Have you just done a cartilage piercing and worried about having a bump around it? Or are you worried about the already existing bump and you immediately want to get rid of it?
A cartilage piercing bump looks like a red raised pimple in an around the ear holes. Its painful and require immediate attention to avoid future risks.
Here we will give detailed information on how to get rid of cartilage piercing bumps.
Table of Contents
What Are Cartilage Piercing Bumps?
Cartilage piercing is becoming common nowadays. It is a piercing on the upper part of the ear. It is very painful and is also prone to infection. So, one must be careful with such piercings!
Cartilage piercing bumps are small, raised scars that appear around the holes. They are not dangerous, but they seem to irritate and cause itching and may cause severe infection if not taken care.
They disappear with time but are very unpleasant and painful.
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Cartilage Piercing Bumps
Though earrings in the cartilage piercing look very pretty, only the person having bumps knows how annoying it is. It is true that you need to have patience so that bump disappears.
Nevertheless, if it’s difficult for you to handle its symptoms down are some remedies to get rid of cartilage piercing bumps quickly.
1.Salt Water
Salt helps to reduce the size of the bump and eventually helps it disappear.1
How To Use
- Boil a full cup of water. Add ¼ teaspoon of sea salt to it and stir it well so that all the salt gets dissolved.
- Now, let it come to a little lower temperature which could be bearable by your skin.
- Next, dip a cotton ball in it and hold this over the bump for 2-3 minutes.
- Repeat it twice for a few days until the bump disappears.
2.Breathable Tape
Using a breathable tape is recommended only for fully healed bumps. For partially healed bumps, it could increase infection.
How To Use
- Buy a breathable tape from a nearest medical store.
- Cut it into a size that will cover your bump fully.
- Now, cover your bump tightly with this tape and keep on changing these tapes whenever necessary. This will reduce the size of the bump.
3.Chamomile
Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties.2 So, it will help to reduce the swelling and also soothes the area in and around the bump.
For sensitive skin, an addition of chamomile tea to the salt water makes it more desirable. I
How To Use
- Prepare the salt water as mentioned in the previous section.
- Now, dip a chamomile tea bag in it and let it stew for 5 minutes.
- Dip a cotton ball in this solution and hold it on the bump. This will help to reduce the bump on the sensitive skin.
4.Tea tree Oil
It has anti-bacterial properties that help to reduce the infections near the piercing.3 It is recommended that use only pure and diluted tea tree oil so as to avoid side effects.
How To Use
- Take 2-3 drops of tea tree oil on a cotton ball and directly hold it onto the bump.
- Repeat this twice daily till the bump disappears.
5. Lemon
This is also found to be very effective in reducing the bumps. It has excellent properties that help to keep infections a bay
How To Use
- Squeeze lemon and add water to it to reduce its strength to half.
- Now, dip a small washcloth in it and apply it on the bump.
- Apply it 2-3 times a day to see the difference in the size!
6.Aspirin
It is known to speed up the healing process by opening the blood vessels and also has anti-bacterial properties to kill the infectious bacterias. This is the reason it is very useful in treating cartilage piercing bumps.
How To Use
- Crush an aspirin tablet and 2-3 drops of water to it to make a thick paste.
- Apply this paste over the bump and let it dry.
- Rinse it with lukewarm water after drying.
- Repeat it 2-3 times a day to notice the difference!
7.Honey
Honey is very popularly known as a home remedy for getting rid of scars and bumps. It is known to give relief against the itching and irritation caused by the bump.
How To Use
- Dip a cotton ball in honey and hold it over the bump for 5-10 minutes.
- Repeat this 2-3 times a day to get rid of the annoying bumps.
8.Hydrogen Peroxide
Application of this solution is known to dissolve the dead cells present and help to reduce the infection. It is a very well-known wound therapeutic agent.4
How To Use
- Dip an ear bud in hydrogen peroxide and slightly move the jewellery so that it can be applied to the base.
- Also, depending on the skin sensitivity, use this method in a week.
9.Antibacterial Ointments
There are many antibacterial creams available in the market. Buy any from a reputed source and apply twice a day.
