Helix (cartilage) piercing advice?

Question

I am contemplating getting a helix piercing at the top of my ear.

I've had one before, but had some issues. I had it for about 3 years but gave up on it and removed it, because even after this length of time, it was always tender. It was pierced at a professional place with a butterfly-clasp style stud, and I believe part of the issue was that I was always getting my hair caught in it or knocking the back of it with my fingers (I have the habit of putting my hair behind my ears).

That leads me to my question - is it common (better yet, advisable) to get initially pierced with a flat back labret type of stud?

I don't know that it's relevant, but I have a really tiny bump(?) behind my ear from the original piercing, but can't remember if this arose before of after removing it. It feels really hard but also feels as if it's embedded in the cartilage rather than on the surface. This shouldn't be an issue should it, assuming I place this new piercing slightly differently?

Thanks for any advice.

Laura · Answer

I would ask your piercer which jewelry is best for you considering your previous issues.  
The bump will cause an issue if you are piercing near it, so I would go to a piercer and have them look at it before you decide on the piercing again.  It may just be a fluid filled bump that they can poke open and drain, it may be a sign of trapped infection.  Once you get that taken care of, you can get pierced near the original spot.

? · Answer

I also had this same issue because I had a cartilage and took it out just like you, and it got that bump and everything but except I had it in for about a year and just like you it was too irritated and tender so I got sick of it and eventually removed it. I still have the bump even though I removed it during the middle of the year, a good way to reduce the size of it is anti bacterial soap, which worked for me.

I think it all depends on the jewellery and the aftercare. I had a stud when I got it pierced and it was too tight the whole time so I eventually changed it to a small loop earring but then I took it out. I think that you should get titanium jewellery because it can heal quicker than metal like surgical steel or sterling silver ( I'm assuming you got surgical steel ).

Butterfly earrings are the worst, so much bacteria gets trapped in it. I have two on each side of my earlobes and i have to take them out regularly and clean them and that's obviously something you don't want to do with a cartilage piercing that should not be taken out whilst it's healing process.

? · Answer

Butterfly backs are the devil.  They are perfectly shaped for trapping discharge and dirt, hard to clean, and as you know easy to smack around or get twisted up in hair.  Anything harder to hit is a good idea, and labrets or very short barbells are usually a fine choice.  Also, no high quality body jewelry comes with butterfly backs, so you're getting lower quality jewelry overall - lower grade metal with more nickel and less of a polish that slows healing and can cause long term irritation.

The bump sounds like scar tissue, if it's painless that's likely what it is.  It shouldn't interfere if you're not piercing through it.  If it's ever slightly tender to painful, there's a possibility it's an abscess or cyst, and piercing near it and thus putting pressure on it could cause further irritation.  But again, a painless lump from an old piercing is likely scar tissue, and a good piercer should be able to help identify it.  A GOOD piercer, not one that uses any jewelry with a butterfly back.

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Helix (cartilage) piercing advice?

3 Answers