Keloids, a form of raised scar tissue, can sometimes develop after skin injuries, including those from cartilage piercings. These growths can be challenging to manage.
Understanding Cartilage Piercing Keloids
A keloid is a firm, smooth, raised growth resulting from collagen overproduction during the skin’s healing process. Unlike typical scars, keloids extend beyond the original wound boundaries, growing larger than the initial injury. They can vary in color from pink to red, brown, or purplish, with textures ranging from soft to rubbery. Keloids may also cause itching, pain, or tenderness.
Keloids must be distinguished from hypertrophic scars, which are more common and often confused with keloids. While hypertrophic scars are also raised and red, they remain confined to the original injury area and may regress over time. Keloids rarely diminish on their own and can continue to grow for months or years after the initial trauma. Keloid formation involves the body’s fibroblasts producing excessive collagen in response to injury. Cartilage piercings are prone to keloids due to factors like trauma, pressure, inadequate aftercare, and genetic predisposition.
At-Home Approaches for Removal
Several at-home approaches can manage keloids, though these methods are often more effective for hypertrophic scars. Saline solution, a mixture of non-iodized salt and distilled water, can be used for soaks or compresses. Applying a warm saline compress helps reduce inflammation and keeps the area clean, supporting healing. This method should be consistent, twice daily.
Diluted tea tree oil is another option due to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Dilute tea tree oil with a carrier oil, such as coconut or jojoba oil, at a ratio of one to two drops per teaspoon, and perform a patch test first to prevent skin irritation. Apply this mixture gently to the keloid twice daily using a cotton swab. While tea tree oil may help with irritation bumps, its effectiveness on established keloids is limited.
Silicone sheets or gels are recommended for scar management, hydrating scar tissue and regulating collagen production. These products create a semi-occlusive barrier over the keloid, helping flatten and soften the scar over time. They should be worn consistently for several months, 12 to 24 hours daily, after the wound has closed. Pressure earrings or discs apply continuous pressure to the keloid, restricting its growth and flattening it. These devices need to be worn for extended periods, 6 to 12 months, to be effective.
Professional Medical Options
If at-home methods are ineffective, or if a keloid grows, becomes painful, or shows signs of infection, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended. Dermatologists or plastic surgeons can assess the keloid and recommend appropriate medical interventions. Early treatment can help minimize keloid growth.
Corticosteroid injections are an effective medical treatment for keloids. These injections directly into the keloid reduce inflammation, suppress collagen production, and help flatten and shrink the scar. Multiple injections are required, spaced several weeks apart, with improvements seen within four to six weeks.
Cryotherapy involves freezing the keloid with liquid nitrogen, which destroys the abnormal cells. This method is useful for smaller keloids and may require several sessions.
Surgical excision can remove the scar completely. However, surgery alone carries a high recurrence rate because the body’s healing response can lead to a new keloid. Therefore, surgical removal is combined with other treatments to minimize recurrence.
Laser treatment can help reduce the redness and size of keloids, and is often used in conjunction with other therapies like corticosteroid injections. Radiation therapy is sometimes used as a post-surgical adjuvant treatment to prevent recurrence, especially for resistant keloids. When combined with surgical excision, radiation therapy can significantly reduce recurrence rates compared to surgery alone.
Preventing Keloid Recurrence
Preventing keloids involves careful attention to piercing practices and aftercare. Choosing an experienced and reputable piercer who uses sterile techniques and high-quality, body-safe jewelry, such as titanium or surgical stainless steel, can minimize trauma and irritation. Avoiding jewelry made with nickel is important, as it can cause allergic reactions that contribute to irritation.
Diligent aftercare is important for newly pierced cartilage. This includes regularly cleaning the piercing with saline solution and avoiding unnecessary touching, twisting, or rotating the jewelry. Minimizing trauma to the piercing site is also important; prevent snagging the jewelry on clothing, bumping the area, or sleeping directly on the piercing. For individuals known to be prone to keloids, using silicone sheets or pressure earrings proactively after a piercing has healed can help prevent keloid formation. Individuals with a strong genetic predisposition to keloids may consider avoiding new piercings or other elective skin procedures altogether to minimize their risk.