Cartilage piercing is a special type of body modification that looks beautiful and sophisticated when combined with small and neat jewelry. It heals much longer than other types of piercing. Most often it is done in the area of the outer ear – “Industrial”, “Helix” or tragus – “Tragus”.
In the article “What you need to know about cartilage piercing” we will tell you about this amazing and popular type of piercing.
What is a cartilage piercing?
Cartilage piercing is a through puncture performed through two layers of skin, in the middle of which is cartilage tissue. Any piercing on the hard part of the ears or nose is a cartilage piercing.
Cartilage piercing heals longer than for example; soft tissue piercing of the earlobes or eyebrows. It will take 4 to 10 months for the cartilage piercing to heal completely, and the body will need more strength to heal the puncture.
Absolutely all punctures heal from the superficial part of the skin inwards. This means that if your piercing has a healed appearance on the surface (there is no redness and discharge no longer accumulates so much on the surface), then you may feel like your piercing after a short time. In fact, inside the puncture itself, the healing process will still go on.
What are the conditions for piercing today?
If you decide to get a cartilage piercing, make sure you get it done by a qualified piercer who knows firsthand about cartilage piercing and has a lot of experience.
Piercing can be done in a salon or in a studio. It can be either a separate equipped office, or a huge room delimited by zones. You should not do such a procedure in an apartment or in other unsanitary conditions.
The room must be clean and spacious. Mandatory presence: first-aid kit, disinfectants, sterilizer, antiseptics. Comfortable couch. Moderately bright light. Nice selection of quality jewelry. Disposable sterile needles. Professional – sterile instrument for piercing. Availability of consumables (sheets, caps, dressings and hygiene products). Neat, experienced and constantly practicing master.
- Professionals know how to disinfect and sterilize their equipment. Correctly perform a puncture that will heal quickly and painlessly.
How to choose a master?
The piercer must provide a clean environment and use sterile piercing instruments. Also, he must have a lot of experience in this and constantly practice.
Piercing is always done in new disposable gloves. A sterile instrument is used only once per client before its subsequent sterilization or disposal. The needles are sterile and always disposable!!!
- If you are sure that your piercing master is not safe for you and your health, then it is better to contact another specialist.
Suitable metals for jewelry
Unsuitable piercing jewelry can oxidize and cause allergies. This can lead to infection of the puncture site, rejection of the jewelry, and other serious problems. Therefore, any decoration should always correspond to the level of a medical implant. These metals include:
- Surgical Steel: Most piercing jewelry is made from surgical steel, as it is considered the most durable and sought after. But if you are allergic to nickel, then this jewelry material is not your choice.
- Titanium: This is the best choice of jewelry material for the first and subsequent piercings. This metal does not contain nickel and is many times better and lighter than surgical steel. It is comparable only to niobium.
- Gold: Precious metals such as gold or platinum are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. But not everyone can afford them, and if you buy jewelry not in special stores or salons, then most likely they will not suit you in terms of length, thickness or shape. Beware of silver jewelry as it can oxidize and irritate and inflame the piercing leading to infection and migration of the piercing.
- Bioplastic: Bioplastic jewelry is anatomically correct, taking its position in the puncture. They are almost imperceptible, bend well and are very light. Bioplastic can be transparent, white, black or other colors.
Piercing procedure
A cartilage piercing is a relatively quick procedure. Puncture together with the installation of jewelry will take about 1-2 minutes. It will take from 25 to 30 minutes to prepare the procedure, along with the choice of jewelry. If you want to make a puncture using an anesthetic cream or gel, then it may take additional time for their absorption (from 30 to 60 minutes).
- The piercer will clean the pierced area with a disinfectant solution.
- Anatomically correct, put an end to the type of piercing you choose
- Then, using a sterile needle, a puncture will be made and the jewelry will be placed.
- The decoration is fixed in the puncture with a wrap or top (upper decorative part)
- After that, it’s best to stay in the chair for a few more minutes to make sure you don’t feel dizzy.
