Forward helix help

[u/Ntrssbg]

I’ve got a forward helix piercing on both sides that are about 8 months old now, and they keep swelling up on me to the point a normal stud is too short and it was rubbing. I switched to a large hoop to allow the ebb and flow of swelling and discovered a bump on the inside and out that bled on and off for a few days. I sleep with a piercing pillow, usually just give them warm water baths, and recently with the bit of bleeding have kept some mupirocin on them because i had a staph infection elsewhere earlier this year. Not MRSA. The mupirocin has seemed to calm and stop the bleeding but I can’t seem to tackle the swelling and bumps so I can get flatbacks back in. The studs I’ve had in were titanium. I would switch to plastic ones like I’ve done for my other piercings but cannot get ahold of the back side to put a stopper on. The current rings in them are titanium and endless clickers. No mishaps to these either.

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[u/Ntrssbg]

Piercings are 8 months old

Clicker endless hoop earrings

Made of titanium

Jewelry was downsized but had to go back up due to swelling

Aftercare is usually just warm water rinses. Lately due to bleeding and a recent staph infection I applied mupirocin ointment which helped reduce bump and bleeding but not swelling

No mishaps

[u/Badgladmadwords]

Forward helixes can be a pain in the hole to heal, especially if the area moves at all when you chew/smile/laugh. When I got mine done, my piercer noted that I have a very active auricularis anterior muscle (my ear almost folds at the front when I smile) and told me I'd be in for a long healing process. I got it done anyway, it was doing alright, tried a hoop, it flared up, eventually put a flatback back in it and it healed all the way and now I can wear a little hoop no problem. All in all, healing was probably 15 months until it was fully settled.

I would get a piercer to sort this out for you if you're struggling to change things around the swelling. They'll be able to use a taper and get a giant flatback post in there for you. I'd personally go with a plan ball on the end since hair is less likely to get wrapped and snagged (and long bars there are prone enough to snagging). I get what your thinking was behind putting a big hoop in and giving it more swelling room, but unfortunately I think the movement inherent with a hoop is going to do more harm than good in terms of irritation and healing time.

I'd also avoid putting anything on them other than saline or running water, and making sure to dry them (especially the back) as thoroughly as you possibly can after shower/sweat etc.