[HappyBunny05]

So I'm a 15 year old girl and I've gotten my cartilage piercing done. I've had the piercing for about over 12 weeks, but I'm not sure exactly how long its been since I've gotten it pierced. I had it done at Claire's with a gun (probably BIG mistake)and recently I've noticed the back of it has a large red bump. I've changed my jewlery to a titanium captive ring and have had it for a few weeks before I noticed the bump. Although today when I was cleaning it this morning it bleed, and when my finger touched it, there was this pain. I did some research and tried to figure out what was wrong and I thought it was maybe a keloid, since I read apparently its more common in females with dark skin (African,Asian) and I'm half african. I don't know what to do with it except I'm just cleaning it more then I used to, should I go to a doctor about it?

[britt098]

It sounds to me like its infected. I did the same thing went to claires also. Mine got a big red bump and I ignored it and it turned a dark purple and was very sore so I took it out and it drained puss and blood, this happened about a 3 yrs ago and I still have a bumb under the skin where it was at. But it doesn't hurt anymore. So you should take it out, clean it very well and let it close up. I got my other ear done and have had no trouble with it.

[nachorainbow]

Don't take the piercing out. Go to the doctors and get antibiotics. If you take out the piercing it'll close the infection in your ear and make it worse. I had the same thing happen to me a few months ago. I went to the doctors, got 10 days of antibiotics and it healed quite nicely.