The number one way to treat or cure piercing bumps is: determine the specific cause of the bump and address it directly.

A host of factors can contribute to the formation of piercing-related bumps. Applying aspirin paste or wart remover is not the answer (and don’t do that!). The truth is that your bump needs to be evaluated on an individual basis!

Some contributing considerations include:

• Your anatomical suitability
• The piercing placement on your body
• The angle of the piercing (especially critical with cartilage)
• Jewelry style
• Jewelry fit (both too big and too small are problematic)
• Jewelry material
• Jewelry quality
• Your aftercare practices
• Your overall health
• Any medications you take
• Physical irritation and trauma
• Stress levels (high stress can cause wounds to take longer to heal)
• Other lifestyle factors, and more!

As the only online source for professional piercing consultations, (as far as I know, anyway) I get to see a LOT of piercing bumps! What I can tell you is that looking for miracle cures on the internet is unlikely to result in resolving your problem. There is no magic potion you can apply that will cure all piercing bumps. Their causes are dependent on individual factors, and the various types of bumps require different handling to resolve. Excess scar tissue is not the same as an overgrowth of granulation tissue, for example. If you have one, but troubleshoot for the other, you’re not going to meet with success!

I have noted that many piercers call all types of inflammations surrounding a piercing “irritation bumps” or “piercing bumps.” It is understandable that they don’t want to use medical terminology as piercers are not legally sanctioned to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. However, lumping (pardon the expression) all bumps together is not generally helpful because they’re not all caused by the same thing, nor do they all respond in a standard way to the same efforts.

Fact number 1: Not all that ails a piercing can be cured by wearing titanium jewelry. This has become a popular perspective around the internet recently, but that’s not actually going to address the problem with most piercings. (However, properly fitting quality jewelry of an inert material is critical for successful healing.)

Fact number 2: Even highly skilled piercers are not always good at troubleshooting. And many piercers do a poor job and are even worse at providing follow-up advice when you run into trouble.

Fact number 3: Many aspects work together to result in successful healing and there may be more than one thing to address in order to rectify your specific situation.

So, what can you do to fix your piercing bump? I recommend signing up for an online (photo) consultation with me so that I can apply more than 30 years of piercing—and troubleshooting—experience to your individual problem. I’d need to see clear, close-up photos of the area and learn about the history:

• How old is the piercing?
• How long have you been experiencing the problem?
• Are you wearing the original jewelry? (If not, I need to know about any jewelry changes.)
• How are you caring for the piercing?
• Have you tried other measures or treatments (what, and for how long)?

To see feedback and reviews from previous consult clients I have assisted, visit the consultation reviews page. (I also provide anatomy/placement consultations, in addition to helping with problems.)

I can help with all piercings of the ear, face, and body. I’m quick to respond, often getting back to you within minutes or hours. And I actually care; I’m deeply passionate about piercing, and I want to help you! I will apply over three decades of experience to troubleshooting your unique problem! Sign up now if you're struggling with any kind of piercing complication and need professional support.