How to Avoid Eyebrow Piercing Scars

Medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS

Last Updated: July 28, 2024 References

Most eyebrow scars are caused by infection, so preventing infection is the key to preventing scars. If you practice good care and hygiene, you can keep your eyebrow piercing clean and free from infections. You’ll need to keep your good care and hygiene practices up from the moment of piercing, through the healing process, and afterwards if your piercing grows out because your body has rejected it.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Avoiding Common Causes of Infection

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1
Choose a quality piercer. The person doing your eyebrow piercing should be a trained professional. They should work in a sterile environment with sterile tools, know the proper piercing technique, be knowledgeable about the piercing industry and experienced in piercing eyebrows. You should feel comfortable with them and able to ask them any questions you have about the piercing.
- Check to see if the piercer is certified by the state and if the piercing facility is licensed by the state. Each state may have different guidelines for piercing certification.
2
Choose a hypoallergenic piercing. If you have a reaction to your piercing, then you could experience swelling and redness. You can avoid this reaction by making sure the piercing you choose is labeled hypoallergenic.
- Options include surgical stainless steel, titanium, niobium, or 14- or 18-karat gold.^{[1]
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Germs and bacteria from your hands can quickly lead to infection. Use warm water and soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.^{[2]
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Dirty hands are the primary cause of infection that leads to scarring. Avoid fiddling with your eyebrow piercing.^{[3]
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5
Avoid places where dust, dirt or cigarette smoke will be near your face. It will be harder for your piercing to heal if it gets contaminated.
- Cigarette smoke will slow the healing process because it constricts your blood vessels.
6
Don’t use products that may irritate the piercing. Avoid products like makeup or lotion during the first six to eight weeks when your piercing is healing. Don't apply any product directly to your piercing.^{[4]
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- Other products to avoid include hair products, gels, creams and dyes.
Your piercing needs to breathe. Do not cover it with your hair or a bandage during the first six to eight weeks of healing.
Swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, and other bodies of water all harbor germs and bacteria that can infect your new piercing. Don't go swimming until your piercing heals. Otherwise, it could get infected.^{[5]
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Your piercing can easily get caught on your bedding, which can potentially cause skin tearing. If this happens, it will be harder for your skin to heal, and it can more easily become infected.^{[6]
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Part 2

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Cleaning Your Eyebrow Piercing

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1
Clean your piercing with a mild soap in the shower daily. Use an antibacterial liquid soap with a neutral pH that won’t irritate your piercing.^{[7]
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- Allow your piercing to soak in the warm shower water for a few minutes before applying the soap.
- Carefully use your soap to remove any dirt from in and around your piercing.
- Be careful not to pick at or pull your scabs off when scrubbing with the soap. Allow your scabs to fall off on their own.
- Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol on a new piercing because they are too harsh and can irritate your skin. You should also avoid bacitracin and other ointments not prescribed by a doctor.^{[8]
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Clean your piercing with a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic after you get out of the shower. Your piercer may provide you with an antiseptic solution or suggest an antiseptic solution you can buy. Antiseptic solutions kill germs and help prevent infections.^{[9]
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3
Apply warm water and antiseptic to your piercing before bed. It’s important to clean your piercing before you go to bed each night.^{[10]
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- Soak a cotton ball in warm water and thoroughly clean your piercing.
- Soak a second cotton ball in antiseptic and wipe your piercing clean.
- Dry the piercing using a cotton swab or tissue.
4
Clean your piercing with a saline solution once or twice daily. Apply the saline solution as necessary. If you are exposed to dirty environments or accidentally fiddle with your piercing, use the salt water mixture to clean it.^{[11]
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- Dilute one tablespoon of salt in one cup of water by stirring vigorously.
- Dip a cotton ball into the salt water mixture until it is partially soaked.
- Apply the wet side of the cotton ball to your piercing and gently clean the area.
After the first two weeks have passed, you can clean your piercing less often. Continue using the antibacterial, neutral pH, liquid soap to clean your piercing every time you take a shower. Also continue using the salt water mixture whenever your piercing gets dirty in between showers.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Growing Out Your Eyebrow Piercing

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Eyebrow piercings are not permanent, and they can be rejected by your body. Any piercing on flat skin will eventually migrate to the skin’s surface. An eyebrow piercing can last anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years.^{[12]
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2
Remove your piercing as soon as you notice your hole is migrating. It is important to remove your eyebrow jewelry as soon as these signs appear to avoid scarring. If you notice the skin in between your piercing is thin or the area is red, shiny or peeling, it’s time to remove your jewelry.^{[13]
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- If possible, contact your piercer to have them remove it.
Use the antibacterial soap you used to clean your piercing to clean the area now that the hole is closing. Make sure all soap residue is removed after washing.
Provide extra care to a piercing that has pus. Gently wash away the pus, and use a warm compress. If the infection doesn't clear within 2-3 days or gets worse, contact your doctor immediately.
Products like makeup, gels, creams, lotions, dyes and hair products should be avoided in the area.
Keep your skin healthy by drinking water, taking vitamins and eating right to help the skin to repair itself.
When the eyebrow piercing has closed, your skin color will have returned to normal, with no redness. It can take about one to two months for a piercing hole to fully close. If you aren’t sure if the hole has closed, you can check with your piercer or a doctor.
8
Apply anti-scarring cream. After the piercing hole has fully closed, apply anti-scarring cream daily for one month. Follow the application directions on the label of your specific cream.
- Some creams need to be used for six weeks before they are effective.

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Tips

If after the piercing hole has fully closed you have a scar, apply cocoa butter to the scar tissue to help soften the area and reduce the appearance of the scar. In more severe scarring cases, seek advice from a medical professional. Sometimes doctors can recommend a collagen or steroid injection to help reduce the scarring. In extreme cases, plastic surgery may be an option.^{[14]
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Warnings

Infections in facial piercings are extra dangerous because they're close to your brain. Visit your doctor immediately if your piercing may be infected.

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If you do get an infection in the area by your eyebrow piercing, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Infections need to be treated quickly and accurately.^{[15]
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