Treating Keloids that Develop on Belly Button Piercings
It's not uncommon for keloids - a type of raised overgrown scar tissue - to form around navel piercings. While small and unbothersome, larger keloids can be painful and upsetting from a cosmetic point of view. Thankfully various treatments can help flatten and minimize belly button keloid scars.
What Causes Piercing Keloids?
Keloids develop when excess collagen accumulates at the site of a skin injury, in this case a piercing. Genetic susceptibility, hormonal factors and skin trauma influence risk and severity.
The belly button area is prone to keloids because it naturally catches and rubs against clothing and lint. This chronic irritation after an initial piercing or secondary infection drives up inflammation and scar tissue build up.
Belly Button Keloid Symptoms
Navel keloids tend to evolve slowly, starting as small hard bumps at the piercing site after the initial piercing trauma. Over the course of weeks to months they expand into tougher irregular mounds of tissue.
These fibrotic growths typically range from the size of a pea to a large bulbous mass. Compared to regular scars that remain flat, keloids overgrow boundaries of the original wound extending beyond its edges.
In addition to obvious visible changes, common symptoms include:
- Significant itchiness
- Pain or soreness
- Burning or stinging sensation
- Restricted movement when large
When to Seek Treatment
Small keloids that arent bothersome can simply be monitored. However its best to pursue treatment if navel keloids have any of the following traits:
- Growths larger than 2 cm diameter size
- Cause pain or irritation
- Expand progressively over 3-6 months
- Significantly impact appearance or clothing fit issues
- Changes skin texture or mobility around navel
Treatment Options for Piercing Keloids
Various medical therapies are available through dermatologists or plastic surgeons to treat irritating or unsightly belly button keloids, including:
Corticosteroid Injections
Steroid shots like triamcinolone or Kenalog directly injected into keloid tissue reduces inflammation and new collagen formation to calm symptoms and shrink growths.
Cryotherapy
Liquid nitrogen spray freezes and destroys overgrown scar cells, allowing new flattened tissue regrowth over the course of several cryo session treatments.
Laser Therapy
Vascular lasers target blood vessels feeding keloids to control growths. Resurfacing lasers smooth surface texture while encouraging normalized collagen rebuilding.
Radiotherapy
Focused radiation prevents additional excessive fibroblast activity responsible for scar tissue overgrowth when delivered promptly at onset of new keloids.
Interferon Injections
Interferons regulate inflammation and collagen production. Injected interferons curb these processes to reduce keloid proliferation and symptoms after a few treatment sessions.
Compression
Pressure wraps, silicone patches or acrylic shields worn over keloids for prolonged periods can effectively flatten and shrink growths over time.
Surgical Excision Options
Removing keloids surgically may be warranted for faster, more definitive improvement in certain cases when combined with other treatments to prevent recurrence. Common techniques include:
Scalpel Excision
This simple in-office procedure surgically cuts out keloid lesions entirely. Fine stitches close the wound with precision alignment to minimize scarring.
Laser Excision
Lasers accurately penetrate surrounding healthy tissue to vaporize away keloid lesions cleanly. This also helps seal blood vessels reducing recurrence risk.
Cryosurgery Excision
Liquid nitrogen applied during and after keloid removal freezes margins to destroy stray cells, optimizing healing. This dual freezing-excision therapy shows excellent results.
Aftercare & Recurrence Prevention
Proper aftercare following treatment can make all the difference in preventing repeat keloids after belly piercing removal. Strategies include:
Silicone Gel Sheeting
Applying medical grade silicone patches daily for 6-12 months supports healing, minimizes scarring and reduces irritation that triggers new keloids.
Pressure Dressings
Compression bandages worn 24/7 for 1-2 months post-treatment reinforces quiescence of the wound site to inhibit recurrence potential.
Corticosteroid Tape
Steroid skin tapes applied to the closed excision site decreases inflammation while suppressing collagen accumulation as the incision mends.
Avoid Re-Piercing
Ditch the navel jewelry long-term after keloid removal! Re-piercing risks triggering renewed scar tissue proliferation and keloids.
Laser Treatments
Follow up fractional CO2 laser resurfacing sessions further thins and improves scars while also reducing recurrence odds drastically.
Prevention Tips
You can help prevent future keloids with these proactive tips:
- Avoid unnecessary skin damage like piercings
- Never pick scabs or wounds
- Use sun protection to shield skin
- Take care not to cut, scratch or burn delicate skin
- Treat cuts promptly with antibiotic ointment
- Manage conditions causing skin inflammation
Genetics largely drives ones innate tendency to over-scar. However minimizing skin injury chances makes a meaningful difference in keeping keloids away.
Seeking Doctors Care for Scar Treatments
Dont try managing advanced keloids at home yourself! This almost always makes them worse and less responsive to therapy later.
Consult a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon promptly at the first sign of growing belly button keloids. Swift, professional medical treatments right away provide the best chances of clearing growths effectively.
With todays many options combining excision, lasers, cryo, radiation and more, eliminating piercing related keloids successfully is very achievable.
FAQs
Do I need surgery to remove a navel keloid?
Not always. Many belly button keloids can be treated effectively with steroid injections, lasers or cryotherapy without excision surgery. But large, advanced growths may require surgical removal.
Should I take out my piercing if a keloid develops?
Yes, removing the navel piercing helps minimize irritation that fuels further keloid growth. Leave jewelry out until keloids are fully treated and healed.
How can I prevent keloids from returning after treatment?
Silicone gel sheets, pressure dressings and steroid tape applied to the closure site for 1-2 months post-treatment can significantly reduce recurrence risk.
Do keloids go away permanently after being removed?
With prompt treatment plus aftercare to inhibit recurrence, properly excised belly button keloids can be permanently eliminated. But some people have a tendency to keep forming keloids.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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