Is it true that there are keloids from piercings? Many people have gotten their ears or nose pierced only to later develop this type of scar from it. In turn, they make the assumption that the piercing is the cause of their keloid. Is this true?

Well, the answer is actually a bit complicated. First of all it’s important to note that doctors and the medical community very little about this bizarre skin problem. There has been no specific cause that has been scientifically proven. That being said, it does appear that genetics plays a part in whether or not someone is prone to them. So if your genes are the cause, than the piercings are not what is causing them. However, the piercings did trigger their formation if you developed one in the area that was pierced.

When Do Keloids Form?
This is also a tough question to answer. Typically, it’s said that they most often form for the first time between the ages of 18 and 30. They can form at almost any age above and below that range, but that is less common. Both men and women are at equal risk. It’s unknown what the exact percentage of the population is that gets them, but numbers from 0.9% to 6% have been mentioned – so it’s probably somewhere between 1 out of a 100 and 6 out of 100 people. Typically, they tend to occur more often in those with darker skin and it will often run in families. In fact, it’s been mentioned the risk is nineteen times greater for African-Americans and some other dark skin ethnicities.

Do Piercings Cause Keloids?
Any type of trauma to the skin can trigger and offer the right conditions for keloid formation. So although a piercing is a very controlled procedure, it’s still very traumatic on earlobe, nose, or whatever area the tissue is that is getting a hole put in it. Because of that, if this condition runs in your family or you think you are prone to it, you should strongly consider avoiding piercings altogether. Most would agree it’s just not worth the risk.

Remember that just because you haven’t developed these types the scars on other parts of your body that have been injured or traumatized before, it doesn’t mean your scott free. For some unknown reason, there are individuals that only develop keloids on certain parts of their body. So although you may have not developed any on your body, your ears could be a location that is prone to them.

What If I’m Developing One?
If you recently got your ears pierced and think you are a developing a keloid it’s important to see a dermatologist as quickly as possible. This is because the sooner they can treat it, the easier and more effectively they can do it. Older scars are much more difficult to treat and remove because they harden and often continue to grow bigger. Professional help from a doctor is the best option for treatment.