When you get a new piercing, one of the first things you think walking out of the studio to show it off to friends and family is about how long it’ll take to heal. All piercings involve some level of discomfort while they heal so be sure to look after it properly. Some piercings take longer than others to heal and can also involve extra care. Here’s a quick guide to what you can expect with four of our most popular piercings.
Helix Piercing
A helix piercing is in the cartilage of the upper ear. While it’s not a particularly painful procedure, it has one of the longest healing times, taking 6–12 months to completely heal. Although, after 6-8 weeks, helix piercings can usually be changed to slightly shorter sterile jewellery with the help of a piercer. During this period of time, you shouldn’t twist or fiddle with the jewellery, as this can introduce bacteria and slow down the healing process. SHOP helix!
Nose Piercing
This is probably the most popular non-earlobe piercing of all and is most people’s starter option. It has a similar healing time of 6–12 months (with a general 6–8 week jewellery changeover timeframe) but may take longer, especially if you keep catching the jewellery on clothing. It’s important to leave the piercing alone for as long as possible, as the relatively thick tissue of the nose can still be healing long after any pain or redness has gone. Avoid makeup, cleanser and moisturiser in the area and be careful of things such as glasses and caps for the duration of healing. For a nose piercing with a stud and consider a band-aid at night to avoid getting it caught. SHOP nose!
Earlobe Piercing
This piercing is one of the fastest to heal, taking between 3–6 months to completely heal. This doesn’t mean that you can skimp on the cleaning regime, though; you must be as diligent as you would be with other piercings. Be sure to check the backings regularly to ensure it hasn’t clipped on too tightly, causing a build-up of pressure. Make sure you don’t fiddle with the jewellery or swap it out for at least six weeks to allow for optimal healing.
Navel Piercing
A navel piercing has one of the longest healing times – as much as 12 months – because of its position on your body. However, the jewellery can usually be changed to a slightly shorter sterile piece from 6–8 weeks. So if you’re thinking of getting a navel piercing this summer, the best time to do so would be August or September to allow for optimal healing. Clothes and waistbands can rub the piercing making it more prone to infection because of this, so if possible avoid tight clothing for the duration of healing and clean your navel piercing twice a day – it’s also important to keep the navel itself clean, too.
With all piercings, you should avoid soaking in any bodies of water, clean the area twice daily and lookout for signs of infection like extreme pain, redness and swelling. If something still doesn’t seem right with your new piercing we can’t stress enough – come and see us in-store, we’re always happy to help.
FAQs
A navel piercing has one of the longest healing times – as much as 12 months – because of its position on your body.
What piercing has the longest healing time? ›
A navel piercing has one of the longest healing times – as much as 12 months – because of its position on your body.
What piercings take the fastest to heal? ›
EARLOBE: A vast majority of women have their earlobes pierced, and many men do as well. It is the most common piercing, and, not surprisingly, can heal relatively quickly and easily. It's also the piercing that people wish to change the jewelry on most frequently.
What's the hardest piercings to heal? ›
ROOK. Rook piercings are located in the cartilage at the uppermost part of the inner ear. The location does go through a thick bit of cartilage so it can be more painful and harder to heal than many other spots on the ear. The Rook is more in line with the Snug when it comes to pain and healing.
How long does it take for a 12 gauge piercing to heal? ›
How long will my piercing take to heal? While healing times can vary for everyone, it's dependent on factors such as your overall health, sleep and stress levels, and your aftercare regimen. Typically, ear lobe piercings take around 4-6 months, while upper or inner ear piercings take between 6-12+ months to fully heal.
What is the riskiest piercing? ›
Eyeball and Eyelid Piercings rank among the most unusual and risky types of piercings, yet they still occur!
What piercing heals the slowest? ›
Navel piercings take the longest to heal, usually taking anywhere between 6 to 12 months. It is important to keep the area clean and dry, and avoid changing jewelry too often.
What's the most painful piercing to heal? ›
Genital Piercing
Because of their positioning, nipple and genital piercings require careful aftercare. You can also get some pain from chaffing and so on until the piercing completely heals. All these factors help make genital piercings one of the most painful piercings you can get.
What is the most low maintenance piercing? ›
If you're looking for something that's low-maintenance and easy to care for, then pierced earrings are a great option. However, if you're looking for something more dramatic or daring, then nose or lip piercings might be right up your alley.
Which piercing gets infected easily? ›
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.
“The most dangerous piercings are the ones that involve cartilage, like higher ear piercings,” says Tracy Burton, a pediatric nurse practitioner in Ontario. “These piercings are associated with poor healing because of the limited blood supply to the area.
What piercings scar the most? ›
The scars can form anywhere on your body, but they're most common with nose and ear cartilage piercings. Cartilage doesn't heal as well as other tissues. Hypertrophic scars are also common on your chest, upper back, and shoulders. Dermal piercings in these areas might be more prone to scarring.
How to heal a piercing faster? ›
Tips to Heal Ear Piercings Faster
Don't pull or pick at any scabs that form around the piercing site. Keep the piercing clean and dry throughout the day. Let the piercing heal completely before taking out the jewelry. Avoid using antibacterial ointments or disinfectants on the piercing.
Can you reverse a gauge piercing? ›
If your piercing holes are less than half an inch in diameter, they may shrink back down over time. But if they are larger than that, they will require plastic surgery to reduce them to their initial size.
When can I stop cleaning my ear piercing? ›
We suggest cleaning no more than once a day. On average, most piercings will need to be cleaned over the next 3-4 months (unless otherwise stated by your piercer). It is vital that you do not over-clean the piercing. If it has been longer than four months, do not clean the piercing anymore.
What is the fastest closing piercing? ›
Nipple piercings are one of the fastest piercing to close. When they're new, they can close in minutes. Even after a few years, nipple piercings can close inside of a week without jewellery.
What is the longest lasting dermal piercing? ›
Micro dermal piercings have an average lifespan of 5 years, but it can last less or more than that, depending on how well you take care of it after it's healed. Some people have had their micro dermal piercing for 8 years or longer, so it's really up to you! Also, you can remove it at any moment.
Which piercings scar the most? ›
The scars can form anywhere on your body, but they're most common with nose and ear cartilage piercings. Cartilage doesn't heal as well as other tissues. Hypertrophic scars are also common on your chest, upper back, and shoulders. Dermal piercings in these areas might be more prone to scarring.
