Keloid on nose

First, its not a keloid, it is just a fluid filled bump.  It becomes a keloid after several months of the bump being present.  We will help you so that this does not happen.

Second, you have been OVERCLEANING and using HARSH PRODUCTS on your delicate nose.  This is why the bump formed in the first place.

STOP USING THE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE it kills EVERYTHING!  Bad and healthy tissues and it will not reduce the bump in the long run.  Yes, your problem is common because of the aftercare that most people receive.  At our shop, it is very rare to have these problems occurring.

Just for your information, Bactine is not recommended by the manufacturer as we went to their website and this is what they wrote:

Bactine was first introduced in 1950 and is a first aid product to help prevent skin infection and for the temporary relief of pain and itching associated with minor: cuts, scrapes, burns.

They had a question if it could be used on body piercings and this is the answer.

We cannot recommend that Bactine be used for this purpose since body piercings are considered puncture wounds. Consumers should consult their doctor for treatment of such wounds.

We have been trying to get the message out that Bactine is BAD for piercings, now the manufacturer is also stating this fact on their website.

It's been quite a night.

After I wrote my last post, I went to talk to a pharmacist about the Topicort.  First, she suspected that it's infected - which, at the time, I didn't think so because I don't have a fever, the piercing wasn't sore, just itchy - anyway, she said that for the night only, I could use the Topicort VERY sparingly on it.  However, when I got home and washed my face (this time with Spectro since it's unscented unlike the Tersa stuff I had been using) I decided to try a bit of Penaten zinc cream.  That initially 'calmed' the itching, but not the swelling.

After a couple of hours the itching started all over again and I started to panic.  By this time it was after midnight and as I was feeling desperate, I tried to remove the screw to no avail.   Nose is too swollen and I think the screw might be a bit tight.  Anyway, I had to use the Topicort in the end - I put only the smallest possible amount, and it did calm everything right down.

My dermatitis is caused by a nickel reaction and so it makes sense what your saying - this is obviously a nickel problem too and that's why the Topicort worked.  Anyway, I still can't use it as the solution, so I guess I'm going to have to head back to my piercer and have it removed!

It doesn't look very pretty this morning but I'm still not sure that it's a true infection and I don't think I need antibiotics yet (I hope!!).  It's swollen and crusty - hopefully after the shower it'll look a bit better until I can get to the piercer after work today.

I can't access this site from my work.  Would someone be able to email me at my work address?  
Thanks!

The following communication was received by email by Buzziesmom:

The stud is more than half covered by the thin scabby swelling.  The swelling is no worse than yesterday but it truly looks awful.  The crustiness is slightly yellow, the bump is bigger than ever.  I'm sure it doesn't help that I did try to remove the screw on my own last night around midnight.  I just felt like I needed to get it out of my nose - it was so irritated and I was beside myself with itch.

I did apply a very thin touch of the cream again this morning, but that's it.  I won't use it again.  Nor the Spectra.  I was confused though about the nickel part, because I am sensitive to nickel - I get contact dermititis from my watch, earrings, jean rivets, bra straps etc. which is why I have the prescription cream in the first place.

Aren't I just aggravating the sensitivity by leaving the screw in?  Shouldn't it come out?  Your piercer stated that if I was reacting to just the nickel, I would have done so right from the beginning (5 weeks ago), not just have started last night.

Obviously the Tersaseptic and then the Spectra must be the new culprits.  As I mentioned, it was itchy again this morning (of course I had just washed my face and piercing with Spectra) so no wonder.

I get it:  I'll leave it totally alone now :)   The good thing, for now at least, is that it's not itchy.

My only last concern is that the stud is minimally visible.  It certainly looks pretty covered - all the swelling and crusties are flush with the stud - it doesn't protrude beyond it.

I'll try this for a few days (praying that the itch subsides since I'm not going to use any products) and let you know how this all goes.

Please do not remove the jewellery.  Many piercing shops are not as diligent as we are in our selection of product.  When we deal with a manufacturer or distributor, we get guarantees that the jewellery is in fact made with Implant Grade Surgical Steel or we will NOT purchase it.

We have seen some jewellery that is plated and when we use a tool to bend the jewellery so that it can fit into the piercing, we can see the flakes coming off the jewellery.  We know that its not real and we inform the client that what they brought to us to insert is not good for them.

