Helix piercing

Helix piercing
Nicknames	Cartilage ring
Location	Helix
Jewelry	Captive bead ring, stud
Healing	6 to 8 months
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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.

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 are not commonly used due to a risk of shattering the cartilage, infection, and sudden shock to the ear.

Healing Time - 2 - 12 months

After care

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap prior to cleaning.
2. Saturate a cotton ball or q-tip with saline solution (available in the eye-care isle of your pharmacy), and swab the piercing and the jewelry, making sure to remove any of the normal build up secretion. Perform this task 2-3 times daily.

Avoid oral contact, rough play and contact with other people's bodily fluids on or near your piercing during the healing period.
Avoid submerging the pierced area in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, etc. during the healing period.
Avoid all beauty products such as makeup and sprays during the healing period.
Do not use alcohol, peroxide, or betadine to clean the pierced area, as well as avoid over-cleaning, which can delay your healing by irritating the area.
Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion, and playing with the jewelry. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, or other complications.

Initially, some localized swelling or tenderness is normal.
During healing, you may experience some itching, or a secretion of a whitish fluid (NOT PUS) that will form around the jewelry. Cleaning as listed above will lessen this. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.

Remember that a piercing MAY seem healed before the healing time is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in, and although it feels healed, the tissue remains fragile on the inside. One should remain patient during the healing period.

Healing

The helix piercing usually takes 6-8 months to heal. In some cases, however, it takes as little as 2 months and as long as a year to heal. As with all piercings, a person with a new helix piercing needs to keep it clean to prevent infection and complications. Knocking the piercing or rotating the jewelry may prolong the healing time as it can usually break away the clot/scab/plug that is preventing the bleeding. The jewelry acts like a plug, so removing it before the piercing has properly healed may cause complications.