It is common for bumps to form around nose piercings, and one type of scar tissue that can develop is a keloid. This article provides guidance on identifying keloids, determining if piercing removal is necessary, exploring professional treatments, and understanding how to prevent future keloids.
Identifying Keloids on Piercings
Keloids are raised scars that form when the body produces excessive collagen during healing after a skin injury. They can arise from various skin traumas, including piercings. Unlike typical scars that flatten, keloids often grow beyond the original wound boundaries. They are firm, rubbery, or dense to the touch, and their color ranges from pink or red to darker than surrounding skin. Keloids may also cause itching, tenderness, or pain.
Keloids differ from other common piercing bumps like hypertrophic scars or irritation bumps. Hypertrophic scars are raised but remain confined to the original injury area and often improve. Irritation bumps, common and temporary, result from issues like improper aftercare, trauma, or unsuitable jewelry. While irritation bumps resolve once the irritant is removed, keloids do not disappear without treatment and can enlarge for years. A professional consultation with a piercer or dermatologist is necessary for an accurate diagnosis.
To Remove or Not to Remove Your Piercing
A keloid is an overzealous healing response, and piercing jewelry can continuously irritate it, contributing to its persistence and growth. Removing the piercing can eliminate this irritation, allowing the area to settle. This action can help manage the keloid’s size and discomfort, though it does not guarantee complete disappearance.
However, simply removing the piercing does not cause the keloid to shrink, and it can worsen if the removal process causes further tissue trauma. Keloids do not go away on their own.
If the keloid is new or small, a medical professional may recommend keeping the piercing in while pursuing treatment, such as corticosteroid injections, to reduce its size. Removal may be considered for severe discomfort, persistent irritation impacting daily life, or if advised as part of a broader treatment strategy. Following piercing removal, other keloid treatments like steroid injections, silicone gel sheets, or pressure treatments are recommended. Consult a piercing professional or dermatologist before deciding on removal; they provide tailored advice based on the keloid’s characteristics and your healing process.
Professional Treatment for Keloids
Professional treatment for keloids focuses on reducing their size, appearance, and symptoms. Corticosteroid injections are a common and effective approach, where anti-inflammatory medications are injected directly into the keloid. These injections reduce inflammation and suppress collagen overproduction, leading to the keloid shrinking, softening, and becoming less itchy or painful. Multiple sessions, spaced a few weeks apart, are often required.
Cryotherapy involves freezing keloid tissue with liquid nitrogen to destroy excess scar cells. This method is most effective for smaller keloids and may be used alone or with corticosteroid injections. Laser therapy, a non-invasive option, uses focused light energy to break down scar tissue and stimulate healthy skin regeneration, reducing the keloid’s size, height, and discoloration. Pulsed dye lasers are used for this purpose and improve skin texture.
Surgical excision is an option for larger or more persistent keloids. However, surgery alone carries a high recurrence risk, with the keloid potentially growing back larger. Therefore, surgical removal is often combined with other treatments, like corticosteroid injections or superficial radiation therapy, to prevent regrowth.
Silicone sheets or gels are also used, alone or with other therapies. They hydrate scar tissue and apply gentle pressure, helping flatten and soften the keloid. They are worn daily for several months.
Steps to Avoid Future Keloids
Preventing keloid formation involves careful attention to piercing practices and wound care. Choosing a reputable piercer is important; they use sterile needles and high-quality jewelry, ideally from hypoallergenic materials like implant-grade titanium, minimizing irritation. Proper piercing placement also reduces keloid likelihood, especially in high-tension or cartilage areas.
Diligent aftercare is important for prevention. This involves consistent cleaning of the piercing site with a gentle saline solution to remove bacteria and reduce infection risk. Avoiding unnecessary touching or twisting of the piercing is important, as such trauma can lead to irritation, inflammation, and increased scar tissue formation. Protecting the healing wound from excessive tension, friction, and sun exposure also helps.
Understanding personal predisposition to keloids is an important preventive step. Individuals with a family history of keloids or darker skin tones are more prone to developing them. If there is a known risk, avoid unnecessary skin injuries, including new piercings or tattoos. Should a new piercing be desired, close monitoring for early signs of skin thickening allows for prompt intervention, such as pressure earrings or silicone products, which can prevent thickening from developing into a full keloid.