How to Heal Piercing Bumps

Many people complain of bumps on their piercing. While proper care usually keeps these from forming, sometimes a piercing gets a bump with the best of care. Identifying the bump and treating it can reduce pain, and help your piercing heal faster. The most common bump on a healing piercing is a boil, or bacterial pocket. They are usually caused by jewelry putting pressure on the piercing, and the body responds by scarring. It's scar tissue that grows beyond the boundary of a piercing. Boils are the most common, and easiest to treat of al piercing bumps. Sea salt soaks should be done daily on any healing piercing. Mix 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt with warm water, and soak the piercing for 5-15 minutes a day. Rinse your piercing after soaking to remove excess salt. If sea salt soaks aren't reducing your bumps, try using chamomile tea bags as hot compresses. For stubborn bumps that resist sea salt and chamomile treatments, try using tea tree oil. If your bumps looks like scar tissue, doesn't respond to the above treatments, and is getting bigger or goes beyond the piercing itself, it may be a keloid. They should not replace soaks, since the warm water helps draw things out of the piercing. Never rotate or spin jewelry in a healing piercing.