It is known that ear piercing can cause various complications such as infection, allergic contact dermatitis, granulation, dermoid cyst formation buried earring and so on. We describe a case of earlobe keloid caused by ear piercing. The patient, an 18-year-old female, visited our hospital complaining of a large tumor hanging from the left earlobe. The tumor was excised and a histological examination revealed keloid tissue with subcutaneous clusters of lymphocytes.
An immunohistochemical study of the keloid tissue was performed using a polyclonal antibody against human IgG and IgE. Numerous IgE positive cells, presumably mast cells, were found below the epidermis, suggesting that the keloid was still active and still sensitized by some stimulation. The inflammatory response seemed to have contributed to formation of the large keloid.
