Spiral Piercing
A Few Facts Regarding Spiral Piercing
Spiral piercing is just one form of ear or body piercing that is becoming more and more popular. As the name would imply, multiple piercing is involved, and the relative position of each piercing must be exact to accommodate the spiral shaped jewelry to be inserted. While spiral piercing can be done almost anywhere on the body, piercing of the ears and lips generally makes the most sense, as the spiral jewelry can make a nice snug fit in either of those locations.
Spiral piercing is not really any less safe than a conventional single piercing. One could argue that since there are more holes made, there is a correspondingly greater chance of infection. While there may be an element of truth here, it doesn't necessarily follow that multiple piercing is more likely to cause a problem than a single piercing might. It all boils down to using sterile equipment, and protecting the pierced locations during the healing process, which can be quite lengthy.
There are some precautions worth noting however, including the fact the spiral piercing, or any form of piercing should not be done on individuals having specific health issues. The main precautions however have more to do with cleanliness and personal hygiene, and the avoidance of any infection, which could become quite serious. For the most part, piercing is completely safe when done by a skilled person, and the main risk is often criticism or ostracism by people who don't like the idea in the first place.
Ears And Spirals Go Together - Most spiral piercing will be found on the ear, as the ear's shape lends itself to spiral or helical-shaped jewelry. Two of the more popular piercing styles are called the helix and double helix piercing. As mentioned before, the location of each piercing must be exact as the jewelry must ten be screwed through the holes. There is no set number involved, but two or three holes in each ear are probably the most common. Once piercing has been completed, there's a healing process one must endure, and for the ear, this can last for several months. For other parts of the body, the healing time is usually significantly less, one month for lip piecing for example. The jewelry to be worn may or may not be inserted following piercing, though something must be placed in the holes or they will rapidly close. Often stainless steel "earrings" of a simple design are placed in the holes for several months to enable healing, after which the piece of jewelry, usually slightly smaller in diameter, will replace the temporary earrings or studs.
What Can Happen - There are two areas of concern regarding spiral piercing of the ear. One is cartilage damage, and the other is infection. The cartilage may be damaged by the piercing itself, or an infection can become trapped between areas of cartilage, and literally destroy the structure of an ear in a matter of days. This is commonly referred to as ear collapse. Infections that can occur may not necessarily affect the cartilage, but can spread, causing other problems, ranging from hearing loss to a condition known as Bell's Palsy. In this case, the facial nerves become infected, affecting various the facial muscles. In extreme situations people so affected may require rehabilitation of facial muscles, but this is rather rare. Most people recover quickly, but a physician should still be contacted at the first sign of any infection.
Soap And Water - Prevention involves keeping the area clean and avoiding as much as possible the presence of harmful bacteria in the area. Antibacterial soap is best and should be used on a daily basis. Avoid any alcohol-based substances as, though acting as an antibacterial agent, alcohol inhibits the healing process at the same time. Vitamin C taken regularly will help the healing process along.
For Most, But Not Everyone - Diabetics, hemophiliacs, and those having auto-immune disorders, should probably avoid piercing altogether, and it is usually not a good idea to have piercing done on any part of the body where a skin disorder is present. For a time it was believed that heart patients should not undergo piercing, but there has not been any evidence or documentation to substantiate that belief. Piercing, including of course spiral piercing, is generally quite safe for the vast majority of the population.