If you’re looking for an unusual and trendy piercing, the rook piercing may be right for you. Rook piercings go through theantihelix, the inner edge of the top ridge inside your ear. Since this is not a typical piercing, it’s important for you to bring photos and discuss exactly what you want with your piercer.
Piercings are not the kind of thing you want done in your buddy’s basement. If you care at all about your health, only get piercings done by a licensed, reputable piercer in a sterile environment. You will also want to ask your piercer if they are experienced with rook piercings. Everyone’s ears are different and some people do not have enough cartilage in this area to get a rook piercing. The piercing itself costs around$30 to $100, not including the jewelry. To prevent skin irritation and possible allergies, you will want to choose jewelry made from a high-quality metal like 14K gold or platinum.
Pain tolerance varies widely from person to person, but most people put this piercing midway on the pain scale. Any cartilage piercing will hurt more than piercing the fleshly earlobe. If you’re a complete wimp, you may want to stick to regular earrings. An experienced piercer can help talk you through the process and let you know what to expect. Because the cartilage of the ear receives very little blood flow, healing can take anywhere from two months to an entire year. It’s likely that your ear will be sore for several months, with the worst pain occurring in the first few weeks.
Your piercer should give you specific instructions for the aftercare of your piercing, which you should follow for best results. It’s important that you always wash your hands before handling or cleaning your piercing. Don’t use alcohol or peroxide on the piercing because it will dry your skin out. Use saline solution meant for the care of wounds to clean the area at least twice a day. Sea salt baths (warm, sterile water mixed with sea salt) can help remove dead skin and dirt and also help relieve swelling. Dry your ear with paper towels because cloth towels can contain bacteria.
Cartilage piercings carry a risk of infection. It’s normal for the area to be red and swollen at first, but if your symptoms get worse or last longer than a week, your piercing may be infected. Other signs of infection include yellow or green pus coming from the piercing and increasing pain. You need to see a doctor if you experience fever, chills, nausea or vomiting, or if you notice red streaks coming from the piercing. These are signs of a serious infection that may require antibiotics.
Rook piercings are cool and stylish, but no piercing should be a spur of the moment decision. It’s important to do your research first. If you’re prepared to endure the pain and commit to the proper care, this piercing can be an awesome addition to your look.