If you feel a blister on a piercing, there's no need to panic. Piercing blisters are very common and occasionally show up in the healing process even with meticulous care. Before you begin your treatment, it's important to first identify the type of bump you're dealing with, where it is located on your body, and how it got there in the first place. After that, simple remedies, time, and patience will help you cure any unsightly swelling.

A piercing blister can show up for various reasons. Prior to coming up with your plan, figure out if your blister is an abscess, a follicular cyst, or hypertrophic scarring (a bump that forms on the backside of the piercing hole). "The technical term for the little bump we see most commonly is Hypertrophic Scar," Josh Harris at 108 Studio says. "It sounds a bit scarier then it really is. It's not permanent and very treatable."

Some piercers will refer to this dreaded bump as hypertrophic scar tissue but James Pearce at Nine Moons Piercing prefers the broad term “unstable scar tissue" though calling it what it really is can be easier: an irritation bump. It commonly occurs in more dense tissue, like the cartilage on your ear or nose. Just as the name implies, it is caused by irritation, he says, which is tricky because the irritation can be from anything.

What Is a Piercing Blister/Bump? A piercing blister is a blister or pimple that contains pus. It is often caused by poor piercing technique, not properly caring for the piercing, or an allergic reaction to the jewelry. A piercing bump could be one of three things: a hypertrophic scar that has formed inside of the piercing, an abscess of infectious fluid trapped under or behind the piercing, or a cyst caused by an obstruction of dead skin cells or hair.

Most piercing bumps are usually temporary and cosmetic, and Harris says they're likely to clear up with extra TLC and time, often leaving no trace it was ever there. "Keloids are more permanent and a client would already know if they are prone to keloids and avoid piercings and tattooing all-together," he says, noting, "Bumps are often mistaken for Keloids but they are not the same."

Abscesses, on the other hand, are painful lesions caused by a bacterial infection inside or around the piercing. However, while they sound daunting, they can be treated with the appropriate evaluation by a medical professional and, oftentimes, drainage. Similarly scary-sounding, a follicular cyst is actually just a clogged pore. This pus-filled bump can be caused by an ingrown hair or dead skin cells trapped inside a pore next to your piercing. Hypertrophic scarring, however, usually occurs in a cartilage piercing (upper ear or nose) and must be tended to immediately—before it becomes a more permanent keloid scar.

Brooke Pelcynzski/Byrdie

"Keloids and irritation bumps may appear similar at first glance however, they are not the same thing. That bubble your friend keeps calling a “keloid” probably isn’t actually a keloid, Pierce says. "Keloidosis is often a familial condition, one that isn’t quite as common as you’d think, and most of my clients who do keloid have previously seen evidence of this in other types of injuries. In the event that you do have an actual keloid, visiting your dermatologist would be the first step towards a solution," he says. "It’s important for your piercer to know where to draw the line between minor problems that can be resolved naturally at the studio and when to redirect you to a medical professional." As a general rule, most growths (cysts, abscess’, keloids, tumors, etc.) are categorized as specialty issues that require assistance from a medical professional.

Lastly, hypertrophic scarring is caused by an increase in collagen due to trauma in and around the piercing site, and you shouldn't delay treatment if it happens to you. First, size down your jewelry's gauge (with professional guidance, of course) to avoid undue pressure on the wound. Then, perform a daily, gentle oil massage to soften the scar tissue over time. Rosehip seed oil, like The Ordinary's 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil ($10), is preferred.

"I always tell people it is more common than you think. Piercings are foreign objects in our body and every time we get pierced we try to trick our body into thinking this piece of metal belongs there." Adrian Castillo at 108 Piercing says. "There are preventative measures but sometimes the body does what it wants to do and typically these little hiccups go away."

Meet the Expert Johnny Pearce is a free hand piercer with 10+ years of experience currently working at Nine Moons Piercing in New York.

J. Colby Smith, Adrian Castillo, and Josh Harris all work out of 108 Studios with locations in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and Silverlake, LA.

These bumps, while annoying are common fare for the professionals, who mostly see and deal with hypertrophic issues related to piercings. "It’s important to understand before you get a piercing that it takes a level of patience and dedication to earn your piercing wings," Colby-Smith says, "No doubt about it, piercings can be annoying but If you have a good rapport with your piercer, you can easily pop in and make sure everything is cool. We see it all the time so our lack of stress should make you feel instantly better."

The sooner you treat any pervading issue, the easier it is to reduce, Harris says, noting most bumps come and go for about 6 months, and then we don’t see them much more after that.

Keep reading to learn how to manage any unsightly blisters because that new piercing does look super cool.