Keloid on Belly Button Piercing: what to Do About It

Keloids are overgrowths of scar tissue that form at the site of skin injury. They’re a common side effect of piercings and some people are more prone to keloids than others.

They’re harmless, but can be annoying and occasionally painful.

Keloids are more common with ear piercings, but they do happen with other piercings, including belly button piercings.

What do keloids look like?

Keloids are basically raised scars that feel hard and rubbery. They usually appear at the site of the injury — in this case, a piercing — and can extend well beyond. They look:

• shiny
• smooth
• round

Their colors can be:

pink
• purple
• brownish

“People often confuse keloids with other raised scars and bumps that can form following a piercing, like a hypertrophic scar or an abscess, but they’re not the same,” explains board certified dermatologist Jessie Cheung, MD.

“Hypertrophic scars won’t extend beyond the treated area, but can be very thick and sensitive. Keloids, by definition, extend beyond the treated area. An infection or abscess can look like a lump, but will be swollen, warm, sore, and may have yellow discharge,” says Cheung.

How they happen

Experts aren’t entirely sure exactly why some skin grows excess fibrous tissue this way, but there’s usually an overproduction of collagen involved.

You’re more likely to develop a keloid if you:

• have dark skin
• are between ages 10 and 30
• have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) who gets keloids

Even without any of these risk factors, the location of a belly button piercing could increase your chances of a keloid, according to Cheung.

“Even if you’re not prone to keloids, the navel is one area that can [develop a] keloid, due to trauma and constant rubbing from clothing,” says Cheung.

How to prevent them

For someone prone to keloid scarring, the only surefire way to prevent them is to avoid procedures that injure your skin, like tattoos and piercings.

The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) actually recommends that people with a history of scarring or keloids not get pierced.

You may be able to lower the chances of a keloid from a belly button piercing by following your piercer’s aftercare instructions. Cheung also recommends avoiding excess friction to the piercing.

Belly button piercings tend to take longer to heal and are prone to infection or injury because of the constant movement of the area and rubbing from jeans and other clothing.

Belly buttons are also little bacteria and lint traps as it is.

During the healing phase, which can take up to a year, keep the area clean and dry and avoid tight clothing that can irritate your skin and trap bacteria.

It’s also a good idea to protect your piercing with a bandage during high contact activities like sports and sex.

How to get rid of them

If you get a keloid on your belly button piercing, it’s there to stay unless you have it removed by a dermatologist. That said, you may be able to stop one in its tracks if you act quickly at the first symptom of a keloid.

Keep an eye on your piercing and call a dermatologist as soon as possible if you notice any scarring or thickening of skin. Quick intervention could help prevent the thickening from becoming a keloid.

“Your dermatologist may laser the scar to flatten it,” says Cheung, “or inject it with steroids or other medications if there are signs of tissue thickening.”

Other available treatments for keloids include:

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