what to do if your cartilage piercing hurts

I recently had my ear pierced in what is most commonly known as 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 do well with this type of piercing.

Every bit I am being asked a lot nigh this piercing and my experiences with healing, I idea I would share some of the all-time pre-piercing and aftercare communication/research I've come up across and then far, in the hopes of expert healing. I hope the post-obit info is helpful for those of yous who are considering a new piercing or are having troubles with old ones:

1) Get TO A Professional person

All piercings should be carried out past professionals – including the mutual ear lobe piercings – only information technology is peculiarly important that cartilage piercings, and piercings on other sensitive trunk parts are carried out by trained professionals who do such piercings for a living. As a professional person, your piercer should be able to explain the pros and cons of your pick and all aspects of aftercare, and yous should be able to return if you run into any issues or demand to alter the jewellery for any reason (which is not recommended during healing, ideally, every bit changing the jewellery can re-traumatise the wound).

2) SAY NO TO THE GUN

Ear piercing guns are oftentimes inaccurate and are known to cause unnecessary blunt trauma, forcing a blunt-concluded stud earring through your ear, resulting in trigger-happy and scar tissue. (Or leaving y'all with a very sharp, pointed bankroll on your earring, which for obvious reasons is too 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 suggest ear piercing guns may take sterilisation issues, and tin therefore potentially spread serious infections.) In brusque, they are not recommended for this blazon of piercing. If you become to a piercing professional, they volition not use a gun. If they desire to employ a gun, think again about how experienced they are.

A professional person should make your piercing using a sterile hollow approximate needle. (They look like this.)

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

A professional piercer will have a range of appropriate jewellery bachelor for your fresh piercing, and will put the jewellery in in one case the piercing is made. You volition not need your own jewellery. The jewellery should exist high form piercing jewellery. The jewellery the piercer places in your fresh piercing will keep it from closing up again, and should non be removed during the (long) healing process. In that location are various views on the best fashion of jewellery for a Helix, so tell your called piercer what y'all like the expect of, and have their communication on board. Some prefer the round 'sleeper' mode that hugs the border of the outer ear, as it is less likely to catch on hair and clothing, while others suggest against a curved earring in a straight healing piercing and instead like the directly bar or long stud style, making sure it is long enough to give the piercing room to breathe and to avoid issues during the expected initial swelling.

I went with a direct bar with a spiral on pearl-wait bead to match the pearl studs my late mother Janni got married in, as I wear them often. The bead in my piercing is non a real pearl, as genuine pearls, being organic, practice not survive cleaning well. As the dewdrop screws off, I can replace it with another bead of a different color if necessary, though I would look a while to exercise that equally it would irritate the area. While the piercing is fresh, I am clipping my pilus dorsum on ane side with pilus pins behind the ear, to keep the hair out of the way (and show information technology off.)

Once your piercing is fully healed, bask experimenting with different jewellery.

iv) GET ONE DONE AT A TIME

A Helix volition take a long fourth dimension to heal, and you will not want sleep on it for some time. Personally, I like the asymmetrical await, merely if yous intend to get both ears done to match, I recommend doing i at a time and not doing the other side until the commencement ane is equally healed every bit possible. Multiple piercings up one ear tin look peachy, but once more I would personally recommend playing it rubber past doing one at a time, and letting each heal before getting some other, and so y'all can get a handle on whatsoever swelling or other issues that may arise for you.

five) KEEP Information technology CLEAN

Keep your piercing clean, e'er clean your hands before touching it, use only make clean pillows and bed linen, and do not utilize any cosmetics or makeup on the area of your piercings under any circumstances. Await some redness and localised swelling. This will pass. Cleanliness is key, and as with everything else, clean living will besides aid your healing time and general health.

6) TREAT YOUR PIERCING TO REGULAR Common salt BATHS

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

To brand a table salt bath: boil h2o and pour it into a small basin or wide mouthed mug, and stir in one tablespoon of table salt. (I have been using pure stone salt). Allow the salt to dissolve in the water and wait until the hot water to absurd plenty that information technology won't burn you. I test with my finger, or fifty-fifty my other ear to make sure it is comfortable enough. One time it is a skillful temperature, dip your piercing into the h2o and go on information technology there for ii minutes. (For me that involves resting my right ear into the water and waiting patiently for the two minutes to pass.) You may experience it sting very gently in the piercing after about a minute. Have a towel on hand as the hair around your ear will be soaking wet.

I bought a saline spray for piercings as a back up because of my frequent travel for piece of work, and though it was probably better than nada I institute that it did piddling.

Have 2 common salt baths a day for the outset month if at all possible. If your piercing takes a turn and starts to swell once again and feel hot (some of which is to be expected initially) common salt baths will likely once more assistance.

Here is an image of my piercing looking a flake crimson, and swelling up beyond the outer ear around twenty-four hours four. I'd been using the saline spray instead of common salt baths due to travel and in one case I stuck to the twice daily salt baths again it settled right down:

7) CONSIDER EMU OIL

Emu Oil is a anti-inflammatory that has been used for centuries by Australia'due south Aboriginal communities as a natural remedy. Some piercers swear past it (The Piercing Bible, amongst others, calls it a phenomenon product) for healing new or troubled piercings. If you lot want to try this oil, make certain the product yous use is 100% Emu oil (no substitutes). It should not have a smell. To use, once you lot take gently cleaned your piercing, take a pocket-size corporeality of 100% Emu oil and massage it around the area with clean fingers (or gloved manus), without directly touching the piercing. The oil volition soak into the skin and lubricate the piercing wound, helping the healing procedure. I apply a small amount twice a 24-hour interval.

Information technology is non appropriate for vegetarians. (If yous know of a rubber vegetarian alternative, please let me know in the comments).

8) AVOID

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

9) Give It TIME

Cartilage ear piercings may accept up to a twelvemonth to fully heal, but generally take 3-half-dozen months (every bit opposed to the ear lobe, that takes only 4-half dozen weeks). They heal from the outside in, so even if information technology looks fine on the outside, you 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 work out for you, make certain you seek professional help, and don't blame yourself.

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

I hope this info was helpful for those of you who are considering a new piercing or are having troubles with onetime ones. Always speak with a professional about your piercings.

Good luck 10

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

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

* There are many skilful, qualified piercing professionals. Check your local listings and inquire around. I went to K at Pierced Off and found her to exist very professional.

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

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