You've seen it grow little by little without really worrying about it, or you've only just noticed it: what is this kind of "bump" growing on your piercing?!

First of all: don't panic! It's not serious, and if you follow the recommended care and choose a suitable piece of jewelry, everything should eventually return to normal.

What is a “growth”? What’s the difference between a keloid and a growth?

Let's start with a bit of vocabulary. You can call this phenomenon a "growth" or simply "a strange bump," but it's important not to confuse it with a keloid, which is something entirely different. There is often confusion between a growth and a keloid, but it's important to differentiate the two because while a growth is quite common in the world of piercing, a keloid is much rarer and more difficult to treat. In common piercing parlance, what is often called a "growth" most often corresponds to an irritation bump or hypergranulation, meaning excessive scar tissue that remains localized around the piercing.

A keloid, on the other hand, is a raised scar that develops after skin trauma and extends beyond the initial area of the wound. Dermatological and hospital sources emphasize this point: unlike a simple local irritation, a keloid spreads beyond the original hole or lesion, can appear gradually over several months, and often persists without specialized treatment.

Piercings can indeed trigger a keloid in genetically predisposed individuals, but not all "bumps" on piercings are keloids.

The most common causes

The most common causes of a growth around a piercing are anything that irritates or disturbs healing: unsuitable jewelry, poorly chosen jewelry length, ill-fitting ring, repeated rubbing and pressure, impact, manipulation, overly aggressive cleaning, or premature jewelry change. The APP specifies that over-cleaning, overly aggressive products like those containing alcohol, and local trauma can irritate the piercing and delay healing, as well as cause a growth.

The material of the jewelry can also play a role: some jewelry can cause allergic reactions, especially those containing nickel. The Association of Professional Piercers recommends biocompatible materials for initial piercings, especially certain certified implant-grade titanium.

Sleeping on it, snagging the jewelry, wearing a ring too early, or wearing jewelry that creates tension can also perpetuate irritation. In practice, a small persistent bump is often less related to a "serious infection" than to hindered healing caused by repeated micro-traumas.

What you absolutely should not do

If you notice a growth on your piercing, you absolutely should not:

• Manipulate or move the jewelry
• Apply a lot of disinfectant or alcohol-based products to it
• Apply hydrogen peroxide or iodine to it
• Improvise as a magician by using tea tree essential oils or others
• Improvise as a pharmacist by applying medicinal poultices or applying balms or creams
• Try to pierce the growth
• Use tweezers or a needle on the growth

What we advise

• Do not touch the piercing anymore
• Clean only with saline solution
• Minimize rubbing and impacts on the piercing as much as possible
• Check if the jewelry is suitable and of good quality
• Visit the shop without an appointment if it persists or grows, so we can advise you best

When should you worry?

You should start to worry if the area becomes truly painful, hot, or significantly more swollen, or if unusual discharge appears. Rapid worsening is also a sign not to be ignored. And even without very marked symptoms, if doubt persists or the appearance seems abnormal, the best thing to do is to have the piercing checked quickly by a professional.

In summary, pay attention to these symptoms:

• significant pain
• marked warmth in the area
• significant swelling
• unusual discharge
• rapid expansion and growth of the “bump”

Conclusion

A growth around a piercing is relatively common and not necessarily serious. In most cases, the most important thing is to avoid DIY solutions or trying random remedies, as this can perpetuate irritation. The right approach is to have the area checked quickly by a professional to adopt the correct course of action from the start.

If you have any doubts, don't wait for the situation to worsen. A growth is often easier to resolve when dealt with early. The simplest approach is to have your piercing checked quickly to avoid unnecessarily prolonging the problem.