Lip piercings are trendy and cool, at least for a while. But what happens if you change your taste and the lip piercing no longer suits you? Or the hole gets infected and you have to let it grow shut? Here's how you can treat the scar of the little hole.
Every piercing leaves a spot where you can recognise a small scar even after the hole has grown over. It can be difficult to get rid of this small scar, depending on how long the piercing has been worn.
For inflammation of the lip piercing
If the hole has become infected, it must be treated immediately so that the infection does not get worse. Action must be taken at the first sign of inflammation, such as redness, pain on touch or swelling. The ring or plug should not be removed as there is a risk of pus becoming trapped in the skin when the wound closes. If the pus cannot drain away, an abscess will form.
Press a cloth soaked in warm water onto the wound twice a day for 15 minutes. The heat promotes the drainage of pus and loosens crusts. Rinse the mouth with antibacterial mouthwash after every meal to prevent further bacteria from entering the wound. Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen alleviate the discomfort.
Important: if the inflammation does not improve within two to three days or if there is even swelling of the lymph glands, fever or red lines on the skin, you should see a doctor.
Never press or scratch the wound directly with your fingers. This can aggravate the inflammation.
Treatment of the scar hole
Once the inflammation has subsided or you have decided not to wear the piercing, the piece of jewellery can be removed from the lip. Immediately after removal, the area should be treated regularly with an anti-scar gel. This is applied several times a day according to the package leaflet while the hole heals. The reduction of the scar can take several weeks or even months. Gradually the scar will fade and only a tiny dot will remain.
If the scar of the hole does not disappear even after months of treatment with the anti-scar gel, you can consult a cosmetic surgeon. Correcting a piercing hole is a minor procedure.
Skin types that form scars quickly usually cannot get rid of the piercing scar without the help of a doctor.
