What to Know Before Getting a Forward Helix Piercing (2023)

FAQs

What to Know Before Getting a Forward Helix Piercing? ›

A forward helix piercing is placed on the outer (usually upper) cartilage closest to your face by being pierced through the forward-facing surface directly above the tragus. This piercing is done in a very typical fashion, so there's nothing too exciting about it.

A forward helix piercing is placed on the outer (usually upper) cartilage closest to your face by being pierced through the forward-facing surface directly above the tragus. This piercing is done in a very typical fashion, so there's nothing too exciting about it.

Keep in mind that it's normal for the site to feel a little swollen or sore for a few days after you get a helix piercing. However, that should go down within the first week — if it doesn't, or gets worse, that may signal a possible infection.

There's a reason for all this: forward helix piercings are among the most difficult ear piercings to do correctly. Since you're dealing with cartilage instead of loose skin, a poor job can lead to a lot of pain and potential infections for you.

While it's not very common, it is possible for forward helix piercings to reject. Normally, this only happens due to how the piercing was done. For example, if it's too close to the edge of the ear. If you can feel your piercing rejecting, take the piercing out immediately to prevent potential scarring.

The bar length you need will depend on your skin thickness and piercing location, recommended lengths are usually 6mm or 8mm. For a short and snug fit, we recommend a 6mm length, if you have thicker cartilage or prefer to leave a bit of space either side then an 8mm may be better suited.

When can I start sleeping on my helix piercing? There's no set time frame for this. It must be fully healed at a bare minimum. But the truth is that it can depend on how sensitive your ear is and what kind of jewelry you're wearing.

Cons - As with all cartilage piercings, the healing process can take slightly longer to heal. During this time the area is more vulnerable to infections and irritations depending on how well the aftercare instructions are followed.

In general, tattoos tend to hurt more than piercings because the needles used for tattoos are larger and go deeper into the skin than the needles used for piercings.

The forward helix is on the very front of the ear, closest to the head. This specific acupressure point can help with muscle tension and encourage blood circulation. By encouraging increased blood flow, this piercing may also aid in preventing wrinkles.

What is the easiest piercing to get infected? ›

Of all the body sites commonly pierced, the navel is the most likely to become infected because of its shape. Infections can often be treated with good skin hygiene and antibiotic medications. With this type of infection, jewelry generally does not have to be taken out.

Cartilage piercings are riskier than piercings of your skin, such as your earlobe. You may have more bleeding when you get your cartilage pierced. It's important to keep these piercings clean since an infection could lead to necrosis, or tissue death, in your cartilage.

Even with meticulous care, cartilage piercings become infected about 30% of the time.

Once your piercings have healed, its time to enjoy things the way you did before! You can safely wear headphones and earbuds as usual! It may take some experimenting to find ways and jewelry styles that work with them, but it is possible!

Forward Helix Piercing

The healing time for this piercing is around 3-9 months. While the wound recovery process may take some time, this piercing tends to be fairly low maintenance once it fully heals.

What piercings reject the most? Surface piercings have the highest rejection rate. Surface piercings such as microdermals as well as eyebrow piercings and navel piercings reject the most because they are closest to the surface of the skin.

Forward Helix rings normally range from 5mm to 7mm, depending on your anatomy and whether you prefer your hoop to be snug or loose fitting so it hangs down a little. In my experience, 6mm tends to be a good starting point for most people.

Generally flat back stud earrings are the jewelry of choice for the forward helix piercing. It is also possible to wear small cartilage hoops in your forward helix piercing, but they may cause irritation and inflammation around the area.

The standard bar thickness for a forward helix piercing is 1.2 mm. The most commonly used bar length is 6 mm. The most frequently chosen ball and stone sizes are 3 mm for a ball and 4 mm for a stone.

There's no one style of cartilage piercing that's right for everyone, and healing times will vary depending on how many piercings you're getting at once. If you like to wear a lot of body jewelry, a double or triple helix may be up your alley; if you're more of a minimalist, a single helix piercing may suit you better.

What if I accidentally sleep on my piercing? ›

SLEEPING ON YOUR HEALING PIERCING

Sleeping on your healing piercing, especially ear piercings, can cause it to heal angled and crooked. The pressure from laying on it causes the jewelry to become tilted, and VERY irritated. This will do all of what not downsizing your piercing will do. It's the same thing.

Cartilage piercings are some of the longest-healing piercings. This is because cartilage does not heal as easily as other tissue. It does not regenerate quickly, and it has little blood flow, which is necessary for healing.

Helix piercings

A helix piercing is any piercing in the upper ear cartilage / outer edge of the ear. Stylish and classy, the helix piercing is one of the most common ear piercings out there, with many people getting multiple helix piercings, and goes particularly well with huggie hoop earrings.

Tragus Piercing

It has about the same level of pain as the helix piercing. The tricky thing about tragus placements is keeping them clean during the healing process. You should avoid irritating the area, so you do not get an infection.

Piercing guns are never used for other parts of the ear or body such as the helix or nose. Needles work best in cartilage areas, due to their scalpel-like sharpness and precision. Needle piercing in these areas promotes better healing! Both piercing methods can happily co-exist.

The daith piercing is an increasingly popular option to treat migraines, anxiety, and some other symptoms. On social media, people may come across images of this unique piercing on the inner ear, alongside promises that it will ease anxiety and improve quality of life.

The same rules apply to helix piercings as to other cartilage piercings: turn down the gun in favor of the needle and sick to a single piercing in this area for the time being. Twice-daily saline swabs, and fresh pillowcases go a long way towards speeding up the healing times.

