For those with experience of piercings - Does this look normal

[StudentHelp]

I had my daith pierced 2 weeks ago and it healed like a charm until the last day or so where I think I’ve notice bumps.

It’s red but hasn’t been painful, hot or oozing anything at all. Getting really worried and will go back to my piercer but can’t until Tuesday and I’m worried about it getting much worse.

First pic at a few days old and the second is it now (just been in shower so skin is pink but my ear is red)

When I say healed, I know it’s no where near healed yet I just meant it was going smoothly to that point! Just to clarify

I had mine done with the same heart- but it got twisted and the / part stuck inside my piercing, caused swelling and all kinds of shit.
Had it removed and immediately replaced with a bar. Mine took months to heal (normal because it’s a thick piece of cartilage) and I had lumps too, which have all gone now it’s healed up.
Go to any tattoo or piercing place, they’ll have a look for you and tell you if it’s got any issues

I'd go to a pharmacist in the morning (a supermarket one will be open) and have them look at it. It doesn't look good, but I have zero medical knowledge.

It might just be your body trying to reject it - some people's bodies are more adept at recognising foreign objects than others. It could settle down but it does look angry. Was it a needle piercing?

Did you have yours done for migraines? I did, I’ve found it exceptionally helpful. I’ve had some still, but nowhere close to on the scale as before.

Love your earrings on the love by the way, where are they from?

*lobe not love 🙄

Can you do a salt water soak?
My pieces recommended this if I devolved any lumps and bumps!

Can you do a salt water soak?
My pieces recommended this if I devolved any lumps and bumps

You should be doing that anyway, regardless of lumps.

Op, it’s pretty normal but if you’re unsure then go back to your piercer or a pharmacy and get advice.

@Sheldonoscopy Just Warren James! And yes, I got it done for migraines and it seems to be helping so far.

@helparguement I’ve been cleaning with saline solution twice daily, it’s difficult to do a proper soak due to the location but I am using a compress and cotton buds. I was also cleaning with pro pierce tea tree and almond oil which my piercer gave me and then using the saline after but I was worried that it was irritating my ear and switched to just saline and they seem to be getting worse.

I have multiple cartilage piercings in my other ear and they all healed fine.

• they seem to be getting worse since stopping the tea tree so that may not have been the cause.

Definitely go to any tattoo or piercing place and have them have a look. Looks very pretty, makes me want to buy and swap out mine now that it’s healed... another piercing too maybe 🙈😂

I can’t go to a piercer until Tuesday but could get to the pharmacy tomorrow.
And also forgot to add it was pierced with a needle.

Both of my cartilage piercings had bumps. Have you heard the piercing phrase LITHA (leave it the hell alone) that’s what I did after using diluted tea tree oil and it took 18 months for my rook to settle.

You need to let the water run onto it in the shower/soak in bath and don’t touch it at all for a few weeks. The bump is because it’s upset.

@VenusTiger
I do leave it alone, except when cleaning it. Surely I should still be cleaning it only 2 weeks in? I cleaned my helix for about 4 months twice daily

I never have problems with piercings but found my daith a pain. It went all red and angry and although it didn't weep lots of pus or bleed it would get green crust build up around the bar. I just used salt water soaks and make sure you clean off the salt residue afterwards with a clean pad and warm boiled water. Dont put earphones in and dont touch it. I don't think that ring helps as it can get pulled and pushed about. Mines long healed and I changed it ages ago to a ring and its starting to get a bit sore!

@mrspotatohed
Thanks for your reply! I’m glad to hear others have had issues which were resolved as I was sat here envisioning a massive keloid scar by tomorrow or something dreadful.
It was pierced with the heart, which I wasn’t expecting (until they offered it obviously) but I can’t remember if they even offered bars as I was probably distracted by the heart on the jewellery pad.

I’ve been avoiding earphones and missed a practical at uni where I needed my stethoscope to avoid any irritation/infection risk. I haven’t been rinsing the salt solution off though which I could try.

I've had 15+ piercings in my time- a bit of salt water and you'll have no probs. Try and not sleep on that side and if lumps do come round the holes go back and get the jewellery changed. Good luck

Hi
I had my daith pierced just over a year ago and its JUST finished healing. It had persistant bumps on both the entry and exit hole, and it was a nightmare to heal.
I'm VERY surprised they pierced you from the outset with a daith heart, they are notorious for being difficult as they spin around in the hole and can become wedged, it's usually a bar or a round hoop they should put in, so I wouldn't be surprised if it gives you trouble. The bumps are almost always granuloma type hypertrophic scarring, not keloids, although everyone calls them keloids, which are actually totally different. Hypertrophic scarring will usually heal over time. The best advice it salt water soaks (fill a cup with warm water and a teaspoon of non iodised sea salt NOT table salt). Dunk you ear in for a good 5 - 10 minutes a few times a day. Dry well. Some people swear by tea tree oil but others say it is too harsh. Most people advocate LITHA (leave it the hell alone). Cartilage can take over a year to heal. Personally I would swap the heart out for a bar or a hoop.
Good luck.
ps make sure whatever is put in there is implant grade titanium, not sterling silver, stainless steel or mystery metal!

Have you tried a camomile tea soak? Get a camomile tea bag, add a little boiling water (I use a ramekin) and steep the tea bag. Leave it to cool down a bit until it's still hot, but cool enough to hold, if that makes sense. And just hold the teabag on the piercing. I'm doing this as we speak on my new nostril piercing and it's lovely and soothing. It can ease irritation but also be used as a preventative measure. I've done it since day 1 on all of my cartilage piercings and never had problems.

My piercer is a LITHA advocate so this is the only thing I do, once a day, as well as it getting a light splash with warm water when washing my face and in the shower. No saline or other traditional cleaning. As long as it's getting rinsed in the shower it shouldn't really need anything else.

Definitely see your piercer too though 😊

I've just checked all the details about my piercing that they emailed to me and it is titanium. I thought it was, as I'd asked at the time but thought I'd double check.

I know keloids tend to develop later and are different to hypertrophic scarring, but I also know they're usually harder to get rid of. Hence, the fear

I think it looks fine - as in it looks like a typical flared up daith piercing that’s within the range of the standard healing process, rather than something abnormal.

I have several ear piercings including rook and snug and mine would randomly flare up like this in the first year or so, especially if I was ill too (eg a cold)

But of course, feel free to seek medical advice or go back to the piercer and share your concerns.

@Lhastingsmua Glad to hear you think it's normal! I have been ill the past few days (been extra careful to wash hands often and been switching pillow cases much more regularly etc) so that may be a factor

Personally I think it would be wise to get it checked - go back to your piercer when you can.
But, on the meantime, use rock salt soaks.
Dilute rock salt with water as no doubt your piercer advised (1/4 teaspoon rock salt in a cup of boiled water - let it cool and keep it in the fridge.)
Don't just put some on a cotton pad and leave it to soak. Put some in a glass and then put your ear over it, then tip up so your ear is covered on the solution. Leave it there for at least a minute. It really does work.

I think a slightly weakened immune system from a common cold is enough to wreak havoc on a healing piercing! Mine would be fine for months then start to swell, feel hot & ooze as soon as I was poorly!

I just apply saline solution regularly for now and visit your piercer as soon as you can. Your piercing should naturally settle down but it’s best to get their opinion on whether it’s normal. In the meantime focus on feeling better - drink plenty of fluids, take rehydration sachets if necessary to help your body recover etc.

Looks like an irritation bump. I'd just rinse it in the shower and then leave it alone