How to Avoid Eyebrow Piercing Scars

Before committing to an eyebrow piercing, keep in mind that all eyebrow piercings will migrate to the surface eventually. This piercing is seen as more temporary than others—though it may stay in place for years. 

While there is always a risk of infection and scarring when you get any piercing, there are certain things you can do to avoid the possibility. Research eyebrow piercing and aftercare, and seek out reviews of the piercing shop and piercer. 

Prevent Infection

Preventing infection in your eyebrow piercing starts with choosing a quality piercer who has plentiful experience with piercing eyebrows. The shop should be sterile, and the piercer should use sterile tools. 

Ensure the piercer wears gloves and opens a new pack of needles in front of you, so you know they are safe. Alternatively, they may clean equipment while in your presence. A reputable piercing specialist will make sure you feel comfortable with the procedure and will be open to you asking any questions about the piercing and aftercare.

Another way to prevent infection is to choose hypoallergenic jewelry, like stainless steel, niobium, titanium, 14-karat gold, or 18-karat gold. This type of jewelry will prevent swelling and redness as you get your eyebrow pierced and after it heals. Your piercer should have hypoallergenic on hand for you to choose from, and they can also help you pick the best gauge for your piercing.

If your eyebrow piercing is infected, it might look red, be hot to the touch, swell up, or emit discharge. If you see any of these signs, you should see a doctor to treat the infection with antibiotics. Using antibiotics will help to prevent scarring.

Practice Good Hygiene

First of all, wash your hands before touching your piercing and clean it as directed by your piercer. Spray piercing solution on your eyebrow piercing multiple times a day. If your piercer doesn’t give you this spray, you can buy it at a reasonable cost.

The best aftercare product I’ve personally used is the After Inked Piercing Aftercare Spray. Not only is it vegan, but it’s also completely alcohol and additive-free. The solution works well on all skin types including sensitive skin, and it comes in a generously-sized mist-spraying bottle for easy application. When using it from the very start of the healing process, the spray helps to decrease healing times and aims to eliminate any lingering pain or soreness.​

Soap will irritate your piercing, and you shouldn’t use moisturizer or makeup on the area as it heals. Hydrogen peroxide and alcohol are too harsh to use on fresh piercings and can increase the risk of scarring since they delay healing and irritate the skin.

Make sure your pillowcase is clean, and sleep on the opposite side of your body while the piercing heals to keep from bumping it or tangling it in the fabric. Eyebrow piercings can take two or three months to heal, though you should wait about six months before changing out the original jewelry to prevent the hole from closing.

Watch for Rejection

You can minimize the possibility of an eyebrow piercing scar by watching for rejection. Rejection happens when your body sees the jewelry as a foreign object and tries to eliminate it. Surface piercings are the most common piercing to be rejected by the body, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on your eyebrow piercing. 

Rejection usually happens gradually, but you’ll notice that the area is still sore and irritated several days after the piercing. The piercing hole might also seem like it is getting larger, and the jewelry might be hanging differently or moving more freely than it should.

If you notice your piercing coming towards the surface of your skin, remove the jewelry and contact your piercer. Taking the jewelry out will help decrease the chances of scarring. The piercer might recommend a different type of jewelry; a thicker gauge barbell might help the wound settle into place, and you won’t lose your piercing.

Don’t try to treat the jewelry rejection by yourself because it might get infected and lead to a larger scar than if you sought help. If you have a large scar, you won’t be able to get re-pierced in the same area as the skin will be too thick.

Eyebrow Piercing Scar Treatment

If you find yourself with an eyebrow piercing scar, you can massage the area with specialist products such as Bio-Oil, or natural ingredients like cocoa butter to help soften the scar tissue and minimize its visibility. Research shows that silicone gel effectively reduces the size, color, and skin texture.

If using the above products doesn’t help, ask your doctor about other treatment options, there are several available.

Final Thoughts

Surface piercings are more delicate than other piercings and tend to migrate out over time. If you’ve had your eyebrow piercing for a while and notice the jewelry coming to the surface, go ahead and remove it. It might fall out on its own, but preemptively removing the jewelry will decrease the chance of scarring.