Ask Me Help Desk - How to prevent scaring after removing piercing

After nearly a year or maybe more of waiting for my eyebrow piercing to heal, in vain, I decided to finally take it out. It had caused a lot of problems, but I was told to wait till it was healed before I removed it, cause removing it then would have made it worse for healing... and I don't think it will get any better than it is now, so I finally took it out.
First there were two small swelled red balls popping on each side where the skin is pierced, then an allergy made half of my face go red in pimples... and it was oozing.. a big mess.
My doc (not such an expert in piercings) gave me antibiotics, and recommended betadine (which I know isn't such a good idea, but I did it for a short while). I am not sure but perhaps some bodies just don't cope well with piercings? Because I was very careful and I did everything , from washing it with antibacterial soap , to hot compresses, and salt solutions etc.. U name it.. I would sometimes even stay in to prevent the least bit of dirt from entering it. The piercer used a plastic piercing I don't know if the allergy was from the plastic..

Anyway now all I want is just for the skin to close back with the least amount of damage and scaring.
So I was wondering if there are any tips you would know about, which will help it heal in the best way possible. I think I read somewhere about applying vitamin E creams or Mebo..
Anyone can help me out??

My goodness! I'm sorry your body had such a bad response to the piercing.

First of all, it should have been pierced with surgical steel. That is the most sterile material for a brand new piercing. Plastics should not be used until the piercing is fully healed. Keep that in mind the next time you go in for a piercing.

It does sound like you had/have an allergy. An allergy is an allergy, and no amount of antibiotics or anything else are going to make it go away.

Have you actually taken it out yet? Or are you waiting for the answer regarding scarring?

If your body is "destined" to get a scar, then it is going to get one, period. You can try vitamin E, it may help with the scarring issue, but there will more than likely be a scar regardless. Even after you take the jewelry out, you need to treat the piercing as if the jewelry was still in (cleaning, not touching it with dirty hands, etc.). Taking good care of it is the best way to reduce the chance of a significant scar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nauticalstar420

My goodness!! I'm sorry your body had such a bad response to the piercing.

First of all, it should have been pierced with surgical steel. That is the most sterile material for a brand new piercing. Plastics should not be used until the piercing is fully healed. Keep that in mind the next time you go in for a piercing.

It does sound like you had/have an allergy. An allergy is an allergy, and no amount of antibiotics or anything else are going to make it go away.

Have you actually taken it out yet? Or are you waiting for the answer regarding scarring?

If your body is "destined" to get a scar, then it is going to get one, period. You can try vitamin E, it may help with the scarring issue, but there will more than likely be a scar regardless. Even after you take the jewelry out, you need to treat the piercing as if the jewelry was still in (cleaning, not touching it with dirty hands, etc.). Taking good care of it is the best way to reduce the chance of a significant scar.

It was done with steel first I guess, but the piercing placed was plastic. I was told that when it was completely healed then I can put a steel one or any other kind. Supposedly plastic is the best type for healing or so I was made to believe at the shop.
Yes I took it out yesterday :) everyone I knew had been telling me to remove it ages ago, saying that my body is just refusing it so I finally did.
I think the wholes are now shut, but I guess I will keep washing the outside with soap etc like you said..

Quote:

Originally Posted by edzmedz

It was done with steel first i guess, but the piercing placed was plastic. I was told that when it was completely healed then i can put a steel one or any other kind. Supposedly plastic is the best type for healing or so i was made to believe at the shop.
Yes i took it out yesterday :) everyone i knew had been telling me to remove it ages ago, saying that my body is just refusing it so i finally did.
I think the wholes are now shut, but i guess i will keep washing the outside with soap etc like u said..

Did your body reject it (try to push it out?), or did it just get infected?

At any rate, I'm glad you took it out. That didn't sound safe, at all. Make sure you keep taking care of it just as if it still had jewelry in it.

The reason I don't advocate using plastic jewelry for a brand new piercing is because the plastic can absorb bacteria and other ugly things that you don't want anywhere near your piercing, especially during healing time. That is why I feel it is best to wait for plastic jewelry until the piercing is healed.

Hey um I had my lip done but after I year I decided to take it out cause of school and everything and we went to the chemists and they told us to get 'bio-oil' they said it should help with the scaring... use it twice a day for 3 months min.. :) :)