Piercing wounds may be small. They are not simple. You may be surprised to learn that doctors consider body piercing is “high risk trauma”. The reason is pierced skin is very prone to keloid scars.

Piercings have resulted in a jump in the number of serious keloid scars. The areas of the body most often pierced are most prone to keloids. This includes the earlobes, lips, nipples and navel.

Those most at risk of forming keloids are people younger than 30, and people with high risk trauma. They found men and women are at equal risk. Men now get pierced as frequently as women.  It used to be mostly women, so the rate was skewed female.

Research resulted in dramatic evidence that silicone gels work to reduce size and pain of serious scars such as piercing scars. It should be used immediately after a piercing scar is closed.

Silicone promotes healing:

• It decreased the size of scars in 53% of test patients.
• It reduced  tenderness in 36%.
• It stopped itching in 45%.

Piercing scar advice:

• It is best used as soon as a wound heals.
• It is best used at least twice a day.
• It must be used on serious piercing scars consistently for 3 to 6 months
• Research finds keloid scar reduction from silicone gels within 6 months.
• Silicone aids healing if used in conjunction with piercing scar removal by surgery or lasers.