Old Helix Piercing Started Hurting Again Bump

I recently had my ear pierced in what is most commonly known every bit a 'Helix' piercing (to denote the outer ear) and is sometimes also called a 'Pinna', or the more anatomically specific 'Scaphoid Fossa'. This type of piercing goes through the cartilage of the ear, and therefore takes much longer to heal than the ear lobe. Cartilage piercings are notoriously tough to heal on some, while others practice well with this type of piercing.

As I am being asked a lot near this piercing and my experiences with healing, I thought I would share some of the best pre-piercing and aftercare communication/research I've come beyond and so far, in the hopes of good healing. I promise the following info is helpful for those of yous who are considering a new piercing or are having troubles with sometime ones:

1) Get TO A Professional person

All piercings should be carried out by professionals – including the common ear lobe piercings – just it is specially important that cartilage piercings, and piercings on other sensitive body parts are carried out by trained professionals who do such piercings for a living. Every bit a professional, your piercer should be able to explain the pros and cons of your choice and all aspects of aftercare, and you should be able to render if you run into any problems or need to change the jewellery for any reason (which is not recommended during healing, ideally, as irresolute the jewellery can re-traumatise the wound).

ii) SAY NO TO THE GUN

Ear piercing guns are often inaccurate and are known to cause unnecessary blunt trauma, forcing a blunt-concluded stud earring through your ear, resulting in fierce and scar tissue. (Or leaving you with a very abrupt, pointed bankroll on your earring, which for obvious reasons is also problem.) They also commonly requite you a shorter length studs, which in some cases can cause the earring to be 'swallowed upward' by your ear when it swells during the healing process. (Reports also advise ear piercing guns may have sterilisation issues, and can therefore potentially spread serious infections.) In short, they are not recommended for this type of piercing. If y'all go to a piercing professional person, they volition not use a gun. If they want to employ a gun, think again nigh how experienced they are.

A professional person should make your piercing using a sterile hollow gauge needle. (They await similar this.)

3) Choose YOUR JEWELLERY WISELY, AND DON'T CHANGE IT

A professional person piercer will have a range of appropriate jewellery available for your fresh piercing, and will put the jewellery in one time the piercing is made. You will not need your own jewellery. The jewellery should be high course piercing jewellery. The jewellery the piercer places in your fresh piercing will keep it from closing up again, and should not be removed during the (long) healing procedure. There are various views on the best style of jewellery for a Helix, so tell your called piercer what you lot like the wait of, and accept their advice on board. Some prefer the round 'sleeper' style that hugs the border of the outer ear, equally it is less probable to take hold of on pilus and wearable, while others advise against a curved earring in a directly healing piercing and instead similar the straight bar or long stud way, making sure information technology is long plenty to give the piercing room to breathe and to avoid issues during the expected initial swelling.

I went with a straight bar with a screw on pearl-look bead to match the pearl studs my late mother Janni got married in, as I wear them often. The dewdrop in my piercing is not a existent pearl, as genuine pearls, being organic, do non survive cleaning well. Every bit the dewdrop screws off, I can replace it with some other bead of a different color if necessary, though I would wait a while to do that as information technology would irritate the expanse. While the piercing is fresh, I am clipping my hair back on one side with hair pins behind the ear, to proceed the hair out of the way (and testify it off.)

Once your piercing is fully healed, enjoy experimenting with dissimilar jewellery.

4) Become ONE Done AT A TIME

A Helix will have a long time to heal, and you volition not want slumber on it for some time. Personally, I like the asymmetrical look, but if yous intend to get both ears done to lucifer, I recommend doing one at a time and not doing the other side until the first one is every bit healed as possible. Multiple piercings up one ear can await dandy, but once again I would personally recommend playing it safety past doing 1 at a time, and letting each heal before getting another, so you tin can go a handle on any swelling or other bug that may ascend for you.

