Keep the area clean with a warm saline solution, free of irritation (such as tight clothing), and see your doctor as soon as possible. Rook piercings are particularly slow to heal. They may develop soon after the initial piercing or months later. But theres some evidence that certain areas of your body are more prone to pain than others. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Then prepare a saltwater solution of 1 cup (0.24 liters) water with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. And I'll keep doing my salt solution spray 2 times a day to keep it clean. population. Use a sea salt mixture instead of saline by dissolving 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoons of non-ionized sea salt into one cup of distilled or bottled water. You will be done in no time, all you will feel is a sting. Youll then get aftercare instructions to keep your new piercing safe and healthy. Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before touching the pierced area, especially during cleaning time. We recommend titanium body jewelry; bioplast body jewelry; and 14k gold body jewelry for those who have trouble with their jewelry materials.Here's a little bit more about anodized titanium jewelry and why it's safe for piercings.The jewelry is the incorrect size: Jewelry sizes can be confusing! Safe Piercing FAQ. Cartilage piercings are apparently significantly slower to heal than earlobe piercings because there is no direct blood supply to deliver "healing nutrients." For this my doctor prescribed two . "Changing a rook piercing can be very tricky, even if it's fully healed, and should be done by a professional," Fox says. If you have had other cartilage piercings, you can expect the rook piercing to be on par with those. You can also touch the area right around your piercing to see if it feels hot, which is another sign of infection. Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI. The Rook Piercing: Everything You Need to Know, FreshTrends Cartilage piercings heal from the outside in, which means that they may look healed on the outside long before the process is truly done. An infected cartilage piercing will hurt and can ooze a thick or smelly discharge that's gray, yellow, or green. Guns use a stud to price the flesh, and this is not as sharp as a needle. As far as jewelry styles go, your choices are a captive-bead ring, mini curved barbell, or circular barbell: All cartilage piercings share the same basic risks and possible aftercare mishaps. A round bump around a piercing may be an infection. Rook piercings are also seen as a treatment for migraines and headaches. But theyre exposed to lots of bacteria when you eat or drink. This intense throbbing pain will last for at least a few days before easing up. You may have difficulty sleeping for the first few nights. When we think about having a piercing, one of the first (and common) worries is if it hurts. Try not to let clothes rub directly onto new piercings. It makes great starter jewelry because it wont tug Even your perception of pain can affect how much it hurts. Enjoy! Walk out if you see a piercing gun. Sign up for a weekly brief collating many news items into one untangled thought delivered straight to your mailbox. We will send you an email to reset your password. Bumps are, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. It will take between 3 and 10 months for it to heal completely. Under-cleaning can cause buildup of dirt, crust, and dead skin. This is seen as alternative medicine. Swelling can cause loss of function, like if your tongue gets swollen and doesnt move easily. How To Become A Tattoo Artist ? It may remain tender throughout this time, especially if it gets infected. To clean your rook piercing. Any thick, milky, or colored discharge should be considered a likely sign of infection. Everyones pain tolerance is different. aftercare and your piercer during piercing. Use a saline solution or spray at least twice a day to clean the area. It displaces the tissue instead of making a clean cut through it. Plan on washing your piercing two to three times a day for three to six months. Wash your hands thoroughly before touching or washing your piercing. The area of the piercing is red and swollen. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). "The sequelae of infection of cartilage is also a lot more serious than the earlobe and treatment is more involved.". into the piercing, securing it tightly. It is a given that if you have researched, it will help you will take all the right steps leading to this procedure and after this. If there are any signs of infections I recommend adding a topical antibiotic right away," she says. Many other factors can affect how you feel after the piercing. If everything goes right, your cartilage should heal up in four to six weeks. For best results: Piercings in your ear's cartilage are more susceptible to infection than other sites. Styles like cartilage Clean your piercing as often as your piercer recommends not more or less. This isnt true for some types of piercings, so always ask your piercer first. Here is how much each type of piercing may hurt in order of most painful to least painful. :) I have a salt solution to keep it clean and I haven't touched it since I got it.Thanks to this website, I'm confident it's not infected. Like any other piercing, you should clean your rook piercing 2 - 3 times daily with a piercing aftercare in any piercing, and its more durable than 18k or 24k gold, making it ideal for piercing jewelry. We recommend