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Helix Piercing: Types, Cost, And How To Avoid Infection
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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.
Cz Chain Helix Piercing
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Slightly Torn Cartilage Piercing? Double Helix
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.
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.
Helix Piercing: Pain, Healing, Jewelry
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.
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.
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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.
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.
When you notice symptoms of an infection, Friedler recommends applying a layer of antibiotic ointment and making an appointment to see your dermatologist or doctor as soon as possible.
Most Painful Ear Piercing
A healthcare provider can determine whether you're having an allergic reaction or infection, and then determine if an oral antibiotic is necessary or if the cartilage needs to be drained. In cases of a severe infection that turns into cellulitis, Massick says IV antibiotics may be needed.
If left untreated, Friedler says an infection can lead to cauliflower ear, otherwise known as boxer's ear, which happens when blood collects and gets trapped under the skin of the cartilage, causing an increase in swelling that permanently disfigures the ear.
Additionally, neglecting to treat an infection can increase your risk of scarring, including keloids. These scars are not painful or dangerous, but they can be unsightly.
Don't Jump The Gun When It Comes To Getting A Cartilage Piercings
Helix piercings — which are done on the upper cartilage of the ear — offer a unique way to sport different styles of jewelry. That said, these piercings tend to be more painful, take more time to heal, and are more prone to infection than traditional earlobe piercings.
The best way to minimize your risk of infection is to choose a reputable and experienced licensed piercer, clean your piercing daily, and avoid touching or fiddling with it until it's fully healed.
Rebecca Strong is a Boston-based freelance writer covering health and wellness, food and wine, fitness, and travel. In addition to contributing to the Health Reference andKitchen verticals at , she has also written for Healthline, Health magazine, Bustle, StyleCaster, PopSugar, AskMen, and Elite Daily. You can follow her work on Twitter.Ear cartilage is an amazing place to get pierced, but it comes with a slight caveat... They are notorious for their long heal times and general stubbornness. It's simply because that part of your body doesn't receive a lot of blood flow, unlike a fleshy piercing like a navel piercing or a lip ring.
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As your piercing is healing, you'll want to make sure you keep it protected from any outside influences. Making sure your cartilage is clean at all times is paramount to a successful heal time. Another thing to protect it from is any sort of unnecessary stressor - think bumps, snags, pressure, or anything else that might stress out your cartilage.
A part of your life that might pose a big threat to your new cartilage earring? The shower. Here are some helpful tips for helping your cartilage stay healthy while you're washing your hair.
No, we're not suggesting to avoid the shower! In fact, good general hygiene is integral to a happy and healthy healing process.
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For our short-haired friends, showering won't pose much of an issue - just be sure to keep your fingers away from your cartilage piercing while you're lathering up your head. Keep any hair product off of your ears as well.
As for our long-haired peeps... Showering might be a bit more of a task. With your cartilage piercing in such close proximity to your hair, there's a risk of getting your hair caught on your fragile new friend.
The first (and potentially most harmful) risk is that of a snag. Your long hair is a significant snag risk, so you'll want to keep your hair away from your ear cartilage for the duration of your shower (especially upper ear piercings like an industrial bar or helix piercing). A bump or snag is already painful, but a significant event may actually damage your piercing leading to an extended heal time, unsightly and irritating piercing bumps, or
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