I got an industrial barbell piercing over a month ago and a huge bump starting growing.
i'm not sure what it is and i'm fearing it's a keloid.
please help.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj272/dalkiswonderfulcottage/IMG_0081...
If this has just started to form, it is not yet a keloid. It can easily become one!
Was the piercing originally done with the barbell, or did you have rings placed in the piercing to begin with? Our best practice is to advise that rings are placed initially so the piercings can be better established before the barbell is inserted. Often cleaning and healing are impeded if the barbell is placed too soon.
What you are seeing is localized swelling caused by repeated injury of the piercing, possibly due to bruising. It could also be something a simple as dry skin at the margin of the piercing, which can crack and allow an infection to develop under the jewelry. If you live in a cold climate, perhaps he tissue has been frozen (frostbite). Without actually seeing what is happening, I cannot speculate on the source of the problem.
The first thing to do is to place rings in the piercings to relieve any mechanical stresses on the tissues which will aggravate the situation. If the swelling goes down, great. It is best to take a minimal approach. If the swelling persists, then moisturizing the skin around the piercing, and perhaps using a little Aloe Vera jelly on the tissues will be helpful.
Above all, avoid any aggressive aftercare, as this will probably do more damage. Be gentle and nuturing, encouraging you body to heal.
Keep me posted.
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