2019 by Lynn Loheide. Complications of body piercing. Steroids can weaken the nearby skin, so you shouldnt get more than five injections total. While we do connect people with vetted, board-certified doctors, we dont provide medical consultations, diagnosis, or advice. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. . Research your options of piercing parlors beforehand so that you can pick a professional wholl take all necessary precautions against complications. However, people can take steps to keep the area clean, prevent infection, and allow the piercing to heal. You should also work towards ensuring your mouth is as clean as possible at all times. For example, hypertrophic scars only occur at the piercing site whereas keloid scars can continue to grow outside the area. If possible, rinse your mouth out with salt water after eating and drinking. Oral health topics: Oral piercing. It might be one of three things: a hypertrophic scar that has formed inside of the piercing, an abscess of infectious fluid trapped under or behind the piercing, or a cyst caused by an obstruction . who might need a nudge in the right direction. The amount of tissue between the entrance and exit holes gets thinner (there should be at least a quarter inch of tissue between holes). They can also be itchy or painful. You should consider having this conversation with a piercer - they might also be able to recommend something like a tea bag compress. Use it several times per day at first to encourage the healing process. There are several methods found useful for eradicating keloids such as cortisone injections, laser, cryotherapy etc. The symptoms of an infected piercing include: Contact dermatitis is a type of skin rash that occurs when something that touches the skin irritates it. Piercing bumps and keloids are different skin conditions that can occur following a piercing. We also discuss the treatment options for both, as well as the other conditions that may cause skin issues after getting a piercing. When using it from the very start of the healing process, the spray helps to decrease healing times and aims to eliminate anylingering pain or soreness.. Those with tongue piercings often experience temporary tongue swelling, pain, difficulty eating and excessive salivation. It may not be possible to avoid a hypertrophic scars formation, since some factors are simply genetic. That's pretty normal, but if I press them just slightly I feel the thick scar tissue inside which hurts a lot. Although keloids on the ear are not harmful, they can cause some discomfort. Tongue piercing not that risky, but things can go wrong. Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to give you fun and helpful advice and information when it comes to getting pierced. If someone recommended cocoa butter for tattoo aftercare, you might want a second opinion. Two small piercings on both sides of the tongue located closer to the tip. A person might have trouble talking and adapting to the new sensation in the mouth. Gargle it two to three times in a day for two to three weeks. Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs increase the likelihood of bleeding by thinning out the blood. Its recommended that people getting a tongue piercing avoid taking these medications the day before the procedure and for the seven days following. Do not use stronger solutions or antibiotic creams unless a doctor recommends it. Double horizontal piercing, making two visible ends of a long jewelry on the tip of tongue look like snake eyes. It is a valuable home remedy to treat keloids. Apple cider vinegar is another effective home remedy for treating keloid on tongue. All rights reserved. 1 year is the minimum I will do a piercing through larger scars. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? The appearance can depend on the location of the keloid, as well as the persons skin tone. Get the details on how you can lower your chances of developing blisters and other possible side effects. I don't know why that is. Tongue Piercing Pain: How Much Do They Hurt? Nose piercing scars are often caused by infections or allergic reactions that irritate the site of your piercing. Some problems are relatively minor: jewelry allergy, bleeding, scarring and the formation of keloids, which are thick overgrowths of scar tissue. Dear Alley is our weekly advice column for pierced, inked, and amazing individuals (and everyone else too!) Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. This prevents coagulation and delays blood clotting. A hypertrophic scar on piercings can happen for two reasons: Hypertrophic scars usually develop with new piercings. Proper aftercare techniques are crucial to the outcome of your tongue piercing. How Long Does It Take a Tattoo to Fully Heal? Low-quality jewelry can irritate the skin. Youll need to call your doctor if you see signs of an infection or youre experiencing severe discomfort. Keloid: A case report and review of pathophysiology and differences between keloid and hypertrophic scars. DOI: Keloids and hypertrophic scars. However, people with poor oral hygiene, weak immune systems, and mouth injuries may still be vulnerable to infection. 