Last Updated on December 29, 2023
Cartilage piercing is one of the most popular choices of piercing.
Over the last several years, cartilage piercings have become increasingly trendy.
They are worth all the hype due to their adaptability since the cartilage in your ears gives you a lot of room to play with.
However, the length of time it takes to change a cartilage piercing is what most people are turned off by.
They heal from the outside in, thus it may appear to be healed on the exterior before the healing process is finished.
Read on to get answers to the following questions:
- When can I change my cartilage piercing?
- Why does cartilage piercing take more time to heal?
- How do I care for my cartilage piercing?
When Can I Change My Cartilage Piercing?
Before replacing a cartilage piercing, I suggest that you wait 4 to 6 months. Your body will have to work harder to mend the new hole because the jewelry cuts through cartilage rather than soft tissue.
The skin heals these piercings from the inside out. As a result, you may believe your piercing is healed before it actually is.
However, if you want to keep track of how your piercing is healing, here are a few signs:
- When you touch your piercing, it will not hurt.
- There are no visible signs of swelling or redness.
- The piercing site produced no fluid excretion.
- There are no crusts forming.
- You’ll be able to move your piercing around freely.
A cartilage piercing can be easily replaced, but make sure it is completely healed before doing so. It is essential to use extreme caution when changing it. If the piercing is a stud, remove the backing or gently split the flexible metal ring to slip it out. Then replace the old one with the new one in the same manner.
Why Does Cartilage Piercing Take More Time To Heal?
Cartilage is a form of connective tissue that, unfortunately, does not have a lot of blood supply.
The significance of blood in the healing process is crucial. In addition, the lack of or reduced blood flow in the cartilage causes a lengthier healing period.
As a result, a cartilage piercing typically takes 6 months to recover from.
It is pointless to change a cartilage piercing until it’s completely healed.
If you alter your cartilage piercing too soon, the healing process will be slowed. Infections, rashes, discomfort, and swelling are all possible side effects.
The piercing may close immediately after you remove the first piece of jewelry. This leaves you with insufficient space to insert another.
If you have a legitimate reason to alter your cartilage piercing before the stipulated period, the best thing you can do is go to your piercer and ask them to do it for you.
How Do I Care For My Cartilage Piercing?
Carefully wash your hands. Before touching a cartilage piercing, wash your hands well with antibacterial soap.
By touching the punctured region, germs or other infections might enter the body. Soak your piercing in water.
In an egg cup of warm water, dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt. In the water, submerge the pierced area of your ear. After 2-3 minutes of soaking, remove it.
Carefully remove any loosened accumulation. Remove any discharge that has loosened around the piercing with a clean cloth.
To remove the debris, dampen a piece of cloth and gently dab it. If the crusted formation is stubborn to remove, leave it alone and avoid using force. When cleaning your cartilage piercing, never use cotton balls since they might leave lint behind.
They may also become entangled in the piercing, causing harm to your ear.
It is not a good idea to experiment with the piercing. Avoid touching your cartilage piercing for any reason other than cleaning it while it heals. An infection might be spread by turning or twisting the jewelry.
Only clean hands should be used to touch the piercing. The punctured area should be dried. Using a paper towel, gently wipe the pierced area dry. Avoid sharing a towel, since this might transfer bacteria and lead to infection.
Avoid rubbing the piercing while it heals, as this may irritate it.
Avoid using strong chemicals on the piercing site. Alcohol or peroxide should not be used on your piercing. They are highly drying and can harm your skin.
Antibacterial soaps and moisturizing bar soaps can leave a residue on the skin that might lead to infection or take longer to cure.
