Helix Piercing

Many people opt for helix piercings to make a fashion statement. As far as accessories and piercings, in particular, are concerned, the ear is a very popular choice for getting a variety of different piercings. The simplest ear piercing is one that is present on the lobe, but this is a trend that has become far too common. A helix piercing is the next best thing, and with the right kind of helix piercing earrings it can look really suave and stylish.

The helix is the curved part on the upper portion of the ear, and any piercing there is known as a helix piercing. Go ahead and touch that portion of your ear, and you will soon realize that this part hurts immensely when pierced, as it is extremely sensitive. For this reason, the risk of helix piercing infection is very high, as compared to other types of piercings, and it requires more time and attention in order to heal completely.

The helix piercing pain is not something that everyone will be comfortable with, so if you wish to get this piercing you must put a lot of thought into your decision beforehand. This is not an easy piercing to get, and the truth is it takes anything between 2-12 months to heal completely as well. This is a rather long time for an ear piercing to heal, so you must be extremely wary and completely sure when you decide to go get yourself a helix piercing as it may give you ear piercing infection.

Helix Piercing Process
The piercing process is not very different from the way other piercings are carried out. When one is getting the ear lobes pierced, a piercing gun may also be used. This is not possible for a helix piercing. Only a sterile needle can be used to pierce the helix, and it is kept in place inside the cartilage till the helix piercing jewelry is placed.

It is normal to observe a lot of itching, swelling, redness and especially pain in the ear for a few days after the piercing has been done. This is perfectly normal as the body requires some time to adjust with this external agent. A piercing gun cannot be used for this procedure as the force and the sudden shock produced by it could potentially, damage the cartilage.

Aftercare
The aftercare of a helix piercing needs to be handled with care and caution, as it runs a very high risk of catching an infection. The very first and most obvious thing is to not touch the piercing for the first 2-3 days. The ear will be sore from the piercing process and touching it will only make it worse. Consciously control your urges to touch the pierced part. After a while, you can start touching it without discomfort, but you must ensure that your hands have just been washed with a disinfectant right before you touch it. Avoiding any infection is very important, and this can only be done by following and maintaining a high degree of cleanliness and hygiene.

You can wash the pierced area after a few days using some anti-bacterial soap. Do not use your fingers directly to work up a lather though, instead use a cotton swab. Wash the area thoroughly and also wipe off any dirt that may have collected on the jewelry item. Now use a soft towel to gently wipe it dry. It is also advisable to use lukewarm water for this procedure. Avoid the following things and activities in order to prevent the eruption of helix piercing infection:

• Direct and rough contact with anything or anyone.
• Dipping the pierced part into the sea or a lake or any other open water body.
• Applying alcohol on the pierced area or anywhere around it.
• Using any sprays or other cosmetic products in the areas immediately around the helix piercing.
• Rubbing the piercing against clothing while getting dressed and undressed.

The healing time of a helix piercing also means that you need to take care of it far longer than any other routine piercing.

If you have somehow managed to contract a helix piercing infection, you could be in for a lot of trouble and complications. So you need to be very careful and take a lot of care of it. Knowing all this, it becomes clear why one needs to be absolutely and completely prepared before going ahead and getting a helix piercing.