2022 AuthorityTattoo. The Prince Albert piercing occurring at the end of the penis is associated with a narrowing of the opening for urine; sometimes, new tracts are created that leak semen and urine. After a few months, the body treats the piercing as a scar, and the piercing is less likely to close without jewelry in it. Some other strategies that can speed healing include: Do not try to treat an infected piercing at home. However, the healing process can take upward of. One small survey revealed that 3 in 51 people with tongue piercings developed infections. Commonly pierced body parts are the ears, nose, and the belly button. Many piercers can help with home remedies that ease discomfort and speed healing. The information contained on AuthorityTattoo is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The piercing bible: The definitive guide to safe body piercing. A piercing is essentially a tunnel of scar tissue, and it . Opt for a nonirritating plastic ring or bar. Infections in a tongue piercing can have severe consequences. The texture of keloids can differ. Under healthy conditions, your body typically won't create scar tissue around the nose piercing. Piercing bumps tend to appear more quickly and do not grow in size, while keloids take time to form and can continue to grow over time. Ear piercings are prone to infection, especially when they are new. When the swelling decreases, replace the jewelry with a shorter piece of jewelry. Both are caused by excess scar tissue, but keloids grow past the wound and into the surrounding skin. To use it, steep a chamomile tea bag in a warm cup of water for 3 to 5 minutes. Considering laser tattoo removal? (n.d.). Read on to find out what symptoms are typical during this time, how your aftercare may vary from week to week, when you can safely change your jewelry, and more. Generally, a hypertrophic scar shows up within four to eight weeks. While it isnt abnormal for a new tongue piercing to swell and even leak something that looks like pus, these can also be signs of a more significant issue. Most scarring from previous piercings is very minor, and absolutely no issue to be pierced through again. Do this twice a day. A piercing bump is a soft, fluid-filled bump that tends to appear next to a piercing that is irritated. Do you have a question for Alley, submit it to DearAlley@bodycandy.com for your chance to get featured! I do want to clarify - there is a big difference between a "piercing bump" and a "keloid." Plastargias, I., & Sakellari, D. (2014). Keloid usually subsides with this treatment. After that, a piece of jewelry is inserted in the hole. A little bit of swelling is normal after all, your tongue now has a hole in it. (2013). If youre following all of the recommended aftercare instructions, its likely a normal part of the healing process. I now have a pea sized keloid around my piercing, what do I do? Scars are a natural response to wound healing. Given that surface work is long term temporary, its important to consider that before getting a surface piercing and to keep that in mind when they eventually need to be removed. Some people take extra steps to make them less noticeable. Since tongue piercing has gained momentum in this modern day as trendy form of self expression, many young adults have keloid on their tongue. 2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK. After a few days, the wound may also ooze a whitish or clear fluid. How To Clean Tongue Piercing Rings and Jewelry, Tongue Piercing Bleeding: Causes and Treatment, Tongue Piercing Healing: Day By Day Aftercare. Chrisopheles 8 yr. ago. Keloid is a type of scar tissue which develops as a growth on or around the site of skin or damaged mucus membrane. Tongue piercings can also increase the risk of oral health problems, including infected gums and teeth. These needs to be felt and observed to determine their viability for piercing. Read on to learn more about the stage-by-stage healing process of a tongue piercing, as well as some associated risks and treatment options. Other symptoms that a person with a keloid scar may experience include: Initially, keloids and piercing bumps can look similar. How to prevent a tragus piercing becoming infected, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, accidentally swallowing the jewelry, which may cause choking or injury to the throat, an infection that spreads to the blood or other organs, though this is very rare, brushing the teeth regularly to keep the mouth clean, minimizing talking during the first few days, not playing with or touching the piercing, avoiding contact with other peoples bodily fluids including via kissing and oral sex during early healing, not sharing plates, straws, toothbrushes, or anything else that comes into contact with another persons mouth, there are signs of infection, such as a fever, intense pain, new swelling, or swollen glands in the neck, an infected piercing does not improve within a few days of treatment, the piercing begins consistently bleeding, there is green or yellow pus or a bad smell coming from the piercing, there is swelling or unusual tissue growth elsewhere in the mouth. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? Often clients were happy with the placement and look of their old piercings, and if so I always suggest going back in the same place. They'll let you know whether or not its time to see your doctor. It entirely depends on the degree and type of scarring if we can or cant, and often we need to see and feel the tissue in person to determine this. make scar tissue worse, so preventing infections may prevent . Silicone is also available as patches and sheets. People with weak immune systems due to diabetes, cancer, HIV, and some medications may need longer to heal and can also be more vulnerable to infection. Pressure discs like NoPull Piercing Discs can help compress the scar. Look for jewelry made with steel, titanium, or 14-karat gold. From from scar injections, to laser treatment, or silicone patches, there have been amazing breakthroughs in scar treatment in recent years. And because proper care is crucial to decrease the chances of infection, piercings should occur only once the child is mature enough to care for the area. If your piercing is still healing, dont change it yourself. They may be itchy, tender, or hard to the touch. Eczema types: Contact dermatitis signs and symptoms. Dilute apple cider vinegar in a cupful of water. Because scar tissue effects the integrity of the tissue in the area, we are more limited in our ability to do these piercings through scar tissue. This is immune cells trying to heal the puncture wound. I started to form a small keloid that slowly grew bigger. If someone recommended cocoa butter for tattoo aftercare, you might want a second opinion. You should still clean your piercing once its healed, but youll have more flexibility in how often you do so. 4/10. This is the easiest and cheapest way to break down scar tissue. Get A Mystery Coupon Immediately! MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Certain home remedies are also effective in dealing with keloids on tongue. During the healing process, its normal for a yellow or white liquid to come out of the piercing site. Contact with food may further increase this risk. Part of wound healing involves contraction, which means your skin is pulling itself back together. Last medically reviewed on January 5, 2021. However, it's also possible that piercings are not the problem; instead, the cause is other high-risk behaviors drug use, gang affiliations and school truancy, for example that can be associated with piercings. The jewelry starts to hang or droop differently. This may lead to broken teeth, infections in the gums or teeth, and similar oral health problems. I'm not quite there yet, but someday I hope to also be a pierced/modded grandma like you :). Some other possible causes include: Infections in new piercings are quite common, and they can occur if the needle was not sterile or a person is unable to keep the piercing completely clean. Taking care of your new oral piercing. Hypertrophic scars are also common on your chest, upper back, and shoulders. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. French kissing and oral sex are off-limits during this time. Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, Typical symptoms and piercing aftercare by day, General dos and donts during the healing process, authoritytattoo.com/tongue-piercing-healing-and-care/, ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/oral-piercing, girlshealth.gov/body/grooming/tattoo_pierce.html, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, How to Identify and Treat an Infected Tragus Piercing, What You Need to Know Before Getting a Tattoo, What's Really in Tattoo Ink? A keloid forms due to an overgrowth of fibrous tissue. Corticosteroid injections may reduce scar tissue by fighting inflammation and breaking down collagen. A person may experience an allergic reaction on their skin such as a rash, a, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. It's also critical to distinguish relatively safe ear piercings from more problematic and potentially dangerous piercings. Pulsed dye laser is less painful but it may take several sessions for its removal. However, what may seem like a problem could also be the result of the natural healing process of your tongue. Stainless Steel Taper Stretching , $7, Amazon Overall, removing a piercing for whatever . For more extreme scarring, I suggest at minimum 1 year from the surgery or cause of the scar before repiercing. Learn more about home care techniques for keloids here. That said, there is also a lot of misinformation floating around out there about scar tissue as well, so lets take a look at the facts, and debunk the fiction. Some of us will get them no matter what. Your tongue gets its main blood supply from your lingual artery, which branches off of your carotid. However, a person may still need time to adapt to the piercing. I am a physician specializing in dermatology. Most tongue piercings do not require special treatments or medications. Hypertrophic scars, or raised scars, are one response during the healing process. The decision to remove a piercing should be up to you and your professional piercer, but this time around, give your body a little longer than six months to let it fully heal. Keloid symptoms. Owing to the fact that piercings are holes bored into your body tissues, they have to be carefully protected against infection. Tongue Piercing Healing / Tongue Piercings. Mix it thoroughly till the salt dissolves completely. Nickel is present in less expensive jewelry, but gold or silver jewelry may contain small amounts of it, so these could also cause a reaction. A new piece of jewelry is often enough to stop migration and prevent rejection. Be aware many scars need to be assessed in person, so you very well may need to do an in person consultation to get a final answer. Rejection is more common in the following types of piercings: Read on to learn about the symptoms of piercing rejection and how you can treat it. If a person suspects that they have a keloid, they should speak with a doctor or dermatologist. A piercing bump is "unstable scar tissue," or an irritation bump that commonly occurs in more dense tissue like the cartilage on your ear or nose. If youre prone to hyper-scarring, be aware that you may suffer this side effect in a tongue piercing or any future piercings you may get. However, your individual healing process depends entirely on how you care for your new piercing. Skin wound healing and phytomedicine: A review. As a result, getting re-pierced in the same location can be a good location for a piercing to be re-established. The information on RealSelf is intended for educational purposes only. Keep reading to find out what they look like and how you can treat them. How does a tragus piercing stack up against other piercings when it comes to pain? Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. In response to injury, cells in the skin called fibroblasts produce excessive collagen, which leads to the development of a keloid. Be sure to keep up with your regular dental checkups over the lifetime of your piercing. Make sure you know the safety precautions and insist that they are used. Summary. Built-Up Scar Tissue. It is safest to have a piercer do this. If youre not sure what you have, or if you have other symptoms, visit your piercer or doctor. I got a double tongue piercing a year ago and it did not heal correctly so I had to take them out a month later. As long as you're not forcing your "alternative" look on your grandchildren, I think you should proudly embrace the pierced/modified lifestyle with no reservations. However, the healing process can take upward of. Up to 30% of people with body piercings are allergic to nickel, which is a common metal found in jewelry. Its an over-the-counter (OTC) product, so you dont need a prescription. Keloids come from the overgrowth of scar tissue. However, the advice of a piercer is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor. It can range from a small to large bump. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and the only one that comes into contact with the outside world. That's pretty normal, but if I press them just slightly I feel the thick scar tissue inside which hurts a lot. Just Answer 5 Easy Questions. Normally, cells make collagen to repair your skin. We avoid using tertiary references. A tongue piercing has its own set of potential complications. While the lump could be symptomatic of something more substantial, it may have formed as part of the normal healing process. When it comes to surgical scars, it becomes a more advanced process. Pain and swelling should start to subside by the end of the first week. Have realistic expectations, be ok hearing no, and remember we have your best interests at heart always! This can cause pain, swelling . It can cause severe scarring and may even spread to other areas of the body. Industrial piercings are more prone to infections than other ear piercings. You should consider having this conversation with a piercer - they might also be able to recommend something like a tea bag compress. Hope this helps! If anything, more severe scars often have decreased sensitivity and feeling (my surgical scars are virtually numb!) Crossing Press: Berkeley, CA. This includes eating what you want, getting intimate, and switching out your jewelry. Scar Tissue is not as stable or as healthy as regular tissue and there are absolutely often different considerations depending on the type or degree of scarring that you have. Sometimes, cells make too much collagen and a raised scar can form. The swelling tends to increase for several days after the piercing, and it may last for a week or slightly longer. Get the details on how you can lower your chances of developing blisters and other possible side effects. Silicone gel can soften and flatten scars. Rinsing with a saline solution a few times per day is usually enough to keep the piercing clean. They can suggest the best option based on your symptoms and piercing. Your body is all about self-defense. If your piercer makes a mistake and nicks these blood vessels during the piercing process, you may experience some dramatic effects. This is because the dense tissue will support the piercing and be less prone to infection. Last medically reviewed on April 19, 2018. The new tissue will be scar tissue, but it will rarely be noticeable. (2010). If a person suspects an infection, it is best to make an appointment with a doctor. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Much of this depends on where your tongue piercing is placed, as well as how many new piercings you have. Follow all instructions the piercer gives. Hypertrophic piercing bumps and keloid scars can look similar, but there are ways to differentiate them. Scars can take one year to fully mature. If youre experiencing a medical issue, please contact a healthcare professional or dial 911 immediately. The tongue heals from the outside inwards, so it may seem like its healed before it actually is. They are a more serious complication that you should discuss with your doctor, as they may require surgical removal. $40 to $80. Scars from previous piercings that were irritated when removed, or left more severe scarring such as raised scars, discolored scars, or large scars, must be evaluated on a case by case basis. Tongue piercings can increase your long-term risk of cuts, tooth trauma, and gum recession. You can eliminate salt rinses, but be sure to stay on top of your oral health to prevent any problems. Apply it for several days at least once in a day. This man developed keloids on his face after chickenpox cleared. The symptoms of a . Not only is it vegan, but its also completely alcohol and additive-free. 2023 Healthline Media LLC.