5) KEEP It Clean

Keep your piercing clean, e'er clean your hands before touching it, utilize just clean pillows and bed linen, and do not utilise any cosmetics or makeup on the area of your piercings under any circumstances. Expect some redness and localised swelling. This volition pass. Cleanliness is central, and as with everything else, clean living volition also assistance your healing fourth dimension and general health.

six) Treat YOUR PIERCING TO REGULAR SALT BATHS

Salt or saline baths are generally agreed to be the best tried and tested technique for keeping piercings clean. Near piercers will recommend soaking your piercing in this fashion every day while it heals. It is not recommended that you utilise drying or harsh cleaners like peroxide, booze, etc.

To brand a salt bath: boil water and pour it into a small basin or broad mouthed mug, and stir in 1 tablespoon of table salt. (I take been using pure rock salt). Allow the salt to dissolve in the water and expect until the hot water to cool enough that information technology won't fire you. I test with my finger, or even my other ear to make sure it is comfortable plenty. Once it is a good temperature, dip your piercing into the h2o and keep it there for 2 minutes. (For me that involves resting my right ear into the water and waiting patiently for the 2 minutes to pass.) You lot may feel information technology sting very gently in the piercing afterwards most a infinitesimal. Have a towel on hand as the pilus effectually your ear will exist soaking wet.

I bought a saline spray for piercings every bit a support considering of my frequent travel for piece of work, and though it was probably better than zero I found that it did picayune.

Have two salt baths a mean solar day for the starting time month if at all possible. If your piercing takes a plough and starts to swell again and feel hot (some of which is to be expected initially) common salt baths will likely once again help.

Here is an image of my piercing looking a bit red, and swelling up beyond the outer ear around day 4. I'd been using the saline spray instead of common salt baths due to travel and once I stuck to the twice daily common salt baths again it settled right downward:

7) CONSIDER EMU OIL

Emu Oil is a anti-inflammatory that has been used for centuries by Australia'south Aboriginal communities as a natural remedy. Some piercers swear by it (The Piercing Bible, amid others, calls it a miracle production) for healing new or troubled piercings. If you want to try this oil, brand sure the product you utilize is 100% Emu oil (no substitutes). Information technology should not accept a smell. To use, once you have gently cleaned your piercing, accept a small amount of 100% Emu oil and massage it around the area with clean fingers (or gloved hand), without directly touching the piercing. The oil will soak into the peel and lubricate the piercing wound, helping the healing process. I use a small amount twice a day.

It is non advisable for vegetarians. (If you know of a condom vegetarian alternative, please let me know in the comments).

viii) AVOID

Avert tight necklines that volition pull on your ear. Avoid swimming in pools. Avoid submerging your piercing in a bath as baths can harbour bacteria (Showers are preferred). Avoid sleeping on pinnacle of your new piercing. Avert playing with it or touching it except when cleaning. Protect your new piercing from being bumped against considering trust me, it hurts.

9) Requite It Fourth dimension

Cartilage ear piercings may take up to a year to fully heal, but generally have 3-6 months (every bit opposed to the ear lobe, that takes just 4-6 weeks). They heal from the outside in, and then even if it looks fine on the outside, y'all should not assume it is fully healed. Having said all this, everyone heals differently and some piercings don't work out on some people. If it doesn't piece of work out for you, make sure you seek professional aid, and don't arraign yourself.

I am thrilled with my piercing and then far, and it is healing extremely well. Wish me luck with the ongoing healing procedure.

I hope this info was helpful for those of y'all who are considering a new piercing or are having troubles with old ones. E'er speak with a professional about your piercings.

Good luck x

* For more information on piercing aftercare, bank check out the Trunk Art Association of Australia and New Zealand.

* For more images of Helix piercings, check out my Pinterest page.

* In that location are many good, qualified piercing professionals. Check your local listings and ask around. I went to K at Pierced Off and plant her to exist very professional.

weingartnerfrivinse.blogspot.com

Source: https://taramoss.com/how-to-heal-a-helix/

Share this post