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What Is a Navel Keloid?

Marlene Garcia
Marlene Garcia

A navel keloid might appear as a thick, raised scar after belly button piercing or injury. These unsightly bumps usually look shiny, vary in color from pink to purple, and tend to migrate from the piercing site to nearby healthy skin. The keloid might increase in size over time, with itching and discomfort common symptoms. Several treatment options might reduce the size and color of a keloid, but typically fail to completely remove scar tissue.

Doctors remain unsure why keloids form in some people but not in others. Patients who developed these types of scars in the past face higher risks of another keloid forming. The condition might run in families, and more women tend to acquire a navel keloid, but the scars might be linked to more navel piercings by females. People with dark skin might also develop these scars more often. There is no way to predict in advance if a navel keloid might develop after surgery or belly-button piercing.

People with dark skin are at higher risk of developing keloids.
People with dark skin are at higher risk of developing keloids.

Scars form on skin after injury or surgical procedures. Normal scarring tends to lighten and become less noticeable as the wound heals. Keloids differ because they often spread to adjacent skin and commonly grow larger. The risk of keloids after navel piercing increases when heavy jewelry is worn, in obese patients, and for women in the last stage of pregnancy, when skin stretches.

Injury to the belly button may cause a navel keloid.
Injury to the belly button may cause a navel keloid.

Curved navel jewelry in the shape of a barbell might lessen the chance of a keloid developing while the site heals, which could take up to a year. These types of scars might also appear on the earlobes, face, or any area of the body that is pierced. A keloid might also form from severe acne, burns, or other injury to the skin surface.

Several treatment options might reduce the appearance of a keloid, usually by flattening the surface and reducing discoloration. Cortisone injections might help, but in some cases the scars get darker. Laser treatment might address increased redness, but typically some dark areas remain. Several laser sessions might be needed to treat the condition.

Steroid injections can help with keloid scar tissue.
Steroid injections can help with keloid scar tissue.

Some doctors consider surgery to remove a navel keloid risky because additional scars might develop after one is excised, and new scarring might appear larger than the original keloid. Some patients opt for a combination of surgery, steroid injections, and radiation to treat these defects. Others choose interferon injections or chemotherapy as treatment options. Interferon, which represents a substance produced by the body’s immune system, might decrease the size of a scar.

A navel keloid can be caused by a navel piercing.
A navel keloid can be caused by a navel piercing.

Freezing a navel keloid with liquid nitrogen might also work. A scar treated with this method usually becomes flatter but darker in color. Silicone gel sheets that compress the navel might take months to reduce the appearance of scarring, with varying results.

Discussion Comments

bear78

@fify-- Are you dark skinned? Keloids are more common in those with darker skin. It's fairly rare for lighter skinned individuals.

Since you used a prescription cream I assume that your doctor diagnosed the tissue as a keloid? Sometimes, small growths and irritations can occur on pierced skin. These can be confused with keloids by nonprofessionals so I would not decide that I have one without having a doctor see it.

I think that steroids are probably the best treatment option for you at this point. I've had a steroid injection done on a cyst before and it completely flattened it out. It's the same idea for keloids. Steroids can flatten it resolving most of the problem.

turquoise

@fify-- I don't think it's a good idea to have it removed. My sister had a keloid on her ear from a piercing. She had it cut out and guess what, another keloid formed due to the excision. If your skin is prone to developing scar tissue, which it obviously is, you can't take this risk. You might make things worse because the new keloid may be even larger and more difficult to get rid of. So consider other treatments.

By the way, have you removed the piercing jewelry? I think leaving the jewelry in might cause the keloid to grow larger. Also, forget about getting any other piercings after this. Your skin is just not suitable for it. No one knows why some people get keloids and others don't.

fify

I developed a navel keloid after a belly button piercing. I regret getting the piercing. The scar tissue is fairly large and ugly. I've tried a prescription cream given by my doctor but it hasn't helped. I'm considering getting the keloid cut out but I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

Has anyone here been able to get rid of a navel keloid successfully?

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    • People with dark skin are at higher risk of developing keloids.
      By: spotmatikphoto
      People with dark skin are at higher risk of developing keloids.
    • Injury to the belly button may cause a navel keloid.
      By: skyfotostock
      Injury to the belly button may cause a navel keloid.
    • Steroid injections can help with keloid scar tissue.
      By: Swapan
      Steroid injections can help with keloid scar tissue.
    • A navel keloid can be caused by a navel piercing.
      By: shime
      A navel keloid can be caused by a navel piercing.
    • Severe acne may cause the formation of a keloid.
      By: Ocskay Bence
      Severe acne may cause the formation of a keloid.