Piercing FAQ

6 to 12 months for full internal healing. The outer skin may appear healed at 2–4 months, but the internal fistula continues maturing. Never change jewelry based solely on how it looks — confirm with your piercer first. See our complete helix guide for the full timeline.

Most piercing problems are irritation, not infection. Irritation: small bump near the jewelry, mild redness, clear or white-tinged crust (dried lymph fluid). Infection: fever, rapidly spreading redness, green or yellow pus with a bad smell, red streaks extending from the piercing. Irritation is fixable at home. Infection requires a doctor — do not delay.

Only after the piercing is fully healed — and only confirmed by a professional piercer, not by how it looks. Minimum timelines: lobes 6–8 weeks, nostril 4–6 months, cartilage (helix, daith, tragus) 9–12 months, navel 9–12 months, nipple 9–12 months. Changing early is one of the most common causes of lasting complications.

A downsize is replacing your initial (longer) starter post with a shorter post that fits your healed anatomy. Your piercer uses a longer post initially to accommodate swelling. After 6–8 weeks the swelling reduces and a long post snags constantly, causing irritation. Downsizing at 6–8 weeks is one of the single most important steps to prevent long-term complications — and one most people skip.

ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium is the APP’s primary recommendation for initial jewelry. It is completely nickel-free, the lightest body jewelry metal (critical for cartilage), and can be anodized to any colour without dyes. Solid 14k or 18k gold is also safe but heavier and more expensive. See our full titanium vs gold guide.

No. Gold-plated, gold-filled, and gold-vermeil jewelry are not solid gold. The base metal (usually brass or copper) causes reactions, especially in healing piercings. The gold coating chips over time and contaminates the piercing channel. Only solid 14k or 18k gold is safe.

Internally threaded: threads are inside the post, keeping the smooth external surface against the piercing channel. Threadless (press-fit): a bent post end holds tension with no threading at all. Both are safe for healing piercings. Externally threaded (threads on the outside of the post) is not recommended — rough threading drags through healing tissue on insertion.

No — never. Rotating jewelry is a persistent myth. The healing fistula is fragile new tissue. Rotating the jewelry tears it repeatedly, extending healing time and frequently causing irritation bumps. Leave the jewelry completely still at all times. See our 7 aftercare mistakes guide.

No. All three are cytotoxic to healing tissue. Bactine contains benzalkonium chloride and lidocaine. Hydrogen peroxide and alcohol kill the healthy cells trying to repair your piercing. The APP recommends sterile saline wound wash only — NeilMed Wound Wash is the industry standard. Clean twice daily: morning and before bed.

Avoid submersion for a minimum of 8 weeks for lobes and the full healing period for cartilage. Pools contain chlorine and bacteria. Open water (lakes, rivers, sea) contains pathogens that can cause serious infections in healing piercings. If you must swim, use a waterproof bandage and rinse with saline immediately after.

16G (1.2mm diameter) is the standard gauge for helix piercings. Your starter post is typically 8–10mm long to allow for swelling, then downsized to 6–8mm at 6–8 weeks. For rings, most helix piercings use 8–10mm inner diameter. See our full size guide for all piercing types.

Standard septum piercings are pierced at 16G with an 8–10mm inner diameter. If unsure, 8mm is the most common fit for average anatomy. A circular barbell (horseshoe) or clicker ring at 8mm diameter works for most people. Confirm gauge and diameter with your piercer — anatomy varies significantly.

Use a digital calliper (under $10 at any hardware store) to measure the post diameter — that is your gauge. For ring diameter: measure the inner space from wall to wall (not the outer diameter). For post length (flat-back labret): measure from the back disc to the base of the threading, not including the decorative top.

Look for APP-certified piercers. APP members are required to use implant-grade jewelry, maintain autoclave sterilization, and follow strict health standards. Ask to see their autoclave spore testing logs. Use Helix’s Studio Finder tool to find APP-recommended studios near you with live Google Maps links.

Always choose a needle. Guns use blunt force and cannot be fully sterilised between clients — only the cartridge changes. Needles are single-use, sterile, and cause significantly less trauma. The APP explicitly advises against piercing guns. Cartilage piercings with guns frequently cause complications including shattering cartilage.