Cartilage piercings experience this often because it’s in the line of fire for everyday activities. This can cause redness, swelling, and a little bit of pain. You might even see some white or clear fluid from the piercing — this is lymph fluid, not pus. Dr.
Also know, how do you stop a helix piercing from hurting?
Apply a warm compress or do a sea salt soak
A warm compress can help the infection drain and relieve pain and swelling. Soaking the infection in a warm salt solution can also help the infection heal.
Correspondingly, how long does it take an infected helix piercing to heal?
After the infection appears to have cleared, continue this cleaning regimen twice a day until the piercing is totally healed. Remember, an earlobe piercing can take six to eight weeks to heal. Routine care is important during that time.
Why is my helix piercing swollen and sore after a year?
Inflammation and irritation
The healing process can take many months. During this period, the body’s immune system tries to heal the wound and prevent bacterial infections. Shortly after a piercing, it is not unusual to experience some bruising, redness, or swelling. A swollen bump may form around the piercing.
Can I ice my piercing?
Turn the piercing: Rotate the piercing several times each day so that your earlobe does not swell around it. Ice: Ice helps decrease swelling and pain. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel and place it on your earlobe for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed.
How can I make my piercings hurt less?
Desensitize the piercing area
Ice can numb the area for less pain during piercing. However, icing an area does restrict blood flow, and you can damage your skin if you leave the ice on for too long, so talk to your piercer before choosing this method. Some recommend using a numbing cream prior to getting pierced.
How can I make my piercing heal faster?
USE WARM SEA SALT WATER (SALINE) SOAKS – MORNING AND EVENING
Soaking your piercing with a warm, mild sea salt water solution will not only feel good, it will also help prevent infection, reduce the risk of scarring, and speed the healing of your piercing.
What does an infected helix piercing look like?
Your piercing might be infected if: the area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour) there’s blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellow. you feel hot or shivery or generally unwell.
Which ear should I get my helix pierced?
The Helix Ear Piercing
Helix piercings—piercings that are placed anywhere on the upper outer cartilage of the ear—are often the first choice when moving from the lobe.
Do piercing keloids go away?
Keloids are particularly hard to get rid of. Even when they’re successfully removed, they tend to reappear eventually. Most dermatologists recommend a combination of different treatments for long-lasting results.
When should I go to the ER for an infected piercing?
If you get an infection that’s spreading up beyond just the site of the piercing, where the full ear appears red and swollen or just even the lower half of it, then I would be a lot more concerned about an infection in the cartilage itself, and that would definitely be a reason to go to the ER.
