Piercing is very popular. It has several advantages: Helix piercing is easy to do, it heals quickly, and rarely requires anesthesia. Today there are very many types of piercing. What type of piercing can you choose? How to choose earrings? What are the rules for care after the puncture? We have compiled all the answers in an overview.
Tips before ear piercing
- Get an ear piercing at a salon! The piercer observes all hygienic and aseptic requirements, pierces your ear quickly and professionally, and explains how to care for your chosen piercing.
- If this is your first ear piercing, start with a lobe piercing. After healing, you can move on to more complex piercings. Would you like a more complicated piercing? Choose a double, triple or cross-lobe piercing.
- Types of piercing that pierce the ear cartilage are painful and take longer to heal.
- For piercing and healing, you should opt for an earring made of titanium, platinum, or a medical alloy. Consult with a specialist about the type of jewelry.
Types of piercing
Ear piercing can be divided into two types: lobe area and cartilage area. The difference lies in the painfulness of the puncture and the healing time. The lobe piercing is easy, painless, and, with proper care, heals in 6-8 weeks. Piercing in the cartilage area offers more options, but it's a bit more uncomfortable and takes 12-20 weeks to heal.
Classic piercing
Classic piercing is a universal piercing. It heals very quickly and easily with proper care.
Double/triple piercing
In this type of piercing, 2 or 3 holes are pierced. This is a good idea for those who want to start with a simple piercing but still want to look unconventional.
Transversal piercing
In this type, an earlobe is pierced lengthwise, creating an entry and exit hole in the same plane. This looks very original and unusual.
Tunnel ear piercing
A special tunnel-shaped piercing jewelry that is worn in a stretched piercing is called a tunnel. The diameter of the puncture varies between 10-15 mm, sometimes larger.
Helix piercing
With Helix, the upper part of the ear cartilage is pierced. This type of piercing is not very painful and multiple holes can be pierced at once.
Important: After healing, the original jewel must be replaced with a smaller one to avoid deforming the hole.
Forward helix piercing
The forward helix piercing starts at the helix crease and is placed over the tragus. If the size of the area allows, several holes can be pierced and different earrings can be used.
Conches
A conch is a hole in the ear cartilage. This is a painless piercing that rarely causes trauma because of its location deep in the ear.
Daith ear piercing
Central ear cartilage is pricked at Daith. With Daith, you have to keep in mind that you have to go without headphones for a few months.
Tragus
Tragus piercing is very popular among people although it is painful. You must note that one should not sleep on the punctured side until healing has taken place. And it is forbidden to use headphones until the wound heals.
Anti-tragus
Antitragus is the piercing of the cartilage above the earlobe. This piercing is not that painful.
Rook
Rook is a puncture of the main cartilage at the top of the pinna, over the entrance to the inner ear.
Industrial
Industrial means two embellished piercings on the upper ear. After the piercing, a special barbell earring, preferably made of bioplastic, is inserted into the holes. Later, an earring made of titanium, steel, or platinum can be chosen.
Orbital
This ear piercing resembles industrial piercing. The difference lies in a ring-shaped piece of jewelry.
Smoke
A Snug is an ear cartilage piercing in the central part of the ear cartilage. One of the most painful types of ear piercing. Healing can take a long time.
Jewelry for ear piercing/ helix piercing
The earring plays a big role because it ensures quick healing, avoids complications, and looks good in the ear. When choosing a piece of piercing jewelry, always follow the advice of your ear piercer. Remember that the earring must not contain nickel because it can cause allergies. The best choice is earrings made of titanium, platinum, bioplastics, and medical alloys.
Helix piercing jewelry Types:
- The barbell earring looks like a straight stick with balls on the ends. It is used in double piercing. The earring can also be replaced with a chain.
- A labret earring is a short, straight bar that can have balls, discs, or spikes on the ends. There are similarities with poussettes, which use decorative elements such as stones or large balls on the ends.
- The ring is a classic piece of jewelry that can be decorated with stones.
- The banana earring is a curved barbell earring with balls and other elements at the ends.
- The circular barbell is an ornament with different elements at the ends.
- The clicker is a round earring with a clasp.
- The tunnel is a round earring designed for a large piercing in the earlobe.
- The plug is a short cylindrical earring designed for a large piercing in the earlobe.
Contraindications
Before getting your ear pierced, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the contraindications. They are the following:
- cystic acne;
- Eczema;
- blood diseases;
- diabetes;
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Pregnancy;
- Acute respiratory infections.
Care of the piercing
Redness and swelling around the piercing area are common reactions for the first week. Any type of piercing takes at least 6 weeks to heal. Note the following tips:
- You have to sleep on your back;
- Don't take off the jewelry;
- Do not touch the puncture site;
- Gently remove or put on collared clothing, scarves, and hats;
- Protect the puncture site from cosmetics;
- Avoid hot baths, saunas, and swimming pools.
Tip: Immediately after the puncture and the antiseptic treatment, you can seal the puncture site with a plaster.
How is the puncture site treated?
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Remove the patch.
- Wash the puncture site with saline and treat it with an antiseptic (e.g. Miramistine).
- Repeat the treatment twice a day for 6-8 weeks.
- Do not touch the earring.
Helix piercing is the most common method.
If swelling, redness, pain, and suppuration persist during this time, you should make an appointment with the doctor.
Read more: How much does a nose piercing cost
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