I have two rooks, and I'm having some problems.  I got my first rook piercing over a year ago, and the other one... probably almost a year.  I keep getting these round bumps of skin on the piercing in my right ear (this has been on and off for a few months now), and then I just started getting one in my left...what is it (I'm assumming some type of scarring) and how do I get rid of it?  I really don't want to have to go to a dermatologist and pay for something, but I will if it's the only way.

 This is how I take care of my rooks:

-clean them a couple times a day with pH balance soap

-salt water soaks every couple days before I go to bed (should I do it more often?)

-jojoba oil every couple days sometime during the morning/afternoon

Like I said, they come and go, but are never gone for long.  Help, please.  It's becoming a HUGE pain to sleep.  Basically, I can't sleep well, and I'm contemplating just taking them out... but I know I'd regret it so bad.

Thanks a ton.  I apologize if I'm doing something wrong.  Only positive advice and polite criticism, please!

EDIT:

The chamomile tea bag helped a ton, actually, and after a shower today I notice that the larger "thing" on my left ear had gotten a little smaller and now has a whitish small area on it.  Any suggestions?

 what type of jewelry do you have in them?

quinnn:

 what type of jewelry do you have in them?

 

 I have the original surgical steel jewelry from the piercer.

 cbr?  circular barbell?  curved barbell? straight barbell?

quinnn:

 cbr?  circular barbell?  curved barbell? straight barbell?

 Ah, sorry.  ^_^  Probably should have said that.  I have curved barbells.

 go see your piercer about checking the jewelry.  maybe there are nicks in it.  Maybe changing to titanium.

quinnn:

 go see your piercer about checking the jewelry.  maybe there are nicks in it.  Maybe changing to titanium.

I'm nowhere near the piercer that actually did the piercing (I moved), but I'll check out a place down here.  Most of the people I've met down here (Champaign-Urbana campus of University of Illinois) have recommended somewhere.  Is there anything I can do in the meantime while I wait to got ot the piercer to make my rooks happier?

Thanks a ton for the quick response.

It sounds like hypertrophic scarring to me (Do you have any pics?).  I've gotten those annoying bumps on all of my cartilage piercings.  I had to take out all the ones in my ears (didn't care enough to do something about them) and they went away.  But for my nostrils, I found that daily sea salt soaks really helped.  I also have started doing chamomile soaks on my new left nostril because it's starting to develop a bump too.  It seems to be helping and I've only done them for two days!  Just take a chamomile tea bag and soak it in some hot water (just like you were making tea) and then take out the bag, wring out the water, and place it on your angry piercing until it gets cold. 

 do you have any pics?  the curve may be too pronounced and it flopping around may be bothering the piercing area.  

one thing I like to do when I have a pissed piercing is a chamomille tea bag compress.  make chamomille tea and press the teabag against the affected area.  it really is soothing.  make sure you are hydrated and take your vitamins.  that can also help.

and just find a good, compitant piercer.  it doesn't have to be the one who pierced you.  If they know their stuff they will help you.

good luck!

This is the new bump that hasn't been around for long... got a bit bigger in the last few days.  Been irritated a ton by sleeping...

 http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc307/greyskykaleidoscope/piercings/Photo0025.jpg

 These have been around for a little longer, and keeping going away and coming back.  Seem to be less irritated overall.  Maybe it is because of the smaller balls?  Both of the barbells are the same size, except for the ball.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc307/greyskykaleidoscope/piercings/Photo0021.jpg

 yeah that jewelry is way too long.  but I'm almost wondering if at least the one on the left ear could be a boil.

quinnn:

 yeah that jewelry is way too long.  but I'm almost wondering if at least the one on the left ear could be a boil.

Okay.  Should I go buy some jewelry (titanium, probably) from the piercer and have them change it out?

 The one on the left does seem a bit different than the ones on the right.  It basically hurts like hell, and basically came out of nowhere...  what should I do about it?  How can I tell if it really is a boil?

I'm just guessing.  do you have any history of keloid scaring?  they just seem so big to be hypertrophic scars.

The balls on one barbell look enormous, that could have contributed to the stress on the piercing.

I would speak with a dermatologist if a visit to a piercer doesn't help improve the situation as I notice that you're having a bit of the same issue in your helix region. Cortisone injections may be necessary to help reduce the scarring. 

quinnn:

I'm just guessing.  do you have any history of keloid scaring?  they just seem so big to be hypertrophic scars.

 No, I don't have any history of keloid scarring.  The only piercings I've had this problem with are my rooks.  Everything else like my cartilidge, lobes, and lip piercings have been perfect.