waiting a year for this type of jewelry," Fox says. If the soreness doesn't go away in a few days, it's time to contact your piercer to make sure everything is ok.Sensitivities: Believe it or not, you can develop a sensitivity at any age! Over-cleaning can irritate and dry skin out. Gently pat dry the affected area with clean gauze or a tissue. Although pain is relative, medical and cosmetic dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, MD, of Goldenberg Dermatology alerts: "This type of piercing goes through a very thick layer of cartilage, which is usually more painful and takes a little more time to heal." How to Identify and Treat an Industrial Piercing Infection, What's Really in Tattoo Ink? Get A Mystery Coupon Immediately! How Long Does It Take a Tattoo to Fully Heal. The bad news: All piercings hurt. However, infection in old piercings is possible if any sort of injury occurs to the area; any cut or opening in the skin can be a doorway for bacteria. Fox recommends following these steps: Quick tip: "Try to avoid loose fiber products such as Q-tips, cotton balls, cotton rounds, etc.," Fox says. Preform a sea salt bath once per day by dissolving salt into warm (not hot) distilled or bottled water. This response leads to inflammation, which is what causes the bump. We've sent you an email with a link to update your password. Smaller ridges don't have as much cartilage to pierce through but can be more difficult for the piercer to get at. Thats because the thick tissue left behind from when your umbilical cord was removed is flesh and not very nerve dense. Everything You Should Know Before Getting a Penis Piercing, Everything You Should Know Before Getting a Clitoris Glans or Hood Piercing, Everything You Need to Know About Guiche Piercing, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, What's Really in Tattoo Ink? Once these symptoms fade, you may develop some itching and the piercing may secrete a whitishyellow fluid that forms a crust on the piercing. oil, that will actually irritate the piercing and prolong healing. Be sure to cover the entire piercing with the salt soak, on both sides of the hole. Dont use cloths that could have bacteria on them. Heres what to do if your body rejects the piercing. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. What Type of Jewelry Is Used for a Rook Piercing? You ' ll feel some pain in the moment, but it ' ll go away pretty quickly. Stay out of pools, lakes, rivers, hot tubs, and other bodies of water until your piercing heals. Nose piercings are more common than ever, but it's still important to consider a few things before joining the club. "It is best practice to follow up with your piercer after new piercings, as this allows them to check in on the healing process, and to swap out jewelry for a more appropriate/comfortable size if necessary," explains Kahane. Here's how to identify, treat, and prevent infection. Rook piercings depend on the anatomy of your ear. Rook piercings can be painful because they target the thickest and hardest tissue that doesnt pierce as easily as soft earlobes. Rook piercings are often seen as a method of prevention between migraine attacks and severe headaches. When it comes to proper cleaning and care, dermatologist Kristina Goldenberg, MD, says that one of the most common mistakes is using hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on the area. A larger piece of jewelry will give your skin enough space to swell. Last medically reviewed on August 14, 2019. Although not scientifically proven, some people with rook piercings have said that the piercing has helped to alleviate migraines and reduce stress levels. Swelling can cause loss of function, like if your tongue gets swollen and doesn't move easily. Tongue piercings have higher risk of infection because of bacteria in your mouth. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. Here are a few you might want to try if you have a low pain tolerance. Here's how to avoid infection, Why getting a daith piercing likely won't help your migraines, despite popular claims, Aspirin vs. ibuprofen: The key differences and which one you should take. Because theyre in a warm, sometimes damp location they have a higher risk of becoming infected. According to Rhianna Jones, a London-based piercer at The Circle London, the piercing is suitable for most, but as each person's ear anatomy is different, a small number of people may find they are not able to get it. Michelle Regalado is a seasoned editor, fact-checker, and content strategist with expertise in women's lifestyle news. Along with these symptoms, you may also have whitish, yellowish, or greenish discharge, possibly with an unpleasant odor. The rook piercing, like all cartilage piercings, is one of the more painful piercings that you can get. jewelry options. Youll wear the starter jewelry for the first few months while the site heals. You may be thinking of getting one yourself. Also, do not twist your jewelry unless youre cleaning it. Your piercer will use a needle to. ", was! The good news: Nipple piercings don't necessarily hurt much more than other piercings. (2008). healing skin. The helix piercing is performed on the upper rim of the ear. A rook piercing goes though the inner edge of the uppermost ridge in your ear. This may depend on how well you take care of the piercing. Being prepared can help, as well as a piercer you trust to guide you through the process. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid804942-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"