Fashion has received a new lease by means of piercing and it is widely practiced today. People indulge in piercing of many parts of the body, but the ear is one part which has ample scope for piercing and wearing jewelry. Evidence suggests that the art of ear piercing is as old as 5000 years. Many personalities like Julius Caesar, Sir Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake wore gold rings in their ears. Today the trend is very much alive and perhaps a lot more developed. Parts of the ear like Daith, Tragus, Anti-tragus, Conch, lobe, helix and anti-helix are pierced by a large number of people. Most people prefer to get their ears pierced as ear-piercing suits most of the people. Besides, it does not involve much risk. Industrial piercing connects any two parts of the ear with the aid of a barbell. Standard-industrial and vertical industrial are the two types of industrial piercing.
Helix is the curved ridge at the outer end of the ear. The lower portion of the helix is known as “anti-helix”. In industrial piercing, both the portions of the helix are connected with a barbell. Rook piercing is a type of anti-helix piercing. Rook piercing is mostly painful as the needle passes through thick layers of the cartilage. A variety of rings and studs are worn on the anti-helix of the ear. Anti-helix piercing takes about two to twelve months to heal but is a simple procedure as compared to tragus or anti-tragus piercing.
A snug or anti-helix piercing is a piercing that passes through the anti-helix of the ear from the medial to the lateral surfaces.
Various precautions need to be taken in the healing period of snug and anti-helix piercing. Creams or ointments should be avoided as they keep the pierced portion moist. Dampness can promote the growth of bacteria in the pierced portion of the anti-helix. Products with high astringent content should be avoided as they destroy cells that form scar tissues. Triclosan-based anti-bacterial solutions like Physohex or Sapoderm are recommended. Lavender oil has medical properties that promote healing. Paper towels or napkins should be used for cleaning the pierced portion if in case it bleeds. Salt water solution is a very good option for healing the pierced anti-helix. B vitamins with Zinc promote healing.