I wanna say Hypertrophic scarring, or just the regular bump (my impression is they're the same thing, might be wrong).

Either way, they're very typical of cartilage piercings, and don't sweat it. Do sea salt soaks and keep an eye on it.

I don't recommend using oils just yet... but if it gets any worse use TEA TREE oil, put it either JUST on the bump itself, avoid the actual hole if you can, or mix it in the salt mixture. But try and put that off for a while if you can.

good luck, but I don't think you need it... just keep in mind my indy took about 8 months to heal.

Indys are notorious for bumps....especially when your brothers noggin wacks it.

I agree with Kat. Do sea salt soaks and try not to use the TT oil unless a couple of months pass and there is no change. Remember - cartilage can easily take a year+ to heal fully and during that time it is known to get bumps, lumps and be sore for no good reason.

No sleeping ont he ear and keeping the telephone on the other side of your head aren't a bad idea either.

I have a similar problem with my helix piercing that I have had for about 4 months. It did not form a bump right away, but it showed up after I'd had it about a month. After starting a salt soaking regimen, how long does it take for the bump to go away? Also, you make tea tree oil sound like it would be a last resort. Why's that?

Tea tree oil can irritate and kinda burn a fresh piercing. Some people swear by a VERY diluted soak with it, but that can still be too harsh.

Bumps will go away when the irritant that caused them is no longer there or when the piercing heals...cartilage is very fickle and takes on a mind of its own. My tragus developed a bump exactly one month it and despite diligent soaks it stayed (albiet much smaller) for 6 months following its appearance. Nostrils get bumps, ear cartilage gets bumps - just the nature of the beast in many cases.

I agree with the guy in Berkeley. Pretty normal for industrials (and other piercings) to have bumps. Sea salt soaks and emu oil is exactly the way I would treat it.

I don't necessarily agree with the tea tree oil advice. Tea tree oil is great if you live in a humid area and have a fungal infection. Emu oil, on the other hand, absorbs into the skin and seems to work wonders on any skin condition, although not everyone agrees that oil is an asset to piercing. I do, and have used other kinds of oil in addition.

Heat, in the form of soaking and hot compresses, and massage with oil (with clean hands) are good for bumps.

industrial's look like a simple piercing to do, and it is as long as the piercer pierced you correctly. if the angle is slightly off and creating slight pressure on your ear you will kiloid. or you might be getting it from sleeping on that ear. that's why i won't pierce a customers industrial on both ears on the same day. just soaking in sea salt should do the trick, but if they continue it get larger i would remove the bar and replace it with a CBR for each hole until they go away or you get them scapled off. even scalping them off you still get about a 50% chance they will come back.