i have 2 cartilage piercings.. one i have had for 2 years and had a nasty bump that almost all of went away but still hurts to touch, and the other has a nasty bleeding painful bump which i have tried everything to get rid of but wont change. what should i try to heal it and also if i get my nose pierced, should i expect the same reaction? i recently found out i am allergic to anything but gold and i have a stainless steel bar, could that be why my ear is so swollen and leaky? i am worried if i pierce my nose i will get the same red bump.
2007-08-08 18:11:34 · 6 answers · asked by snuffy 1 in Beauty & Style ➔ Skin & Body ➔ Other - Skin & Body
316L surgical grade steel has a slight nickel content and can cause a reaction. There are several other types of metal that you can try however. Titanium, gold (however I dont recommend gold) and several allergy safe versions of steel, or you can always go for bioplast.
If you are not healed after a year and its still sore I would say that its a reaction to nickel and you need to change to a different material.
Also try a bit of diluted tea tree oil on the bumps, that tends to take it away, but also do 2 salt soaks a day.
Hope it clears up
2007-08-08 21:09:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
gold really isn't the best metal, just so you know. The best metal for sensitive skin is either surgical grade stainless steal or titanium. It's possible that you don't have a high quality jewelery in your piercings and that's one of the reasons why it hasn't healed up.
Cartilage piercings are notoriously difficult to heal. I have two that have those lovely bumps and still get weepy occasionally. the best you can do is go to a good, experienced piercer and tell them what's going on, ask them what they'd suggest, and just baby it along.
No matter what, you should change the jewelery. It's very possible you have a scratch on the jewelery which is irritating the heck out of it.
As for your nose, it's possible you'll get a bump, it's possible it'll heal up well. Each piercing is different. Odds are, however, you'll have some issues healing it up.
I recently (as in december) got my conch pierced and i tried something new this time. I asked my piercer to use a 1 gauge larger needle than the jewelry. This puts less pressure on the puncture as it heals. Besides the usual pain for the first month or so and a very very slight bump from it getting knocked around a few times, it's healed with zero issues. You might try that for your nose, but be ready for the possibility of more blood than normal. Usually the jewelry puts enough pressure to stop the blood with piercings, but using a smaller gauge jewelry than needle tends to make it a bit more of a bloody experience.
Good luck!!
2007-08-09 01:31:47 · answer #2 · answered by Rose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just had the same thing happen to my cartilage piercing. It was fine for a year or so and now, a large bleeding nasty bump, hurts like hell too. I went to piercer(best in LA), and he said it's normal. Could be a hair follicle, dirt, slept on it wrong, small tear from clothing, rubbing, etc. I noticed that not messing with helps. You can try sea salt soaks, they work pretty well to draw out whatever is in the bump. I hear hot compresses with a towel are helpful too. It's very rare to be allergic to surgical steel, which is what post jewelry is made out of, so I doubt you can only wear gold. As far as the nose goes, piercing doesn't follow patterns so it's impossible to tell if you will have negative results.
2007-08-09 01:19:35 · answer #3 · answered by role_lasrever 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that could be an allergic reaction, or the earring could be pulling while you sleep. Try using only gold, but be sure to keep it clean and treat the infected area with peroxide and alcohol. If this does not help, see your doctor. If it is an allergy, you will have the same problem with your nose.
2007-08-09 01:22:27 · answer #4 · answered by PEGGY S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it out...
Yes you will likely get the same reaction from a new piercing...no one should have a reaction to SURGICAL grade stainless...I cant wear silver or stainless earings...or even low grade gold...My ears have been pierced for decades...and I will still get the reaction if I try to wear fashion earings...try to find a better grade of stainless and clear up the problem you have, before, you cause a new problem.
2007-08-09 01:24:14 · answer #5 · answered by Stacey 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If your piercing hurts, and by "hurts" I mean "is sore", for more than two weeks you're supposed to take it out or see a doctor. It shouldn't, in my experience and from what I was told when I got mine, actually -hurt- for more than 24 hours after you got it.
2007-08-09 01:17:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