You may have loved your piercing when you first got it, but maybe now that you have kids or got a job that doesn’t allow piercings, you are regretting your decision – mainly due to the scarring that can result.
The good news is that most piercing scars and bumps tend to eventually fade on their own. But it can be hard to be patient, and some piercing scars never fade. The most common type of scar to result from a piercing is a hypertrophic scar.
Hypertrophic Scars
This is a raised scar that forms when the body produces too much collagen as part of the healing process. It’s usually less than 4mm in size, it can be hard to the touch, and it can be red – at least at first.
It’s relatively easy to treat a hypertrophic scar, usually with silicone gel designed to reduce its appearance. You can also go with an all-natural remedy such as tea tree oil.
Just be sure that the bump you’re feeling around the piercing site is indeed a scar and not something else, such as a bacterial infection. Talk to your dermatologist or your piercer to get their opinion.
Apply Pressure
To reduce the overall appearance of the piercing scar, whether located on your lips, nose, ears or somewhere else, you should apply gentle pressure on the scar each day, preferably with a silicone gel like Scarfade. It’s this massage motion and application of cream regularly that will give you your best chance at reducing the piercing scar.
This will also reduce the chances that it will remain red and raised. You’re basically working to break down the collagen so that the scar will lighten and flatten over time. Hopefully what you’re left with is a small, light line or dot.
There are special discs you can wear with your jewelry that apply pressure on the scar throughout the day, so ask your piercer about options. Talk to them or a dermatologist before you do anything with the scar, as you don’t want to risk damage to the area if the piercing hasn’t fully healed yet.
Time
Ultimately, the best way to fade a piercing scar is to give it time. It could take up to a year before your piercing scar fades. But with time and the application of Scarfade, the scar will be barely noticeable before you know it. The chance of no scarring at all is even better if the area didn’t experience a traumatic event, such as an earring that was ripped out violently. Clean wounds always heal faster and better.
If it’s been more than a year and your scar hasn’t reduced in appearance yet, ask your dermatologist what other options are available to you, such as minor surgery or laser treatment. But in most cases, topical ointments such as Scarfade should do the trick.