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Original poster

Tragus piercing, how long did yours take to heal?

20 replies

MrsMeow · 19/01/2012 21:43

I had mine done in August and it's still not healed properly. It's not sore or anything, but it does still weep now and again despite me cleaning it daily. I had it done at Selfridges in Brum so a reputable place and the woman did warn me that it takes longer to heal than other piercings, but I'd have thought it would be well healed by now?

The stud they used to do it is quite big and I'd like something tiny but don't want to mess around with it until I know it's healed!

Ps, no bothered by all the "ugh, minging" comments. I think it looks fab

OP posts:

PersonalClown · 19/01/2012 21:47

How weird. Mine took a few days. I barely noticed any weeping or anything.

What are you cleaning it with? Maybe clean it every other day to give it a chance to heal a bit better?

Original poster

MrsMeow · 19/01/2012 21:53

Thanks PC, my others have always healed well so I'm not sure why this one isn't? I do tend to always wake up on the side that it's in though so I wonder if I'm irritating it in bed or something?

I can't remember what the stuff is called, but it's what they gave me when I had it done. Maybe I'm cleaning it too much!

OP posts:

PersonalClown · 19/01/2012 21:59

You could be. The clear crap that scabs a bit is plasma stuff in the blood stream I think (Someone will no doubt prove me wrong). So you may be clearing off the first line of healing if you get me.

The sleep thing.. unless you can put a large plaster or bandage on it, I'm afraid there's not much we can do.

Have you found it awkward to put earphones in yet?? I still find it an odd feeling!

Original poster

MrsMeow · 19/01/2012 22:03

Hmm yes, that makes sense! Yes it is plasma (just had a 2 hour lecture on it yesterday ) I may just leave it instead of messing with it all the time. I'll have to sit on my hands though

It is a very weird feeling isn't it? I find I'm ok if I push the flat bit out so it's flat against the inside of my ear iyswim? It flippin hurts if you forget though, doesnt it?

OP posts:

soaccidentprone · 19/01/2012 22:06

Apparently it should take around 18 weeks to heal, so it sounds as though yours is taking a bit longer than normal. Maybe you should get someone to change your stud to a sleeper 'cos they're easier to 'wiggle'?

I had my helix pierced Dec 2010 and it still goes a bit scabby sometimes. I think (like you) that it's 'cos I sleep on that side.

Don't really have any advice though.

toptramp · 19/01/2012 22:09

What the fuck are a tragus and helix?! (totally naive and bemused mum)

toptramp · 19/01/2012 22:09

And also very curious!

TheAvocadoOfWisdom · 19/01/2012 22:10

ew.

horses for courses and all that :o

TheAvocadoOfWisdom · 19/01/2012 22:12

I've just done google image on tragus piercing and helix piercing.

Ouch.

piratecat · 19/01/2012 22:14

i had a helix piercing yrs back and it never healed. properly done etc

had to take it out after about 3 months, kept getting infected.

same with my nose. don't think my body liked piercings.

toptramp · 19/01/2012 22:16

Still none the wiser. Will google.

toptramp · 19/01/2012 22:17

I like the helix piercing; the tragus piercing not so much.

lostinwales · 19/01/2012 22:24

Well look at that, back in the day I had piercings with cool names. When I were young (always wanted to say that ) we called it 'the bit at the top' and 'the bit by your face'. Can still feel the one at the top. IIRC (although it was 20 years ago, dear god,) the one at the top healed really quickly and didn't hurt a bit unlike the wuss in the you tube video .

bittenbythehandthatfed · 20/01/2012 10:53

I used saline solution, and I have a ring instead of a stud too. It healed fine, and I didn't clean it every day, just every couple of days.

Original poster

MrsMeow · 21/01/2012 15:22

Thanks very much everyone, some good tips there :) I think I will change it to a ring so it's easier to clean, and not clean it so often.

Lostinwales,I had my helix pierced years ago. We called it 'the crunchy bit'. Niiiiice

OP posts:

bigbuttons · 21/01/2012 15:25

My tragus didn't take long to heal, but I had one done in the cartilage high up in August and that never healed so I took it out a couple of weeks ago. What a relief. Apparently they sometimes just don't 'work' I'm going to have it re-sited soon.

bigbuttons · 21/01/2012 15:28

btw the guy who does mine says you MUST NOT TOUCH them, no wiggling or anything. if you keep touching they won't heal and you will be putting germs from your fingers into the wound. The rule of turning the newly pieced earring is old hat!

Original poster

MrsMeow · 21/01/2012 15:43

Buttons thanks. Shame about your cartilage, it just goes to show doesnt it?

I was told not to turn mine and try my best not to touch it but it's soooo hard sometimes!!

OP posts:

soaccidentprone · 22/01/2012 11:48

Yes, I was told not to turn it too - apparently it rips the edges of the piercing and makes to harder to heal/more likely to get an infection. I only ever touch my helix after I've washed my hands (in theory anyway)

fragola · 22/01/2012 12:19

Mine never did heal, it got very infected and swelled up into a giant tragus! Thankfully with the help of antibiotics it returned to its normal size. There was a little lump there for a few years, but now 17 years on, you'd never know that it had ever been pierced.

I think the problem with mine was that when I had it done, the needle didn't go through properly the first time, so the woman had to redo it. It hurt so much I had to go straight to the pub for a brandy! Anyway, I think it got off to a bad start and never really had a chance. Sniff.

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