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BUMP ON MY PIERCING​

BLISTERS, BUMPS, and BUBBLES on my PIERCING

Understanding Irritation, Moisture Bumps, and When to Seek Medical Care

If you’ve noticed a bump, blister, bubble, or swelling

on or behind your ear piercing,you are not alone.

Online, these are often casually and incorrectly labeled as “moisture bumps” or “keloids.” 
From over 38 years of professional ear piercing research and hands-on clinical experience,

true keloids are rare, and most piercing bumps are non-infectious,

aftercare-related irritations, along with contributions from select piercing techniques

that can be resolved when properly addressed.

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Start Here: Review Your Aftercare Instructions

For consistency and reference, please review the most current

Basic In-Studio Aftercare Consultation and the aftercare sheet provided during your studio visit.

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Understanding the difference between:

  • Normal healing responses

  • Non-infectious irritation

  • True infection

  • Rare keloid conditions

Knowing what an issue related condition is and how to combat it,

may be essential to successful healing.

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⚠️ This information applies to NON-INFECTED piercings only.
If you suspect infection, or a Keloid seek medical care immediately.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Contact a medical professional or physician if:

  • Symptoms worsen

  • Pain increases

  • Swelling spreads

  • Heat, fever, or discharge is present

  • The bump does not respond to home care

  • The bump does not diminish after jewelry removal

A physician may prescribe a topical cream, ointment, or in some cases oral antibiotics.

If a bump persists and does not respond to appropriate aftercare or jewelry removal,

a medical consultation may be required to evaluate possible keloid formation.

 

Please note:
Topical medications are not a long-term aftercare solution for successful piercing healing.

Continue to stay in contact with us for guidance.

 

Before Assuming the Worst —Did you review and follow the aftercare guide?

Healing Timeframes Matter

  • Lobe piercings: Clean for 6–8 weeks

  • Cartilage piercings: Clean for 6–9 months

  • Clean twice daily using two different procedures

  • Then scale down after suggested times to once daily                                                                            in the shower with soap and water or sea salt solution

  • Continued gentle maintenance may be needed for a year or longer

Ear Piercing Bumps and aftercare related issues.

​Ask Yourself:

  • Have you been cleaning daily for the full required timeframe?

  • Did you move the earring without soaking it free first?

  • Do you remember that Procedure #1 includes soaking, compressing,

  • and moving, while Procedure #2 does not?

  • Is the backing too tight?

  • Have you changed earrings from the original piercing jewelry?

 

If aftercare has been diligent and consistent, additional factors may be involved.

The Most Common Causes of Piercing Bumps

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1. Backing Too Tight

  • The backing should sit on or just before the notch

  • The post should not protrude beyond the backing

  • Over-tightening restricts airflow and traps debris

  • Flatback post too short.

 

2. Metal Sensitivities or Reactions

  • Even with proper cleaning, metal reactions can occur

  • First step: switch to a titanium backing

  • If unresolved, switch to a titanium post

  • Always confirm whether you’re still wearing the original piercing jewelry

 

3. Long Fingernails

Yes—this matters.

Long nails can prevent:

  • Proper compression

  • Adequate debris removal

  • Effective cleaning behind the ear

 

Dead skin cells and waste often accumulate behind the piercing,

especially when compression cannot be performed correctly.

When Piercing Issues Seem “Mysterious”

 

Some piercing issues:

  • Appear without a clear cause

  • Improve suddenly with simple corrections

  • Require medical intervention despite proper aftercare

 

Problematic piercings can:

  • Heal with minor adjustments

  • Plateau and recycle

  • Require re-evaluation or temporary jewelry removal

 

If jewelry removal is necessary,

a piercing can often be safely reopened later under better conditions.

​Short-Term Accelerated Support

Emergensea Solution (For Non-Infectious Use Only)

Use no more than 3 times daily for 3 days.

 

Emergensea Solution Recipe

  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

  • 1 oz purified or bottled water

  • Small dash of hydrogen peroxide

  • Mix well

  • Warming is optional

 

Proper Order of Use

  1. Wash hands thoroughly

  2. Prepare all supplies

  3. Flush and soak with very warm water

  4. Flush with self-made sea salt solution

  5. Rinse thoroughly

  6. Apply Emergensea solution

  7. Perform compression technique. This involves moving out as much of the fluids and debris from the bump.

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Step 7: Perform the Compression Technique (Critical Step)

This is the most important step in the entire aftercare process.
All preparation steps leading up to this point

—soaking, flushing, and loosening debris—are done specifically to make compression effective and safe.

The compression technique is designed to gently move out trapped fluids, dead cell waste, and debris that can accumulate around the piercing and behind the ear. When these materials are not properly removed, they can become trapped under the skin and contribute to the formation of bumps, blisters, bubbles, or pressure-related swelling.

A common cause of persistent piercing bumps is insufficient or skipped compression during standard aftercare. Cleaning without compression may rinse the surface but fails to relieve internal buildup,

allowing waste to remain trapped and continue to irritate the healing tissue.

During this step, compression helps to:

  • Encourage the release of accumulated fluids

  • Work out softened dead skin cells and debris

  • Reduce internal pressure around the piercing

  • Support healthy drainage

  • Relieve stress on healing tissue rather than adding to it

By assisting the body in moving waste out of the piercing, compression reduces unnecessary internal pressure and helps prevent the ear from responding by forming a bump. This step supports natural healing by relieving buildup, not by forcing or stressing the tissue.

Compression should always be:

  • Performed only after proper soaking and flushing

  • Gentle yet firm

  • Focused close to the piercing site and backing area

  • Done with clean hands and a clean, saturated cloth or tissue

Skipping or minimizing this step can significantly delay healing

and is often a major contributing factor in non-infectious piercing-related bumps. 

8.Final flush and allow to air dry naturally

 

⚠️ If irritation or excessive dryness occurs,

discontinue use immediately and seek guidance.

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What to Expect

  • Positive improvement may appear within 3–12 hours

  • Some conditions take weeks or months to fully resolve

  • Over-use of products can delay healing

 

No Improvement?

If no improvement occurs within several days—or symptoms worsen

—the piercing should be re-examined and medical advice may be required.

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Final Guidance

The best prevention is diligence.
Consistently follow:

  • The Basic Aftercare Instructions

  • The In-Studio Consultation

  • The Aftercare Demonstration Video

  • Your written Aftercare Guide

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For reference and consistency

We have Included the original in studio Ear Piercing Aftercare Consultation.

START with this video:

Blisters, Bumps & Bubbles on the Ear or Cartilage

Written by Angel, DEH Licensed Safe Body Art Practitioner

If you feel your condition requires medical evaluation, please do so

—and connect back with our team for continued guidance and support.

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