Bumping it on something (like a hairbrush), getting hair caught on it, and — yes — sleeping on it can cause your piercing to swell or become painful.
Additionally, what do you do if your helix piercing is swollen?
When to get immediate medical attention
Although minor swelling and redness are typical, more severe symptoms could be a sign of infection. See your piercer or doctor right away if you‘re experiencing: uncomfortable pain or swelling. unusually thick or smelly discharge.
Moreover, how do I not sleep with a helix piercing?
If you have a new ear piercing, a thinner travel pillow works great to keep pressure off while you’re sleeping. If you don’t have a travel pillow you can roll a clean cotton T-shirt or sheet up and place it around the ear so that when you lay on your side, there’s no direct pressure on your ear.
What to do when piercing swells?
Treating the infection at home
- Wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing.
- Clean around the piercing with a saltwater rinse three times a day. …
- Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments. …
- Don’t remove the piercing. …
- Clean the piercing on both sides of your earlobe.
Should I take my piercing out if it’s swollen?
When to remove a piercing
If a new piercing is infected, it is best not to remove the earring. Removing the piercing can allow the wound to close, trapping the infection within the skin. For this reason, it is advisable not to remove an earring from an infected ear unless advised by a doctor or professional piercer.
How do you know if your body is rejecting a piercing?
Symptoms of piercing rejection
- more of the jewelry becoming visible on the outside of the piercing.
- the piercing remaining sore, red, irritated, or dry after the first few days.
- the jewelry becoming visible under the skin.
- the piercing hole appearing to be getting larger.
- the jewelry looking like it is hanging differently.
Should I pop the bump on my piercing?
Can I pop my nose piercing bump? NO. With keloids and granulomas there’s nothing to pop ‘out’ of your bump. And with pustules, just because you think you’re a dab hand at popping pimples on your face, does not mean you should be popping pustules on your piercings.
What does an infected 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.
How long does helix take to heal?
Helix piercings generally take around three-to-six months to heal. However, if you don’t properly look after your new piercing as it heals, it could take longer—or you could have to get it re-pierced and start all over.
Is it normal for helix piercing to throb?
Cartilage piercings can have major differences in pain level and healing time. … After an hour or two, the sharp pain will transition into a more general throbbing. This intense throbbing pain will last for at least a few days before easing up. You can expect to have some difficulty sleeping the first few nights.
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.
How long until helix piercing stops hurting?
While you might get over a lobe piercing in around a month, a helix piercing can take anywhere between three to six months to heal. Unfortunately, like the pain factor, it’s hard to give an exact healing time as everyone is different. Expect the piercing area to feel sore, turn red and even swell or bleed (initially).
Can I take my cartilage piercing out overnight?
‘Piercings don’t heal overnight. … ‘Even if it looks good, it’s still healing. Cartilage heals from the outside in, making a tunnel all the way through your ear which takes time. ‘Don’t take your earring out until the piercing has healed and even then swap in another earring or it’s like to heal up again pretty quickly.
Which ear should I get a helix 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.
