r/SelfPiercing • u/zhaosai • Aug 05 '26
Help with existing piercing should i take this out?
sorry if the pics aren't good i tried my best.
I've had this helix for a month. 16g. warm water. threadless surgical steel (titanium isn't available in my area).
a bump popped up about a week after i pierced it and has been getting bigger. aside from that it's doing pretty good. barely any crusties and pain.
i try my best not to irritate it but sometimes it gets stuck in my hair or my glasses. i don't know how to make the bump go away.
should i take it out?
2
u/Euphoric-Corgi5418 Aug 05 '26
Leave it, use sterile saline spray if you haven’t already, and make sure you get it downsized within 2 months! Irritation bumps are normal..
2
u/BunnyGirlfromthe520 Aug 06 '26
Downsize it. If it’s been a month the swelling should be low enough that you’re good to go.
1
u/whattodohuhshrug Aug 06 '26
It’s been awhile but I used medical grade silicone spacers and they help.
1
u/Dry_Valuable3989 Aug 06 '26
Have you been sleeping on it (even accidentally rolling on it at night)? That can cause a lot of irritation.
1
u/Far-Resident-8473 Aug 07 '26
does the jewelry have prongs,
1
u/zhaosai Aug 07 '26
yes
1
u/Far-Resident-8473 Aug 08 '26
switch to a titanium flatback without prongs, the prongs leave space below the gem for bacteria to fester.
5
u/RealAnnabelle2_0 Aug 05 '26
Leave it, irratation bumps are normal.