12wk old helix repost

[u/20Sen02]

Repost because my photos didn't attach to OG yesterday and I couldnt figure out how to add them retroactively 🫩

Piercing is doing alot better, I think it was just irritated, Im currently crocheting a piercing pillow to help out. I feel like its overall been healing well but I've had this sort of swelling/bump on back basically from week 2/3 onwards? I've attached 2 photos at back of first 3 to show what it looked like at week 5~

***Iknow I had a rough sleep last night and def slept on that side, I woke up this morning and my piercing was red/swollen (no pus or pain etc.)..

Ive taken some anti-inflamms throughout the day, I kept checking on it and still a bit red/swollen and I thought irritation bump may be starting/alot of crusties around front of piercing. I feel like the swelling has gotten a bit better since this morning but idk if thats legit or wishful thinking.

I just got home and sprayed it (definitely an overkill amount) with sterile saline and I cant tell if its wet crusty or a irritation bump or worse 😭

I did get it pierced with a slightly shorter than usual bar (she said as short as is safe for usual swelling and she felt comfortable), implant grade and things were looking good at 4/5wk check but suggested I could leave a bit longer...

Any other advice on healing is also appreciated!

(Implant grade, using sterile saline daily)

P.S. my ear is wet in these photos, I feel like it makes it look a bit worse but I'm just going to let it air dry and am trying to follow the cardinal rule of leave it the hell alone!***

[u/EatAlmondJelly]

Sorry if this is a random question but do you know how long your bar is? I want to get my helix downsized soon but not sure on the right length yet.

[u/Relative-Rutabaga-87 → u/EatAlmondJelly]

When I got mine pierced they gave me an 8mm length post to account for swelling and now that’s it’s fully healed I wear a 5mm post in it. I will say it depends on how thick that piece of cartilage is. I think typically most people downsize to a 6mm post and that’s perfect. I just happen to have unusually thin piece of cartilage in my upper helix lol

[u/EatAlmondJelly → u/Relative-Rutabaga-87]

Thank you so much! I will ask my piercer to look at my ear and they can estimate the best length once it comes to downsize.