Bekki writes,

I had my belly button peirced in june and last night took it out as it was sore. This morning i woke up and there was a red lump on the top of it. I’ve been told its gonna turn into a keloid scar and i’m really scared. Is there anything i could do to stop the redness?

Hi Bekki,

First of all, don’t panic!

It sounds like your piercing may be infected, in which case I’d recommend you see your doctor.  Occasionally, when you remove a belly ring and the hole closes up (which, given your piercing is relatively recent, there’s a good chance it’s already started to close), an abscess can form.  The only way to get rid of a an abscess is via oral antibiotics, however, warm compresses can also help by increasing blood circulation to the effected area.

Your doctor may also recommend some over the counter antiseptic creams which, if your case is a mild infection, should work well.

I’d really urge you to see a doctor.  The sooner you can start treatment, the less likely it is that you will have done permanent damage.