There is always a risk of scarring as a result of getting your lip pierced. Lip piercing scars can present themselves for a variety of reasons, although they often appear with no obvious cause.

Are Lip Scars Common?

You will have a scar if you get a lip or any other kind of piercing. Any time you puncture your skin, you are essentially wounding it and that includes piercings. Your body will work to heal that wound by replacing the damaged flesh with fibrous tissue, creating a bump or scar. The wound size also depends on the size of the piercing.

How to Avoid A Lip Scar

Visit your piercer to see if they have any specific instructions for you as you care for your lip piercing. The mouth is perfect for bacteria to grow. It is crucial to cleanse the piercing often. Ways that help to avoid a scar include the following:

• Rinse the inside of your mouth frequently with a saltwater solution or alcohol-free mouthwash, especially after eating, drinking, or smoking.
• Cleanse the outside of the jewelry with soap, preferably when you’re in the shower, so that the scab or crust can be easily removed without causing further injury. Clean your hands before and after washing the piercing.
• After three months (so the piercing doesn’t close), you can remove the piercing and soak it in a saltwater solution for 10 minutes. Be sure to rinse the jewelry before you put it back in.

The good news is that most lip piercing scars are small and appear as dimples. The scar could heal almost entirely with no more than a pale dot, which may only be noticeable to you. 

How Long Does a Lip Piercing Take To Heal?

It takes 3-6 months for a lip piercing to heal. The lip is a tricky site to heal because you are continually using your mouth to talk, eat, and drink. There is also a risk of you reopening the healed site in your sleep if you have a dry mouth or rub it over your pillow too forcefully.

How To Identify An Infection

There is a hole in your body where there wasn’t before, so typically, the area surrounding the piercing will be irritable. Furthermore, there’s a difference between normal swelling and infection. Signs of infection include: 

• Redness of the surrounding area
• Swelling
• Throbbing
• Discharge, usually white or clear
• Heat emitting from site

Other signs that an infection is forming are: 

• Fever
• Bump at the back of the site
• Warming sensation
• Pus
• Bleeding
• Increasing pain

If Infection Occurs After Piercing

Proper care of your piercing will reduce the chances of infection. Cleaning the area is very important and there are a variety of ways to do this.

Soap

Use an antibacterial soap when cleaning a piercing. It is recommended to use a brand that doesn’t have a lot of additives in. Too many additives will cause irritation, which usually means you end up fiddling with your piercing more. The more you touch your piercing, the more bacteria you introduce to the site.

• Cleanse your piercing with warm, soapy water
• Rinse thoroughly
• Do not rub the piercing vigorously, just gently with a cotton ball soaked in the warm water and soap solution
• Repeat at least twice a day

Saltwater

Saltwater has natural healing properties that kill bacteria, therefore, it’s a great way to disinfect the piercing site and help dry out any oozing.

• Bring a cup of water to boil and add a teaspoon of salt
• Let it cool down
• Place a cotton ball in the saltwater solution
• Gently wipe the piercing

Reducing Risk Of Infection

You can follow a few extra steps to help avoid infection or further discomfort after a new lip piercing. These include:

Modify Your Diet: Eat soft foods such as yogurt, pudding, and ice cream. Avoid eating any hard food that might get trapped in the piercing and cause infection or bruising.

Avoid Drinking Alcohol: Alcohol dilutes the blood and you don’t want the added risk of excessive bleeding.

Don’t Smoke: A great way to increase the risk of infection is by introducing all of the chemicals that come with smoking. You don’t want to increase the possibility that the piercing will become dry and invite disease. It is best to refrain from smoking for around 6-8 weeks to avoid infecting your lip piercing, and you never know, you might just kick the habit.

Eat Healthily: Eating healthy will promote faster healing, rather than sugary junk food. The nutrients found in healthier food will help to boost your immune system and will enable your body to be at its physical best.

Avoid Kissing: Kissing can irritate the area by moving the piercing around. It can also cause infection and extra scarring by making the piercing site larger.

In Conclusion

Doing your research will help to minimize the risk of scars appearing after getting your lip pierced. If scarring is something you’re not prepared to live with, then a piercing on such a prominent location isn’t ideal for you. Talk to your piercing professional for all the facts and how a piercing may affect you.