I had my ear pieced at the top a while ago and since then a lump has developed on the back of my ear where the whole is. It's quite big (around the size of your average pea or maybe a little smaller) and I had to take my earring out yesterday because it was too tight with the lump there. I have decided, along with my mum, to leave my earring out until the lump has gone and then get it re-pierced. Does anybody know what this lump might be and how I can get rid of it?

Does it show any signs of going away, or does it just keep getting bigger and bigger? Can you describe it a little more? Is it hard/soft? Color? And also, what exactly did you do to the piercing (as far as cleaning, changing jewelry, etc.) on a daily basis? :)

I get those from time to time as well. If you're describing what I think you are, you can actually roll it around right? It was explained to me that this is just a sort of reaction to the earring's metal. They usually go away on their own but may return from time to time. Mine will actually block the hole and I could not wear earrings at all. I could push through it with the earring post and "pop" it but it doesn't feel so great and the risk of infection is present by doing so as well. I personally wouldn't be concerned unless it causes pain for you or has some sort of discharge. That sounds more like an infection of some sort. Otherwise, chances are it will dissolve on its own within a few days.

The lump does appear to be going down now that I have had my earring out for a few days. It does not hurt and its quite hard. Since it has reduced in size, like a scabby layer has formed on the top which has come off today and now it just feels like a hard lump again. It's a dark pink kind of colour and I cleaned the piercing twice daily with salt water for the first six weeks and then every so often since then.

Is/was there any discharge? If so, can you describe it? And did you get it done at a piercing parlor, or at the mall (somewhere such as Claire's)? Was a needle used, or a gun?

It sounds as if you either had an allergic reaction, or possibly had some excessive trauma to your cartilage.

There has never been any discharge from it. I got it done in a piercing parlor using a gun I think.

If there is no discharge and little to no pain, it does sound like you suffered excessive trauma to your cartilage. This tends to happen quite a bit when you get it pierced with a gun.

If it were an infection, it would be very red, swollen, discharge would be present, and you would be in moderate to severe pain depending on how advanced the infection is. It doesn't sound like infection. The symptoms of allergic reaction are pretty much the same, so it doesn't sound like that either.

When you get pierced with a gun, it causes the same trauma to your cartilage as, say, if you got punched in the gut. Piercing guns use so much force, they can actually shatter the cartilage of some people. The bump may be how your ear is reacting to the trauma. They also force an earring into a place where there is no room for it. For example, a hollow needle removes a small piece of cartilage, making room for the earring. A gun just shoves the earring in there, which can cause problems. So you know in the future, even a simple piercing like a cartilage piercing should be done with a hollow needle. Guns are not very safe.

How often would you say you use the salt water? It is not needed more than once a day, even less than that if you can stand it. Is the earring still out of the piercing as of right now?

I had my ear pieced at the top a while ago and since then a lump has developed on the back of my ear where the whole is. It's quite big (around the size of your average pea or maybe a little smaller) and I had to take my earring out yesterday because it was too tight with the lump there. I have decided, along with my mum, to leave my earring out until the lump has gone and then get it re-pierced. Does anybody know what this lump might be and how I can get rid of it??
I would go to a doctor I'm not sure what that is maybe an allergic reaction or an infection seek medical attention immediately

The earring is still out now. And, actually, after you saying that, I recall that it wasn't done with a gun it was a hollow needle that was used (I have an awful memory). But now I remember it was definitely done with a hollow needle.
I rarely use the salt water anymore. Probably once every couple of months.

Ok good for cutting down on the salt water. Overusing it is not good for you. :)

The other thing that bump can be is hypertrophic scarring. That is caused by excessive irriation. Such irritation can come from overcleaning, playing with the jewelry, sleeping on that side, using the phone on that side, changing the jewelry too often, etc.

Does anything come to mind as to how you may be irritating it?

When I wash my hair conditioner used to collect round the earring, but I always made sure that it was washed away. That's all I can think of really.
At the moment the lump is smaller than it was and feels quite hard, like there could be something inside it, but I'm not too sure.

Hi! I am experiencing the same bump on the back of my ear that you asked about in this forum. What happened with yours?

I had to take it out in the end. I didn't go to the doctors but I probably should have done. After I took the earring out I just left it to heal and eventually the lump went but it did take months. I was going to have it repierced but changed my mind

I was just wondering if it is OK to leave your earing on if it has a bump at the back and the bump is skin coloured.

That's what I have too. But won't my earring hole seal if I leave it out too long? I've had them pierced for almost two months