Irritation Bumps vs Keloids: What's the Difference and What to Do

A bump near a piercing is one of the most common reasons people panic and rush to change their jewellery. Usually that's exactly the wrong thing to do. Here's how to work out what you're dealing with and what to actually do about it.

What is an irritation bump?

An irritation bump is a small raised bump that forms near the piercing, usually at the entry or exit point. It's your body's response to stress on the tissue, which can come from sleeping on the piercing, snagging it, changing jewellery too early, using the wrong jewellery, or over-cleaning.

Irritation bumps are extremely common and in most cases completely reversible. They're not permanent.

They're your piercing telling you something is wrong.

What is a keloid?

A keloid is a type of raised scar formed by an overgrowth of scar tissue. True keloids extend beyond the boundary of the original wound, feel firm and rubbery, and don't go away on their own. They're actually quite rare and are far more likely in people with a genetic predisposition to them.

Most people who think they have a keloid actually have an irritation bump or a hypertrophic scar, which is a raised scar that stays within the boundary of the piercing.

How to tell the difference

Irritation bump: soft, appears relatively quickly, usually close to one end of the piercing, often a bit fluid-filled or crusty.

Hypertrophic scar: firmer, formed over a longer period, sits right at the piercing site.

Keloid: firm to hard, grows beyond the piercing site, doesn't reduce over time.

What to do about an irritation bump

Find the cause and fix it. Common culprits are sleeping directly on the piercing, jewellery that's too long or too short, low quality jewellery, or touching the piercing too often.

Saline solution soaks can help settle inflammation. Don't use tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol, these are too harsh and make things worse.

Do not change the jewellery unless the material is the problem. Changing jewellery irritates the tissue further.

What to do about a keloid or hypertrophic scar

See your piercer first to confirm what you're dealing with. A genuine keloid may need medical treatment including steroid injections or silicone sheets. A hypertrophic scar will often reduce on its own once the irritation source is removed and the piercing heals fully.