Cool. They look awesome, there's a ton of jewelry out there that can make your boring ol' cartilage look extra exciting, and, well, it's definitely not in the same realm as lobe piercing. In other words, this piercing, also known as a helix piercing, is going to hurt more and take longer to heal (via Insider).
Pain tolerance varies, but generally your helix will hurt more than your lobes as it is less fleshy, piercer Shannon Freed tells our. Healing is subjective and is dependent on factors such as your overall health, sleep and stress levels, and your aftercare regimen. But when it comes to trends and being en vogue, does it really matter if it hurts and takes forever to heal? Probably not. So, if you're thinking about jumping on the cartilage (helix) piercing wagon, here's what you need to know about healing time.
Like any body modification, the more diligent you are with the aftercare of your piercing, the quicker it will heal and the less likely you are to get an infection. My top tip is to drink loads of water for three days after and just leave it the 'eff alone, Body Electric Tattoo ear piercer Brian Keith Thompson tells Elle. Clean it with soap and water twice a day. Absolutely NO alcohol or peroxide-based products. You've just put a hole in your ear, adding harsh chemicals to something your body is trying to heal is only going to make it worse ... And no playing with it. Constantly twisting the earring will slow down the healing process.
The 9 Piercings That Heal The Fastest (and How To Care For Them)
Thompson also says that when you do get that initial piercing, you want high-end metal. The cheap stuff is just an infection waiting to happen. Another thing to keep in mind is to avoid sleeping on the ear that has just been pierced (via Authority Tattoo). Although, as anyone who has had a cartilage piercing will tell you, if you do roll onto it in the middle of the night, you'll wake up immediately.
First of all, there's no definitive timeline as to exactly how long it will take for a cartilage piercing to heal because overall health, as well as aftercare, are part of the healing process. Someone can heal in a few months, while others can take several months. Cartilage is not very vascular tissue and because blood flow is an integral part of the healing process the healing time takes a bit longer, professional piercer Ashley of Venus by Maria Tash tells Bustle. This does not mean that it hurts for the entirety of that time; usually, if the piercing is bumped or snagged during that period, that will feel uncomfortable but otherwise the piercing typically feels healed around the three-month mark.
But, again, because there are many factors that can contribute to the healing process, although it might feel healed around three months after the piercing, it could take up to 12 months — that's right, a full year! — to be completely healed (via WebMD). As much as helix piercings are trendy and very fashionable, if you're not ready for the bit of commitment it takes to keep them clean and basically baby your ear for a couple of months, then maybe stick to other types of piercings. Or you can always get a fake cartilage piercing by purchasing a ring that just clips onto your upper ear. You'll look just as cool as everyone else, but you'll get to avoid the upkeep and waking up every night because you accidentally rolled onto it. A white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. It indicates 'click here to go back to the top of the page.'
Dear Alley: I've Had My Helix Piercing For Two Years... Will It Eventu
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Our stories are reviewed by medical professionals to ensure you get the most accurate and useful information about your health and wellness. For more information, visit our medical review board.
How Long Does It Take For Piercings To Close?
While traditional ear piercings happen on the lobes, piercings on other parts of the ear have surged in popularity in recent years. Specifically, the helix piercing — which is made on the upper or outer cartilage of the ear — has become an increasingly trendy choice, thanks to celebs like Miley Cyrus, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Timothée Chalamet, and Rihanna.
While helix piercings offer a fun way to adorn your ears with different styles of jewelry, a 2021 study also found that cartilage piercings come with one of the highest rates of infection of any body piercings.
According to Suzanne Friedler, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology in New York City, this is because cartilage tissue gets less blood flow than the fleshy, fatty lobe. Less blood flow means the wound heals more slowly, making it more prone to infection. Additionally, Friedler says helix and other cartilage piercings come with a higher risk of keloids — thick raised scars caused by excess collagen in the skin during healing.
Helix Piercing Guide: Everything You Need To Know
All that said, you can reduce your chances of these complications by taking certain precautions beforehand and ensuring proper aftercare during the healing process. Here's what dermatologists want you to know before getting a helix piercing.
There are several types of helix piercings to choose from, each of which is in different locations on the ear. Here's what to expect from each, according to Susan Massick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
The price of a helix piercing ranges from about $30 to $75, says Massick, but varies significantly depending on which type you choose and where you get it done. For example, a double or triple helix piercing will typically cost more than a single one.
I Just Had My Forward Helix Pierced A Week Ago. It's Swollen (not Too Much), A Little Bit Red, But It Doesn't Hurt. I'm Worried. Is It Normal?
Don't choose where to get your piercing solely based on who offers the lowest price, — Friedler says it's well worth it to go to a specialty parlor for helix piercings since they're so prone to infection.
When selecting a parlor, Friedler advises making sure they sterilize the equipment between each use, wear a fresh pair of disposable gloves, and have experience specifically with cartilage piercings.
If you're prone to infections or keloids, Friedler suggests getting a piercing at your dermatologist's office, as they can inject cortisone at the site to prevent keloids. They can also numb your ear beforehand to reduce pain during the piercing.
Helix Piercing Guide: For The Babe Who's Extra In The Best Way
Before you get a helix piercing, Friedler recommends cleaning your entire ear thoroughly with antibacterial soap. To minimize any discomfort, you can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever 30 minutes to an hour before your appointment. Acetaminophen is a better choice than ibuprofen or aspirin, which can thin out your blood and thus cause more bleeding when you get pierced.
Keep in mind that it's normal for the site to feel a little swollen or sore for a few days after you get a helix piercing. However, that should go down within the first week — if it doesn't, or gets worse, that may signal a possible infection.
As with all piercings, it's crucial to keep the area around your helix piercing as clean as possible. During the first two weeks of healing, Friedler advises applying rubbing alcohol on both sides of the piercing twice a day to kill off germs.
The Helix Piercing: Everything You Need To Know
For the remainder of the healing process, you can do this once a day — or alternate alcohol with a saline solution, which can help relieve inflammation, flush out the wound, and facilitate healing. Once the piercing is closed up, you can switch to only saline. Massick advises always using gauze instead of cotton balls to apply these solutions because cotton fibers can get caught in the piercing or wound.
Some other aftercare tips are to wait 24 hours before getting your helix piercing wet, says Friedler. If you're a side sleeper, you should also try to avoid laying on the ear that was pierced, which can cause friction that leads to irritation and swelling, according to Massick. Speaking of sleeping — changing your pillowcase every two days can also help to reduce the risk of infection.
Avoid twisting or fiddling your piercing, says Massick, which can irritate the wound and delay healing. Swapping out the jewelry or touching the piercing before it's fully healed — especially with unwashed hands — increases your risk of infection.
The Healing Piercing
You may also be more prone to minor skin infections after an ear piercing if you have atopic dermatitis or allergic metal contact dermatitis, according to a 2005 study.
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