Prefer, consulting a doctor before using the ointment if you have sensitive skin. This will help you to get rid of the bump faster.
Causes Of Cartilage Piercing Bumps
The basic reason for the appearance of cartilage piercing bumps is the of hygiene. Following are the causes of cartilage piercing bumps in detail:
1.Unhygienic Equipment
If unsterilized equipment is used during piercing, then it provides a ground for bacteria to grow and ultimately causes infection. This causes a bump to occur.
2.No Personal Hygiene
This is one of the major reasons for the occurrence of bumps after piercing. The area near to the piercing should be cleaned properly and daily so that it is safe from infections. Also, keeping your hair away from touching the pierced area will help to prevent infections.
3.Use Of Inappropriate Jewellery
Wearing inexpensive jewelry made of cheap metals can also cause bumps to occur near the piercings. Beware of jewelry made of nickel, because it is known to have a higher risk of infections.
Symptoms Of Cartilage Piercing Bumps
A cartilage piercing bump behind an ear, a cartilage piercing bump on the back of the ear, or on ear lobe shows almost the same symptoms. Following are some of the symptoms you will notice if there is a bump coming around the piercing are:
1.Severe Pain
At first, the bumps may cause mild to moderate pain. However, often they are an indication that you have developed an infection.
After a few weeks of occurrence of the bump, you start experiencing severe pain when you touch that area. It becomes very sensitive that suggest an infection has already occurred.
2.Redness Of Skin
The skin around the piercing gets red. This is due to the infection developed near the piercing.
3.Swelling
There is a swelling of the cartilage observed. This makes it very sensitive.
4.Pus
Sometimes, due to infection, there may be a discharge of green or yellow colored pus from the bump. This is also responsible for pain.
5.Increased Temperature
All the skin area near the bump experiences a rise in temperature as there is pus built inside the bump.
6.Fever
In extreme cases, the person may also develop fever as a result of piercing.
7.Prolonged Bleeding
If something gets stuck in the earring or if it gets pulled, there may be prolonged bleeding experienced. Also, there may be a formation of the crush after it on the piercing.
Healing Stages Of Cartilage Piercing Bumps
It is considered harmless, but it is very important to know that it heals in stages. These bumps take time to disappear and may sometimes cause serious complications! Following are the stages in which cartilage piercing bump disappears:
First Stage: In this stage, the wound has just started to heal. It will be still open and needs to be taken care of; else it may develop infection again.
Second Stage: In this stage, our body produces collagen that helps to recover.
Final Stage: In this stage, the collagen fibers get realigned. This stage is also known as maturation stage.
Are Cartilage Piercing Bumps Dangerous?
Since it is a type of infection, if it is not treated in time, it may spread to other parts of the body and result in adverse effects. Following are some of the dangerous things that may happen if the bump continues to remain untreated:
- Boils
- Hypertonic scarring
- Deformation of ears
- Perichondritis
- Keloid formation
Precautions To Be Taken To Avoid Them
If you have just done a piercing, it is necessary to follow some instructions that will help you avoid these painful bumps!
1. Go To A Professional Piercer
Piercing if done in a wrong manner can also lead to bumps, so you should seek help from a professional piercer. He/she may guide you on what jewelry you should wear. They may also guide you about the proper hygiene and care for the same.
2. No Improper Jewellery Fitting
Wearing loose jewelry can lead to bumps as it keeps on moving in the hole, irritating the cartilage and skin around it.
3. Say NO To Piercing Guns
Though it is less painful to have pierced through the guns and it is worst if you are someone who usually has sensitive or bump-prone skin. Piercings done with guns are more prone to bumps, and so they should be avoided.
4. No Bumping And Knocking
It is suggested that tie your hair while sleeping and during the daytime especially if you have long hair that often gets stuck in your earrings.
Make sure nothing gets stuck in your piercing area and pulls it. Avoid touching it frequently and protect it as much as possible.
Final Talk
Cartilage piercing bump is common. Many people get it even after proper care and hygiene.If you are a victim of the same, follow the remedies and simple instructions above to get relief from the bump quickly.
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