Helix piercing
| Helix piercing | |
|---|---|
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| Nicknames | Cartilage ring |
| Location | Cartilage |
| Jewelry | Captive bead ring, stud |
| Healing | 6 to 12 months |
The helix piercing is a perforation of the helix or upper ear (cartilage) for the purpose of inserting and wearing a piece of jewelry. The piercing itself is usually made with a small gauge hollow piercing needle, and typical jewelry would be a small diameter captive bead ring, or a stud.
Sometimes, two helix piercings hold the same piece of jewelry, usually a barbell, which is called an industrial piercing.
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[edit] Piercing process
A sterile needle is pushed through the cartilage and then kept in while the jewelry is added. This can be painful, depending on the individual's pain threshold, and bleeding and swelling are expected after the piercing process, especially if the jewelry is bumped or snagged on hair or clothing.
Piercing guns can also be used though not recommended due to sudden shock to the ear. Healing can take much longer, approximately up to 3 years.
[edit] After care
Like all new piercings, helix piercings should not be touched except for cleaning. Contact with other body fluids, pools, puddles, makeup and beauty sprays, etc. is generally discouraged. Unwashed hands carry bacteria and may cause infections. Twisting the jewellery is also not recommended as this can tear and irritate the fistula (the healing skin inside the hole) which can lead to hypertrophic scarring, a prolonged healing period, migration and in some cases rejection of the piercing.
Piercings should be cleaned daily during the initial healing time but not excessively as cleaning too frequently may irritate the piercing and prolong the healing period. Antimicrobial soaps containing chloroxylenol or triclosan can often be too drying for the piercing and as such twice daily sea salt / saline soaks are usually recommended for cleaning the piercing. Only boiling water that has been left to cool with half a tea spoon of salt should be used, as of cold water from a tap is added, bacteria may be introduced to the piercing thus causing an infection.
Some localized swelling or tenderness after piercing is normal as is the secretion of lymphatic fluid which tends to be clear or a pale yellow in appearance. The lymphatic fluid often builds up around the exit holes of the piercing and forms a crusty substance but this can be cleaned away with saline soaks (though should not be forced off as this can cause damage to the healing tissue).
[edit] Healing
The helix piercing can take up to twelve months to heal, although most piercers state that you can change the stud, bar or equivalent after around three months.
[edit] References
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