How to Heal Swelling from Cartilage Piercing

If you’ve just had a piercing and you see a bump in the cartilage area, you’re probably worried. But fear not, they are actually granulomas and are quite common. Granulomas usually go away on their own, but there are things you can do to speed up the healing process. To help you with this, we are going to answer some frequently asked questions about how to heal the swelling caused by cartilage piercing.

Table of Contents

How can you treat granulomas at home?

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Apply warm water-soaked gauze to the swelling once a day. Granulomas can form when fluid collects beneath the skin. You can take a clean cotton ball, gauze, or cloth soaked in warm water and apply it to the swelling. Stay like this for a few minutes to soothe and allow the stagnant fluid to drain. ^{[1] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

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Try a different jewelry. Some jewelry made of alloys contains nickel, which can cause an allergic reaction called contact dermatitis and looks like a bump from a piercing. ^{[2] X Research Source} Try switching to jewelry made of other materials to see if that helps.

You may not even know that some jewelry has nickel in it!
If you are allergic to metal, you may also experience itching and redness around your piercing.

How long does it take for the swelling from the piercing to heal?

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Most of them will go away on their own within a few months. You don’t need to see a doctor or seek medical attention when a lump appears in your piercing. As long as you continue to clean and care for your piercings according to your piercer’s instructions, they will eventually deflate on their own! ^{[3] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Most people find that the swelling will disappear without a trace. For some people it may take several months, others may take up to 2 years for it to go away completely, but usually it will eventually go away.
Keloids are scar tissue that can form after a piercing. However, unlike granulomas, keloids do not go away on their own; Usually you will have to use medical treatments or surgical removal. ^{[4] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

When should you see a doctor for a piercing bump?

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See your doctor if your granuloma shows signs of infection. If the piercing is swollen and painful, or if there is blood or pus oozing from the piercing, the wound may be infected. An infection can lead to other serious complications, so it’s important to seek medical attention quickly to treat the wound. ^{[5] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics and topical antibiotic creams to treat the infection.

Can you pop the swelling?

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You might be tempted to try popping the bump, but that’s not a good idea. You may bleed a lot and cause an infection. There may be many blood vessels around the granuloma, so if you poke or puncture it, it can bleed and linger. ^{[8] X Trusted Source MedlinePlus Go to Source} In addition, bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection. ^{[9] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to source} Furthermore, this can leave scars. It’s best to let the swelling heal on its own or see a doctor.

Professional body piercers stress that the fastest way for a piercing to heal on its own and to go away is to avoid touching it as much as possible, except during cleaning.

How to prevent swelling in the piercing?

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Choose jewelry that fits. Loose or improperly sized jewelry can move in the piercing, irritating the cartilage and forming a lump. You need to wear jewelry that fits snugly into your piercing so that it doesn’t move to avoid damaging the surrounding cartilage.

If you’re not sure what jewelry to choose, ask a professional piercer. They will be more than happy to help you choose the best jewelry for your meniscus piercing.
In addition, you should also avoid wearing earrings with butterfly pins as it can cause swelling.

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Avoid getting the tips bumped or caught in other things. When entangled or scratched, jewelry will move and can lead to granulomas. Pay close attention and protect the piercing. No matter how tempting it is, try not to play with your jewelry or touch it to reduce the risk of a bump forming.

Tie your long hair behind your back when possible (especially when sleeping) so it doesn’t get caught in your piercing jewelry.

Advice

If your piercing is new, be sure to wash it gently with soap and water at least twice a day to prevent infection. ^{[10] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

Steps