An ear piercing is a hole created in your earlobes or cartilage portion of your ears for the wearing of earrings. Ear piercings come in all shapes and sizes and can be permanent or temporary.
The type of piercing you choose depends on your lifestyle, personal aesthetic and the kind of jewelry you wear. It’s important to know what you want before getting your ears pierced and learn how to properly care for your new holes once they’re in place.
What are Earlobe Piercings?
Ear piercings are one of the most popular body modifications and can be done in a number of ways. They are relatively painless and come in a wide variety of styles, depending on the size and location of your ear lobe.
Earlobe piercings are the most common type of ear piercing and are often paired with stud earrings. They can be a great option for anyone looking to add an extra touch of personality and style to their ears.
You can pierce your earlobes with either a needle or a piercing gun. A piercing gun is an easier and faster way to get an ear piercing but it can also cause more trauma than a needle. You should always choose a piercer who uses a needle to pierce your ears instead of a piercing gun.
A lobe piercing is considered to be one of the least painful types of ear piercings, but it is still a good idea to wear a topical anti-inflammatory cream during the healing process to help alleviate any discomfort or itching. If you experience swelling or redness after the piercing, you should stop wearing the jewelry immediately and consult with your doctor.
Getting a piercing can be scary, especially for first-timer piercers. It is important to go to a reputable piercing studio that has trained professionals who keep the area clean, use well-sterilized equipment, and are knowledgeable about the ear piercing process.
When choosing jewelry for a piercing, make sure to choose jewelry that is made from quality materials and doesn’t contain metals or alloys that could react with your skin. Some studs and rings on the market are alloyed with nickel, which can be harmful to your health.
In addition, if you are allergic to nickel, you will want to avoid nickel plated or coated jewelry. If you are unsure about your metal allergies, you can ask your piercer to do a skin patch test before you get your piercing done.
You can also find a variety of jewelry options that will look great with your ear piercings, including studs, dangle earrings, hoops, and more. Fortunately, since the lobe is such a small space, it isn’t difficult to find different jewelry that will complement your ear piercings without making them stand out too much.
Helix Piercings
A helix piercing is a trendy and popular option for upper ear cartilage piercings. These piercings can be done with studs or hoops, giving you the flexibility to customize your look.
Helix piercings aren’t as common as lobe or tragus piercings, but they’re a great way to customize your earscape. They can come in many different shapes and sizes, depending on your preferences, so you’re sure to find one that matches your style.
The helix is a curved area of the ear, and it helps to catch sound and direct it toward the eardrum. The helix is also the part of the ear that’s most susceptible to infection, so it’s important to take care of it and make sure it’s healed completely before you start wearing any jewelry, as the cartilage can be easily damaged if it’s not treated properly.
If you decide to get a helix piercing, be aware that it can be slightly more painful than other ear piercings, as it’s located in the cartilage of your ear. The pain is usually tolerable, though, and a good piercer will know exactly how to make it as comfortable as possible.
You should avoid getting your helix piercing wet. This can cause your piercing to dry out and slow down the healing process, which isn’t ideal for your ear!
Helix piercings generally heal in three to six months, but that can vary depending on your aftercare. You’ll want to follow the exact aftercare instructions for your helix piercing, so it can go smoothly from beginning to end.
It’s a good idea to use an antimicrobial soap or saline solution twice a day, and you should also avoid touching your helix piercing, as it can lead to infections. Lastly, don’t let your helix piercing become too irritated, which can result in scarring.
In general, helix piercings are fairly easy to keep clean and sanitary. Just make sure that you wash your hands well before touching your helix piercing and don’t touch it with anything other than your piercer’s fingertip.
Helix piercings are a great option for those who want to customize their ear landscape and are willing to put in the work to take care of it. They can be a little more challenging to heal than other cartilage piercings, but with the right aftercare and care, you’ll be able to get them back to looking their best in no time!
Cartilage Piercings
Unlike traditional ear piercings, cartilage piercings are created on the cartilage that makes up the upper part of the ear. This type of piercing is becoming increasingly popular, as it’s easy to mix and match earring styles.
If you’re thinking about getting a cartilage piercing, it’s important to know how they heal compared to earlobe piercings and what aftercare practices are best for this particular body modification. Cartilage piercings tend to heal more slowly, and they’re prone to infections and irritation.
It’s also common for cartilage piercings to develop bumps around the jewelry, but these are not always permanent. They can be caused by allergies, poor aftercare, or just bad luck, so it’s important to know what to look out for.
While it’s a great way to express your personal style, it’s important to keep an eye on your new piercing while it heals so you can catch any signs of infection or keloid scar tissue forming. If you notice any redness, swelling, discharge, or a lump or bump around your ear piercing, you should contact your piercer immediately.
Infections in a cartilage piercing can be a real pain and can cause a tingling sensation or hotness to the skin near the ear piercing. The area may become red, swollen, and itchy, and ooze a thick discharge that’s often gray, yellow, green, or pink.
Whether you have a helix or a flat piercing, it’s important not to swim in swimming pools or hot tubs after you get your ear piercing. These water-filled environments are often contaminated with bacteria that can cause infection.
If you’re a new piercer, it’s important to learn how to clean your ears properly so that your piercings can heal well. During your appointment, we’ll provide you with an antibacterial cleanser that you can use twice daily to help flush out your piercing and remove any discharge or puss.
Once your piercings are healed, you can begin wearing your new jewelry! If you’re unsure of which type of jewelry to get, our piercing specialists can help you decide which pieces are the right fit for your cartilage piercing.
Tragus Piercings
A tragus is a little flap of cartilage that sits across the lower part of your ear canal. It’s often pierced with a stud, but you can also get a captive bead ring or a barbell. The type of jewelry you’ll choose depends on your personal preference. Some people prefer to show off their tragus with a piercing stud, while others want to hide it.
If you’re interested in getting a tragus piercing, make sure to find a professional piercer who knows how to properly pierce the cartilage without harming it. He or she should use a needle and not a piercing gun, which can harbor bacteria and cause cartilage bumps during healing.
During the piercing process, a piercer will clean the area to avoid infections. They’ll also place a cork in the ear canal to protect it from the sharp needle. Then, the piercer will pierce the cartilage using a sterilized needle.
In most cases, a tragus piercing is one of the least painful types of ear piercings. This is because the cartilage in this area has fewer nerves than the rest of your ear, so you’re less likely to experience pain.
It’s best to get a tragus piercing from someone who is experienced in ear piercing. He or she should use a sterile needle, and never use a piercing gun.
The pain from a tragus piercing shouldn’t last more than one or two weeks, and the swelling should subside within that time. If you notice any signs of infection or a large amount of green or yellow discharge, seek medical attention immediately.
You should also avoid contact with any ear jewelry or devices that can put pressure on your piercing. That’s especially true if you use headphones, since those devices can push on your piercing and cause complications.
A tragus piercing can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to heal, but it’s important to follow proper aftercare practices so the piercing doesn’t get infected or damaged. “Always wash your hands and clean the area frequently, and try to limit contact with anything that could irritate the piercing during this time,” says Lewis.
For quality piercings and tattoos in Bournemouth visit our safe, friendly and professional studio in Lansdowne Crescent, Bournemouth, BH1 1RX