On this page
A helix piercing hurts more than an earlobe piercing, but it is one of the milder cartilage piercings. The Cleveland Clinic describes ear piercing as typically a quick pinch followed by some throbbing.
What the sources say
| Source | Helix or ear cartilage |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic | Cartilage piercings tend to be more painful than earlobes, which hurt the least. Typically a quick pinch, followed by some throbbing |
| WebMD | A well-done cartilage piercing will be slightly sore to the touch at first |
| Healthline (ranking) | Standard ear piercings sit among the less painful. Daith, rook and conch are the more painful variants because of thicker cartilage |
| This site | Helix 4 out of 10 |
How it compares
Our scale runs from 1 to 10, where 1 is a firm pinch you would barely register and 10 is the most painful thing you have experienced. It is applied to every placement, but it is an average and not a promise. See the pain chart.
| Piercing | Pain |
|---|---|
| Earlobe | 2/10 |
| Helix | 4/10 |
| Double helix | 4/10 |
| Forward helix | 5/10 |
| Conch | 5/10 |
| Daith | 5/10 |
| Rook | 6/10 |
| Industrial | 7/10 |
The pages we read give no scores for individual placements, so the differences between cartilage piercings are our editorial estimates. Does ear piercing hurt covers every ear placement.
Needle or gun
The Cleveland Clinic says it is often said that piercing needles may hurt less than piercing guns, and quotes a physician who recommends needles for piercing children because guns are not always sterilised between uses. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) says a reputable professional will not use a gun for any piercing. Piercing gun vs needle covers the difference, and how to choose a piercer has the checklist.
Afterwards
The Cleveland Clinic describes some throbbing after the piercing, and WebMD says it will be slightly sore to the touch at first. Tenderness can last through healing. The Cleveland Clinic gives six to twelve months for a helix to heal, WebMD says four to twelve months for cartilage piercings, and our guide gives 24 to 52 weeks. Helix piercing healing time explains the stages.
The APP says sleeping directly on a healing cartilage piercing can cause irritation and even shift its angle. Piercing pillow explains the APP’s suggestion.
If the pain does not settle
The APP says to see a doctor if you have severe redness, swelling or pain, or if symptoms last for a week or get worse. Leave the jewelry in unless a doctor says otherwise. Irritated or infected piercing has a symptom table, and cartilage piercing bumps covers lumps.
Related
How much a helix piercing costs covers the price.
Not medical advice
This page is educational. If a piercing is hot, has spreading redness, thick coloured discharge or red streaks, or you feel unwell, see a doctor the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Does a helix piercing hurt?
A little, and briefly. The Cleveland Clinic describes ear piercing as typically feeling like a quick pinch followed by some throbbing, with cartilage piercings tending to be more painful than earlobes. WebMD says a well-done cartilage piercing will be slightly sore to the touch at first. On our scale a helix is 4 out of 10.
Does a helix hurt more than a lobe?
Yes. The Cleveland Clinic says earlobes are fatty tissue with few nerves and hurt the least, and that cartilage piercings tend to be more painful. On our scale a helix is 4 out of 10 and a lobe is 2.
Does a helix hurt more than a conch, daith or rook?
Less, on our scale: a helix is 4, a conch and daith are 5 and a rook is 6. Healthline's article on the most to least painful piercings lists daith, rook and conch as the more painful ear variants, because of thicker cartilage, and treats standard ear piercings as among the less painful.
How long is a helix piercing sore?
The Cleveland Clinic describes some throbbing after an ear piercing, and WebMD says it will be slightly sore to the touch at first. Tenderness can last through healing. The APP says to see a doctor if you have severe redness, swelling or pain, or if symptoms last for a week or get worse.
How long does a helix take to heal?
The Cleveland Clinic gives six to twelve months for a helix, and WebMD says cartilage piercings may take anywhere from four to twelve months. Our guide gives 24 to 52 weeks. The APP warns that a piercing may seem healed before the healing process is actually complete.
Does a needle hurt less than a piercing gun?
The Cleveland Clinic says it is often said that piercing needles may hurt less than piercing guns, and quotes a physician who recommends needles for piercing children. The APP says a reputable professional will not use a gun for any piercing.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic - Ear piercing 101: healing, hurting, cleaning and morehttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced
- WebMD - What are cartilage piercings?https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/what-to-know-cartilage-piercings
- Healthline - Most painful piercings to least painfulhttps://www.healthline.com/health/most-painful-piercings
- Association of Professional Piercers - Troubleshootinghttps://safepiercing.org/troubleshooting/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Picking your piercerhttps://safepiercing.org/picking-your-piercer/
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.