What are piercing bubbles? And how do I get rid of it/them?

These "bubbles" are common following any type of damage to any body piercing during the early stages of the healing period. This damage includes: snagging the jewelry on something (towels, clothing, bedding, etc.); touching or moving the jewelry; touching or moving the skin surrounding the piercing; use of chemicals, including makeup; changing of healing jewelry before healing is completed. There are a ton of other things that can also cause damage - it is impossible to list them all!

THEY ARE NOT keloids!! (Stupid internet!! They are similar to pimples, just of a more chronic nature than the ones you're used to. This also is NOT an infection. It IS severe irritation and inflammation on the surfaces of the piercing opening(s). They can fill with junk that the skin is collecting at the surface - often visible as little pus-bubbles.

Do not squeeze or pick at these bubbles! That can make them worse in the long run, and also opens you up to the risk of other serious issues (like folliculitis, just for one example.) Instead, the best practice I've found is to do a short regimen of hot-water compresses 3 times a day for 3 days, then reduce to once a day for a week. Monitor it and repeat this cycle as needed.

Don't get discouraged! These bumps can recur - especially around the start of your monthly hormone cycles. Men and women have hormone cycles, but these are definitely more common with the estrogen/progesterone cycles of women. Stress is also a hormone-inducer, so stressing over things (or even just the piercing) can actually make these flare up more frequently.

Expect these changes and use the compresses to get ahead of the flare up! Diligence with these simple and highly soothing compresses will speed the healing of both the piercing AND these surface issues. See this FAQ-blog for some more in-depth articles.

what to do?

  • Begin Hot Water Compress immediately following damage or if notice redness between the piercing openings

  • If not improving, or worsening, after 3 full days of hwc schedule a care appointment

  • Do not remove the jewelry - it is NOT the cause of the bubbles and they really can be controlled with care and patience

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