Hi, I got my cartilage pierced a month ago and I was and am very good at cleaning it. But I irritated it by changing it too early (4 weeks) because I had been told it was okay. A small ring around my piercing formed, and a larger bump around the exit hole on the back of my ear. I'm worried! It's a hard bump and a few days ago a little clear fluid came out (not anymore). Is my piercing simpy irritated? Do I have hypertrophic scarring or... hopefully not, a keloid?

I've read that I should keep my piercing in, and clean with tea tree oil and sea salt soaks and chamomile tea bags. I'd really like to keep my piercing and make this go away!

I have an abcess in my ear cartilage because of a piercing the only thing I can suggest before what happened to me happens to you go see your doctor... if I want mine to heal right I now have to have it reopened and have a stint put in so it will heal completely... every once in awhile it fills with puss and I have to drain it... go see a doctor before that happens

Hello, from what you say sounds like you have a hypertrophic, either changing the jewelry caused it or you hit it or snaged it, not on purpose but it dose happen. If it was pierced with a straight piece of jewelry and then you put a hoop in that will put stress on a new piercing and that could cuase it as well. I have been a piercer for 12yrs and my advice to you is first thing, don't do too many things at one time. First I would put a straight piece of jewelry back in, Lebret stud or barbell, next I would just do hot compresses several times a day, as hot as you would drink coffee or tea. Do this for about a week, do not pop the hypertrophic. This should work on its own. If not then go to the tea tree oil use it twice a day after shower or compresses for one week. If that dose not work then go to the tea bag only, once or twice a day for a week. Do not move the jewelry while it is stuck there, you will be tearing it from the inside and will cause more irritation to your piercing. Good Luck C-