I got my cartilage pierced at Claire's with a gun (ack) a couple years ago. It's totally healed now and everything, but as time when on there's this bump just...around the hole. There aren't multiple bumps and I'm pretty sure it's not a bubble, but it looks bad. I was wondering if there's any way I can fix it or if I'm just screwed?
Maybe this is a keloid? How would I tell? It doesn't really extend beyond the hole, it's just always felt like there's this ball just under the skin, like scarring. I've tried to pop it but all I get is blood. Should I be worried? What do I do?
We need to know how long you have had this bump. Can you see the bump or is in under the skin, you do not make it clear. What type of jewellery do you have in place? Do you clean it? In the shower?
The problem with the gun is that it punches the tissues and this can do several things. It can punch out the tissues completely out of the body and it can get stuck in the back of the ear or it does not completely get expelled from the body and it pushed beside the hole. This can remain under the skin for all times or it can dissolve. Most of the time because of the little blood circulation in the ear, the bumps remain.
If this is a keloid, then there is only one way of removing it and that is with a demotologist. But in order to determine if it is a keloid, we need you to answer the questions above.
I'm not sure how to describe whether or not it's under the skin, but I'm pretty sure it's under because I can feel it from both the inside of my ear and the back side. The bump is visible, as in...you can tell that the skin is raised around the area of the hole. It feels a bit firm. The skin around the bump kinda moves over the bump, so it's not like there is something hanging off of my ear.
I hope that helps...if not I'll try to get a picture.
As for jewelry, I've had the piercing for around four years so I've had many different kinds, from cheap studs you get at Claire's to stainless steel loops. I don't need to keep an earring in there now, I can go some time without an earring and it won't close up.
I do not clean it in the shower.
If it is skin pushed to the side, is there any way to remove it?
The gun punches out tissue, sometimes the tissue is completely expelled from the body, other times, it gets pushed beside the hole. We are very sorry but you are one of the people who got tissue stuck inside the piercing when done with the gun.
From our understanding, this tissue does not breakdown very well, why you still have it after 4 years. We do not know of any way to get rid of it other than seeing a dermotologist.
Good luck