- The master will once again process the puncture area
- Take a photo (with your permission) for a portfolio
- You will be given instructions – a recommendation for the care of the piercing.
Symptoms and sensations after a puncture
All you need to know about a fresh cartilage piercing is that the piercing will be a little painful to the touch. It may itch a little. A small discharge will come out of the puncture in the form of a clear or white-yellow liquid, which will cover your puncture and parts of the jewelry with a crust. You may also notice some bleeding, bruising, or redness around the piercing. This is normal and will go away as the piercing heals.
Like any type of piercing, cartilage piercings require proper care. Otherwise, it can cause health problems, as piercings are technically a wound. Moderately correct and proper wound care will help your puncture heal without complications.
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How to properly handle a piercing
As soon as you return home after your procedure, it is your responsibility to start caring for your piercing right away.
Clean the puncture area with a water-based disinfectant solution without removing the jewelry. Regularly cleaning your piercing helps prevent germs from entering it. Gently clean the area around the piercing with a mild antiseptic soap and warm water or water-based antiseptic. Brush at least twice a day for best results, but not too often.
Use a saline solution: Dissolve 1 teaspoon of table salt in a cup of hot enough water to make a saline solution. You can soak your cartilage piercing in a warm saline solution several times a day. This will soften any hardened crust and clean the puncture area. Or use Miramistin or Octenisept.
Do not touch your jewelry with dirty hands. Sleep on clean bedding and wear clean clothes. Don’t play with decoration. Clothing should be loose and not constrict the puncture site. Be careful with the decoration so that it does not catch on the elements of clothing.
Common problems with piercings
- Contrary to popular belief that the jewelry needs to be scrolled or moved from side to side for the healing period in order to heal better, it is better not to do this. Our grandmothers had this approach and only when piercing the earlobes. If you constantly move the jewelry, you can damage the thin walls of the emerging channel, and the healing process will be constantly disrupted and launched alive. As a result, granulomas are formed and there is a risk of infection.
- Don’t sleep on the side of the piercing it was placed on. Use clean bedding (you can put a clean T-shirt on the pillow at night and change it to a new one after sleep). Also, do not use cosmetics in the fresh puncture area.
- In time, change the jewelry to a shorter one – “downsize” (decreasing the size of the jewelry). This will reduce the risk of developing piercing migration and promote faster healing.
Additional possible risks and consequences of piercing
Keloid scars
Regardless of whether your cartilage piercing has been infected or damaged, you can develop a keloid around the piercing area. Keloids are a type of raised scar tissue that looks like a bulge around the opening.
Some keloids can be caused by infection or trauma. Others are simply formed due to the predisposition of your body. Keloid is not dangerous, but some people don’t like the way it looks. If you got a keloid from one cartilage piercing, you are more likely to get it from additional piercings.
Currently, keloids can be treated in the early stages of their formation. There are special discs worn on jewelry, which in most unopened cases are completely removed or reduce the relief of keloids.
Granulomas
Granuloma – a small seal in the form of a bump, with a diameter of 3 mm. Granulomas most often form during piercings of the navel, ear, nose or lips, near the entrance or exit of the jewelry rod into the piercing itself. The reason for their appearance is; high humidity, lack of air access, hormonal failure, piercing injury and poor hygiene. Granulomas are treated with preparations based on a cream or ointment (including hormonal ones), baths for rinsing the puncture site or compresses. All this is applicable after consultation with your master or doctor.
Infection
Unfortunately, not every piercing is done right these days. Your puncture can become infected if it is not done properly or without the use of a professional, sterile instrument and proper jewelry.
Do not forget about the time required for complete healing of your puncture. Since during this period you yourself can easily damage your fresh puncture and / or infect it.
An infected piercing is painful and may produce a thick or smelly discharge that is gray, yellow, or green. The puncture site may be hot to the touch. It may also turn bright red or pink. advanced infections can even cause fever, chills, and nausea. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
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