Here's a breakdown of what could be happening and what you can expect:
Possible Causes & Diagnoses (Why you need a professional):
* Embedding: The jewelry is getting trapped under the skin, often due to trauma, swelling, or improper jewelry. The skin essentially grows *over* the jewelry.
* Hypergranulation Tissue: This is excessive, moist, red tissue that grows around the piercing site. While not skin growing "over" the piercing, it can *look* that way and can eventually grow to cover the jewelry if untreated.
* Keloid: This is a raised, thickened scar that can extend beyond the original piercing site. It's caused by an overproduction of collagen during healing. Keloids can be itchy, painful, and cosmetically undesirable.
* Infection: Infection can cause swelling, redness, and inflammation, which can make it *seem* like skin is growing over the jewelry. However, it's often just severe swelling.
* Rejection: Your body might be rejecting the piercing. The skin might start pushing the jewelry out, with new skin trying to grow over it.
* Improper Jewelry: Jewelry that's too small, low-quality metal, or the wrong shape can cause irritation and lead to problems.
What a Professional Piercer (First Stop) Will Do:
1. Assessment: The piercer will examine the piercing to determine the extent of the problem and what they think is the most likely cause.
2. Advise: They will give you detailed instructions. Crucially, if they suspect an infection or anything beyond their scope, they'll refer you to a dermatologist or doctor.
3. Jewelry Removal (Possibly): If the jewelry is embedded, they may need to carefully remove it. *Do not try to do this yourself.* They will use sterile tools and techniques to minimize trauma.
4. Aftercare Instructions: They'll provide detailed aftercare instructions to help promote healing and prevent further complications. This might involve saline soaks, special cleaning solutions, and advice on avoiding irritation.
5. Jewelry Replacement (Possibly): If the issue wasn't severe embedding, they might be able to replace the jewelry with something larger, made of a better material (like implant-grade titanium or surgical steel), or a different style that puts less pressure on the area.
6. Referral: If the piercer suspects infection, a keloid, or other serious issues, they *must* refer you to a medical professional (dermatologist or doctor).
What a Dermatologist/Doctor Will Do (If Necessary):
1. Diagnosis: They'll accurately diagnose the problem (keloid, infection, etc.).
2. Treatment: They'll prescribe appropriate treatment, which may include:
* Antibiotics: For infections.
* Steroid Creams or Injections: For keloids or hypergranulation tissue to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
* Surgical Excision: In severe cases of keloids or embedded jewelry, surgery might be necessary.
* Other Procedures: Cryotherapy (freezing), laser treatment, or radiation therapy (for severe keloids).
Important Considerations & Advice:
* Early Intervention is Key: The sooner you address the problem, the easier it will be to treat.
* Don't Panic: While it's important to act quickly, try to stay calm. Most piercing complications can be resolved with proper care.
* Follow Instructions Carefully: Adhere to the aftercare instructions provided by your piercer or doctor.
* Avoid Irritation: Don't touch, pick at, or play with the piercing. Avoid sleeping on it. Keep it clean and dry.
* High-Quality Jewelry: Always use high-quality, hypoallergenic jewelry (implant-grade titanium or surgical steel) from a reputable piercer.
* Proper Piercing Technique: Ensure you get your piercing done by a qualified and experienced piercer. Poor piercing technique can increase the risk of complications.
* Consider removing the piercing permanently. If you've had repeated issues with a piercing, it might be best to let it heal and close.
In summary: See a professional piercer FIRST. They can assess the situation and either treat it or refer you to a doctor or dermatologist. Do NOT try to fix it yourself.