Ear piercing has become very popular among young people these days. There are all kinds of beautiful piercings. You may have seen a new trend called “constellation piercing”. That is, small earrings that look like a star pattern are placed in different places on the ear. Among these, a special piercing that has caught the attention of many people is the Rook piercing. But before getting this done, it is very important to be a little aware of it. Because this is done in a special place on the ear, it needs to be taken care of very carefully.
What is this Rook Piercing?
Simply put, this is a piercing of the cartilage that goes into the top of your ear. Unlike your earlobe, the top of your ear is made of cartilage. This cartilage area has a little less blood flow .
Therefore, there is a higher risk of infection when piercing a cartilage than when piercing an earlobe. It also takes longer to heal.
Does this really hurt? How long will it take to heal?
Yes, to be honest, a Rook piercing can be a little more painful than other regular ear piercings. The reason for this is that this cartilage is thicker than the soft tissue in the earlobe. So it's a little harder for the needle to pass through it. Also, as we talked about earlier, due to the poor blood circulation, this piercing can take about 12 to 16 weeks, or about 3-4 months, to fully heal .
During this time, you should definitely avoid anything that could irritate the piercing.
- Don't sleep on the side you pierced. Sleep on the other side. If you have both ears pierced, sleep on your side as much as possible.
- When talking on the phone or using earphones, do those things on the side that is not exposed.
How to properly care for the piercing site? (Aftercare)
To avoid infection and other complications , you need to take very good care of your rook piercing. First, let's look at what's common with new piercings and what are the signs of a problem. Remember, a new piercing is an open wound that will take time to heal.
Things you usually see
| Characteristic | Description and what to do |
|---|---|
| Tenderness | It's normal to feel a little pain when you touch or hit your hand. |
| Itchiness | It's normal to feel itchy as the wound heals. But don't scratch. |
| Redness/darkening of the skin | It is normal for the skin around the piercing to change color slightly in the first few days. |
| Crusty discharge | It is normal for dry crusts to form around the earlobes. These should be removed when cleaning. |
| Small lumps | Sometimes small lumps (called granulomas ) can develop near the earlobe. These can be reduced by soaking a clean cloth in warm water and applying it to the area once a day. |
How to clean a piercing
Until the puncture site is completely healed,Clean like this twice a day to prevent bacteria from entering and causing infections.
- First, wash your hands thoroughly: Before touching the piercing, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
- Don't use these things: Never clean with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol . These destroy healthy cells that help heal, delaying healing.
- Do not apply ointments: Do not apply any ointments . They can interfere with healing.
- Clean with salt water: The best way to clean your piercing is with salt water. Dissolve a teaspoon (1/4) of sea salt or a tablespoon of regular table salt in a cup of warm water. Dip a cotton swab in this solution and leave it on the piercing and around the earring for a few minutes to remove any crusting.
- Mild soap: Instead of salt water, you can also use a mild liquid antibacterial soap diluted with a small amount of water.
- Twist the earring: Only twist the earring slowly when the piercing is wet. Never twist it when it is dry.
How to prevent infection?
According to studies, while earlobe piercings have a 21% chance of developing an infection, cartilage piercings have a 30% chance of developing an infection. So it's important to be careful.
| Causes of infection and symptoms of infection | |
|---|---|
| Dirty equipment | Use of non-sterilized equipment. |
| Dirty hands | Touching the piercing with dirty hands. |
| Removing earrings quickly | Removing the earring before the wound heals. |
| Swimming pools | Swimming in swimming pools, hot tubs, rivers, or lakes before healing. |
| Pus discharge | Discharge of a yellow or green, foul-smelling fluid. |
| Fever | Fever in the body. |
| Swelling, redness, warmth | Excessive redness, swelling, and warmth around the puncture site. |
| Severe pain | Having unbearable pain. |
If you have any of these symptoms of an infection, see your doctor immediately . Don't take it lightly.
What other risks are there besides infections?
In addition to common infections, sometimes more serious conditions can occur. Although these are uncommon, it is important to be aware of them.
- Spread of infections to the bloodstream: Unsterilized equipment can transmit diseases like tetanus or hepatitis B and C into the bloodstream. Therefore, make sure your vaccinations, such as your tetanus shot, are up to date before getting a piercing.
- Allergic reactions: Some earrings contain a metal called nickel. If you are allergic to nickel, you may experience skin irritation, itching, etc. So choose good quality, nickel-free earrings.
- Enlarged scars ( keloids ): Some people develop keloids as their wounds heal. These can be itchy, painful, and may need to be removed with surgery, injections, or laser treatment. If you or someone in your family has a history of these types of scars , it's best to avoid getting a piercing.
Take-Home Message
- A rook piercing is a piercing of the ear cartilage, so it can be a little more painful than a regular piercing.
- It takes about 3-4 months to fully heal. You need to take very careful care of it during this time.
- Clean with salt water twice daily. Never use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or ointments.
- If the piercing site is oozing pus , has a fever, is excessively swollen, red, or painful, see a doctor immediately.
- When getting your piercing done, be sure to choose a place that uses clean, experienced, and sterilized equipment.
- If you are someone who easily develops large scars (keloids) on your skin, think twice about getting a cartilage piercing like this.
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