So please be patient and leave your piercing alone.

Client has written to us stating that it is doing much better, now that she had left it alone.

We are very happy to be able to help.

Hi again -

Thank you for replying and for providing me with this information.

In light of this, I have to say that I'm quite upset with the aftercare advice I was given by my piercer.  First to use Bactine, and then when I went in a week ago to be told to use peroxide!  Grrrr...

After reading your aftercare information on this site the other day, I've just been washing my entire face with an antibacterial facial wash and that's it.  I don't give my piercing or the bump any special attention other than to use a cotton swab to gently remove the little bit of whitish build-up that collects around the stud.

How long should I give this fluid-filled bump to go away before I should be further concerned?  Again, your feedback is very comforting.

Thank goodness for this forum!

We are very happy that this forum has helped you.  Since you have been using Bactine and then peroxide quite aggressively (in our opinion) it may take a couple of weeks for the effects of the damage to dissipate.

Be patient.  You should start to see a little difference in a matter of a few of days.  You may notice an increase in the first 48 hours because your body is acustomed to doing certain things to it and it anticipates the same.   So it will take a few days for the body to realize that you are no longer doing these bad things and it will then do what it needs to do.

The body is very capable of healing itself, its what we do that hinders this process.

Good evening -

I think I should add that this thing on my nose really kind of looks like a white crusty formation, not really a pimply or reddish smooth bump.  I read another post where someone's nose problem kind of looked a bit like a wart.  I guess mine is somewhat like that, but it's dry and rough - not really fleshy.  It softens of course when I wash my face, but it dries right up afterwards.  This still sounds kind of familiar to you?

I just wanted you to be sure you knew what I am dealing with :)  

Not everyone has the same 'pimply bump' but all have a 'bump'.

Because you have been using peroxide, it is no wonder that it is white.   As we have written, it has killed everything healthy or not!  One of the signs is that you tell us its white; peroxide has a habit of doing this.

We do understand what you are going through and hope that it will soon be gone and your piercing will be healthy.

Me again -

Last night when I washed my face, that whitish grizzly bit came off with fairly gentle prodding with a Q-tip (it was sort of just hanging there as it was separating from the bump) - now the swelling looks like what others seem to describe - just reddish pink and slight swelling about half way around the stud.

Some sign of improvement perhaps - I'm crossing my fingers!  ;)

Thanks for your prompt replies!

Yes, it is some improvement.  The peroxide has done its damage and now the skin has peeled off.

Keep smiling as it sounds like you are getting to the halfway mark.

You should notice that the bump will be shrinking more each day.

New problem?

The bump is smaller today, but out of the blue just now my nose became intensely itchy and when I looked in the mirror I saw that there is swelling all the way around the stud (it's a nose screw actually) that actually looks as though it's trying to absorb the stud.

I am concerned because I've not been able to wear earrings for the last couple of months - not even 10, 14, or 24 karat gold!  My ears react by swelling and itching, and until today, my nose didn't act like this!

Now I'm thinking that if I can't wear earrings, I won't be able to wear the nose ring either!  Help!  What can I do to 'calm' my nose down?  Anything?  I have a prescription for a mild topical cortiscosteroid (sp?) - it's called 'Topicort' and it's for my contact dermatitis that sometimes flares up - I'm going to look up on the internet to see if I can use this on my face, but I'd also like your feedback first in case you've heard of this kind of reaction before and have another known treatment.

I really hope this piercing works out - I'm getting worried :(

You are describing a nickel sensitivity and this tells us that the jewellery you are wearing is not made of implant grade surgical steel.

If you are unable to wear gold, then you have to find out if there is nickel in the composition of the gold you have in your possession.  That is difficult because we have found out that each goldsmith uses a slightly different composition and some include nickel.  Why some people can only purchase, for example, Italian gold because it does not have nickel in it.  You may be in a similar situation.

This type of sensitivity does not just happen, it is gradual but when it hits, you no longer can wear any nickel at all.

Where did you purchase your nostril screw?  Is it a body piercing shop or at a jewellery store.  If the jewellery store, return to it and ask directly if there is nickel as you are allergic to it.

Do you have a rash on the skin around the piercing?  Do not use the topical coritisol (sp) lotion until we know what you have.  Find out it if works for nickel allergies.  If not, do not use at all.

Lets keep calm and we will help as much as we can.