I got my top ear cartilage pierced a month ago. There's a lump now.?

Question

It seems healed now but there's quite a big hard lump behind my ear where the piercing comes through. It's a bit sore too. The piercer had hit a vein but that bruising disappeared ages ago. I don't think its infection. Is there anything else it could be?

Answer 1

I had the same problem. But for me it was just a Keloid. A keloid is a type of scar which results in an overgrowth of tissue at the site of a healed skin injury. Keloids are firm, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules, and can vary from pink to flesh-colored or red to dark brown in color.  

Answer 2

I had one of these piercings about 15 years ago and it caused me nothing but hassle and pain it kept swelling up every so often . In the end I took it out after about a year and even now I still sometimes gets a bit red a swollen in that area or weeps a bit. So I would say take it out and use some antiseptic cream on the area.

Answer 3

its scarring from the cartilage bursting while he/she was piercing it with a gun. i had mine done november 07 and its still there. it gets infected every once and a while also. you don't have to worry about it though. that's all it is.  

Answer 4

If the piercer hit a small vein in the process, what you may feel is the scarring of it.  Veins and arteries also scar, usually by getting thick and stiff.  However, it really shouldn't be tender to touch.  Best idea would be to have it looked at by the person who did the job for a start.  If it looks like something has gone astray, the next stop will be the doctor's office.  In the meantime I wouldn't meddle with it much.   If it's an infection brewing that won't help matters, and if it's scar tissue it will settle down in time if left in peace.