Does keloid history nix earrings, tattoo?

Dear Dr. Roach: At around 4-6 years of age, I got the chickenpox and, of course, had a lot of itchy bumps on my body. One bump in particular did not heal right; I scratched it so much that it formed into a small (smaller than a dime) keloid on my inner thigh. This happened no place else.

This was confirmed by my former pediatrician, who also told my parents and I that I should never get my ears pierced. Ever since then, I have never attempted to have anything pierced on my body nor get any tattoos. I am now 30 years of age, and I was really wanting to pierce my ears. I have never had any major surgeries, so I’m not sure how my skin will react if I decide to get my ears pierced.

I played sports my entire life, so I have had floor burns, minor cuts and bruises, and a gash on my face without developing a keloid. I would really appreciate your insight on this matter, as this has been bothering me for a long time. I’ve always wanted my ears pierced, but I also don’t want to risk my outer appearance changing because of a decision that could have been avoided. — A.C.

Because of your previous keloid, you are going to be at higher-than-average risk for developing a keloid, but I can’t even offer a guess on what the likelihood might be of getting one. The advice not to get your ears pierced remains the only way to guarantee you won’t get a keloid from piercing.

However, if you choose to try piercing, I can offer some advice on how to minimize your risk. Keeping the area meticulously clean with alcohol and sterile cotton and never touching it with your bare hands are good ideas. Pressure earrings reduce the risk, but they need to be worn at least 16 hours a day for six to 12 months for maximum effectiveness.