Any piercing carries with it the possibility of leaving a scar, and lip piercings are no exception. Bonnie B. Graves, author of the book "Tattoos and Body Piercing," says that most piercings will leave some sort of a mark behind after they're removed, but, especially in softer tissues such as the lips, the scar will be larger and more visible if something traumatic happens to the area while it's pierced.
Causes
Elayne Angel, author of piercing guide "The Piercing Bible," says that the majority of major scarring, especially in soft tissues such as lips, is related to improper care while the hole is healing. This can lead to more serious issues, such as infection, that are likely to mar your skin permanently. Other problems that can lead to scarring in lip piercings are allergic reactions to jewelry and tearing or other trauma.
Proper Care
Proper care of your lip piercing is the most basic way to avoid excessive scarring. According to the Center for Young Women's Health from Children's Hospital Boston, a lip piercing can take two to three months to heal completely. To keep it clean and help prevent infection, you should gently swipe a cotton swab soaked in saline solution around the lip ring hole twice daily. Purchase the saline solution from your piercer to make sure that you're using the right variety for your lip.
Infection
Infection can cause serious scarring in a very short period of time, especially if it's left untreated. If you notice redness, swelling, pain and discharge around the lip ring, or a buildup of a smelly, crusty substance on the jewelry, you likely have an infection. Though cleaning the piercing site regularly will lessen the likelihood that you'll develop an infection, you may develop one regardless, particularly because your lip is more likely to come into contact with irritating substances than are other pierced body parts. The area also tends to be more sensitive to materials used to make body jewelry.
Trauma
Trauma to the lip piercing site can cause serious scarring that may require stitches or plastic surgery to repair. If your lip ring is caught on something or yanked, it may tear through the flesh. Until it heals completely, you should avoid touching or twisting your lip ring unless you're cleaning it, advises MayoClinic.com. You could accidentally pull too hard or snag it on something.
Warning
You should see a doctor immediately if you suspect you have an infection or if you have torn your lip piercing. Seeking treatment as soon as possible can lessen the appearance of scars, as well as keep the issue from developing into something far more serious and difficult to care for.
References
- "Tattooing and Body Piercing"; Bonnie B. Graves; 2000
- "The Piercing Bible"; Elayne Angel; 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Piercings
- Center for Young Women's Health: Body Piercing
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