Why are my helixes getting irritated/how do I fix it?
I got two helix piercings on the left ear on the 8th of June. Idk what material the jewelry was but they were long externally threaded (not my choice) labrets. I got it downsized a few weeks later, no issues. Labret again, titanium, externally threaded (not my choice again).
On Tuesday, I noticed a bump on my top helix. I thought it was small before realizing there was a larger one on the back. I changed the bar to a longer internally threaded bar myself to take some pressure off. I left the lower one alone. I haven't been sleeping on it, I've been spraying them with neilmed fine mist twice a day and air drying, avoiding headphones, and keeping my hair away from it as much as I can. Haven't caught either of them on anything since a towel right after I got them.
About an hour ago, I just noticed a bump forming on the lower helix. I'm kinda at a loss because I'm not sure what's irritating it or how to fix it. They're far from my first piercings but last time I got an irritation bump, the piercing never recovered (eyebrow. Had a massive bump for a year. Went away almost immediately after I took the jewelry out) and I'm scared my helixes will go the same way
Posted Jul 25, 2026, 11:34 PM UTC