Why Hot Compress and not Ice?

Moist heat is useful in soothing new or damaged/healing piercings in that they allow the blood vessels to dilate and draw fluid back into the circulatory system. This allows excess fluid which can accumulate in the area of new or healing piercings, especially following damage, to loosen and cease pressure that causes pain and swelling. Especially for use with hard tissue piercings, like helix or other ear cartilage sites, that don’t have much extra room for a build up of these fluids. And the compress doesn’t need to directly contact the piercing - it’s better to just cover the entire area by resting it on the entire ear instead of trying to wrap it around the ear, as en example.

Now to talk about ice, ice, baby… 😅

Ice and cold compress can feel like they’re helping a piercing to feel better right away, but the reality is that cold will constrict the blood vessels and can trap excess fluids instead of drawing them back into the circulatory system. I always think of it this way: when you’re cold, what do you do? 🥶 We pull our arms and legs inward to conserve heat, right?! Your blood vessels do the exact same thing!

It often helps to consider the vast differences between cold-plunge and the sauna when working with piercings. Bottom line is that steamy-goodness is the effective choice when trying to assist a new or irritated piercing to feel better faster and for the longer term.