragweed.
Make a compress with breathable tape. Using breathable tape to apply pressure to the bump is an example of compression therapy. Only use this method if your piercing has already completely healed or it can irritate. This is how you do it:
- Buy breathable tape (such as Micropore) from the drugstore. Try to find a color that matches your skin.
- Cut a small piece of the tape with clean scissors. You should be able to cover the entire bump with it, leaving 1-2 mm on all sides.
- Cover the bump tightly, so that pressure is put on it. Keep the tape on continuously, and replace it with a clean piece if it starts to look dirty.
- Use this method for two to three months and hopefully the bump will be gone. If not, try a different method.
Go to a professional piercer. If you want to have the bump examined again, see a reputable piercing artist. He or she can assess the bump and give further advice on treatment.
- Because bumps are often caused by oversized or loose jewelry, the piercer may help you pick out a better ring or bar.
- The bumps can also be caused by jewelery made of the wrong material. Cartilage piercings are best made of titanium or biodegradable plastic.
- You can also see a doctor or dermatologist, but keep in mind that they have less experience with piercings than a professional piercer.

Method 2 of 3: Unverified home remedies

Use tea tree oil. Some people claim that they have successfully healed bumps around their piercing with tea tree oil, which is a common ingredient in home remedies because of its antibacterial properties.
- Make sure to buy 100% pure tea tree oil as it will cause the least irritation.
- If your skin is not that sensitive, put a few drops of tea tree oil on a cotton swab and spread it directly on the bump. Do this twice a day until the bump has disappeared.
- If you do have sensitive skin, it is better to dilute the tea tree oil with a few drops of water before applying it to your ear.
Use aspirin. Aspirin appears to be effective in treating cartilage bumps by opening the blood vessels under the skin, accelerating healing.
- Put an aspirin in a small bowl and crush it with the back of a spoon. Add a few drops of water and mix until you get a paste.
- Apply the paste directly to the bump and let it dry for ten minutes. Rinse the dried pasta with some warm water.
- Repeat this process two to three times a day for best results.
Use lemon juice. Lemon juice is another home remedy that some people say can cure cartilage bumps.
- Squeeze the juice from half a lemon and dilute it with the same amount of water. Dip a cotton swab in the lemon water and apply it to the bump.
- Repeat this two or three times a day until you start to see improvement.
Use honey. Honey contains healing ingredients and is often used in the treatment of scars and burns.
- As a result, it can also aid in the healing of cartilage bumps caused by a piercing. Put a little honey on the bump two or three times a day.

Method 3 of 3: Prevent bumps

Make sure your piercing fits properly. A piece of jewelry that is too loose can move in the hole, irritating the cartilage and causing a bump.
- That is why it is important to wear a well-fitting piece of jewelry. A professional piercer from a trustworthy company can help you with this.
- Also, do not wear piercings with a butterfly closure, as this will cause bumps more quickly.
Never get your piercing done with a gun. Cartilage piercing should never be done with a gun, although they do in some cheaper or less professional cases.
- The piercing is shot through the skin with a gun, irritating the cartilage underneath and often causing bumps.
- Always have your piercing done at a place that does not use a gun.
Don't bump into your piercing. If you frequently bump into your piercing, or if hair or clothing keeps getting caught in it, you can also develop bumps.
- Tie long hair back as much as possible (especially when you sleep) so that it doesn't get caught in your piercing.
- Try to be aware of your piercing and try to protect it. Do not fiddle with it or touch it too much.

Tips

The sea salt solution shouldn't taste saltier than tears.
Always wash your hands before touching your piercing.
Do not touch the bump or try to push it out, as this could cause it to become infected.
Be careful not to bump your piercing, change your pillowcase regularly and clean your phone.
A ring is easier to clean than a stick, and you are also less likely to get stuck with it. In most cases they put the piercing on with a needle. This is the most hygienic and least painful method.
Ask your piercer about Emu oil, it really helps.
Do not use undiluted tea tree oil on your skin.
It may take some time for these methods to work, so stick with it and repeat the treatment regularly or you won't see any progress.
A combination of lemon juice with aspirin can help, and it only takes 10 minutes a day, or you can apply it before going to bed and rinse it off in the morning.
Use lemon juice with hot water and apply it to the bumps.

Warnings

Never try to squeeze a bump, even if it has pus in it. You can press gently with a cotton swab, but squeezing it will damage the surrounding tissue and cause bacteria to enter the wound.
Do not use Dettol, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, rubbing alcohol, or other corrosive substances to treat bumps. You can kill bacteria very well, but they irritate your piercing too much. If you do want to use Dettol or something, dilute it with sterile boiled water so that it is less irritating.
Keloids are scars that grow around the piercing. They are usually darker than the surrounding skin and can come back after you take them off. People with darker skin are more likely to get keloids. If you think you may be affected, see your doctor or dermatologist.
If you are dyeing your hair, cover the piercing with a band-aid or tape until it is completely healed so that it does not become irritated.
If your piercing becomes infected, do not remove the jewelry as this will allow moisture to escape, and taking it out can make it more inflamed. Go to the doctor, you may need antibiotics. The doctor may be able to insert something to keep the wound open so that the moisture can get out. Once the infection has healed, you can take the jewelry out if you don't want it anymore.