“After the first few days, it's completely normal to have a little bit of redness, soreness, and swelling. The swelling can last upwards of 10 to 14 days, and you'll get a little bit of clear or white discharge, which will turn into what we call 'crusties. ' [Ed note: Ew.]

Don't eat spicy, salty or acidy foods or liquids while you are healing. Avoid hot drinks such as hot chocolate, coffee, and tea. Eat cold foods and drinks as they lessen swelling. Be extra careful when eating crunchy foods.

Along with the nostrils and belly button, the earlobes are the safest and most common body part to be pierced. The flesh of the earlobe heals well when the area is cleaned regularly and the piercing is done at the proper angle.

Which ear piercing gets infected the most? ›

Upper ear piercings are more likely to get infected. Left untreated, these infections can lead to a condition known as perichondritis. An infection can also spread into your body (systemic infection). In some cases, an infection can cause your piercing to close up.

3) It is normal for dried blood or serous fluid (yellow crust) to form around the edges of your piercing. DO NOT pick it away while it is dry.

Try using a “U” shaped pillow. The “U” shaped travel pillow will allow your ears to stick out a little more than a regular pillow. With you ear placed in the hole, there will be no pressure on the piercing. Sleep with your neck in the middle of the “U” in order to sleep comfortable through the night.

Keloids are overgrowths of scar tissue caused by trauma to your skin. They're common after ear piercings and can form on both the lobe and cartilage of your ear.

Since the cartilage in the helix piercing area is so thin, the piercing process goes quickly. For a few days after piercing, you'll feel some throbbing and see swelling and slight bleeding. In moderation, these symptoms are normal. If you experience these in excess, consult a medical professional.

Patients with an ear infection are advised to avoid wearing earbuds for a several weeks to allow the affected ear to heal. They may also need to take antibiotic or steroid ear drops. The infections are usually painful and typically take between three and seven days to clear up.

You need to wait at least three months before wearing your earbuds or headphones as it could irritate your tragus piercing, slow down healing and possibly cause an infection. You can also wear over the ear headphones that don't apply pressure to the piercing.

Piercing holes heal by forming a layer of cells called epithelial cells. The epithelial cells form a tube-like layer of skin along the inside of the piercing to protect your body from the foreign object. The healing process takes at least six to eight weeks.

“The initial healing time for a helix piercing is two to four months. For the piercing to be fully healed, it takes six to nine months. Healing timelines will vary based on your specific piercing and your body, but you'll know your ear is healed once any discharge, swelling, redness, flaking, or soreness stops.”

What is the least popular piercing? ›

Uncommon piercings may be more costly due to the fragile nature of the procedures. A few more uncommon piercings are eyeball piercings, dermal piercings (pictured to the left), corset piercings, some genital piercings, uvula piercings, bridge piercings, and anti-eyebrow piercings (the latter two are pictured above).

Nose. Nose piercings are notoriously hard healers, as they are a very sensitive area due to the nerves that run though. They take at least 12 weeks before being able to be changed, and even then, may need more time.

Forward Helix rings normally range from 5mm to 7mm, depending on your anatomy and whether you prefer your hoop to be snug or loose fitting so it hangs down a little. In my experience, 6mm tends to be a good starting point for most people.

Generally flat back stud earrings are the jewelry of choice for the forward helix piercing. It is also possible to wear small cartilage hoops in your forward helix piercing, but they may cause irritation and inflammation around the area.

Do You Need Special Jewelry for a Helix Piercing? Although you do not need specific jewelry for a helix piercing, it is crucial to make sure that the earrings you do use are the proper size. The standard gauges for helix piercings are 16-gauge and 18-gauge, and the standard lengths are 3/16”, 1/4”, 5/16”, and 4/8”.

There's no reason to rotate your piercing. You could damage the delicate, healing skin by rotating the jewelry. In the past, rotating the jewelry was recommended, but it has been found to cause damage that can lead to infection and scarring. For happy healing, NEVER rotate your body jewelry.

The forward helix is on the very front of the ear, closest to the head. This specific acupressure point can help with muscle tension and encourage blood circulation. By encouraging increased blood flow, this piercing may also aid in preventing wrinkles.

What Jewelry is Worn in a Forward Helix Piercing? Just like most cartilage piercings, a small ring, circular barbell (that won't impede hearing or mess with any other ear piercings nearby) or a small helix labret stud.

Do forward helix piercings help with headaches? ›

Some anecdotal reports suggest it may help people with migraine find relief, though research has not confirmed this. The helix, or the spot where daith piercings are inserted, is a spot used during acupuncture and acupressure. Both are well-known headache treatments.

It's also important to avoid touching or upsetting your piercing as much as necessary, as irritation could cause inflammation or even, in some cases, infections. Dr. Earnest also says that if you have to touch your piercing, you should wash your hands first.

You can get multiple piercings at once, but you have to be able to properly care for them. Even though there's really no limit, many piercers recommend no more than four piercings at one time. You can also stagger your piercing sessions weeks apart to make the process easier.

Try using a “U” shaped pillow. The “U” shaped travel pillow will allow your ears to stick out a little more than a regular pillow. With you ear placed in the hole, there will be no pressure on the piercing. Sleep with your neck in the middle of the “U” in order to sleep comfortable through the night.

“The initial healing time for a helix piercing is two to four months. For the piercing to be fully healed, it takes six to nine months. Healing timelines will vary based on your specific piercing and your body, but you'll know your ear is healed once any discharge, swelling, redness, flaking, or soreness stops.”

You should avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after having a piercing, and ideally until it has healed properly. While it's still healing, it's important to keep the piercing dry as there's a risk of infection.