Last weekend, I decided to get my cartilage pierced. I had wanted it done for a while because I thought it was really cute, and I knew friends who had gotten it done. I had heard vaguely about higher chances of infection in your cartilage piercing, but hadn't done much research about it. Needless to say my piercing got infected, I ended up on antibiotics, I had to have my ear drained and I ended up having to have the piercing taken out in the end. So, here are 11 tips when getting your cartilage pierced so you know what you're getting into, and you don't end up with the same results I did.
1. It hurts a lot.
The rumors you've heard about a cartilage ear piercing being more painful than your standard ear piercing are very, very true. It's going to hurt when you get it done and later that night as you try to sleep. You'll feel it for sure when you roll over on it.
2. Ear piercing guns are a no go.
Once I started having problems with my piercing, I started looking up information about the whole thing. I discovered that you should absolutely not use an ear piercing gun on cartilage piercing because it can cause deformation of the cartilage. The earring used with the gun also does not leave room for you to clean your ears properly. It is recommended you always go somewhere that uses a sterile needle.
3. Go to an expert.
As with anything, it is best to go to a professional. I'm not going to point fingers at who did mine, but after reading up on it, it's best to go to a professional body piercer. But, if you want to take it a step further, many doctor's offices will also pierce your ears so you can be sure the equipment is sterile.
4. Keep it clean, but not too clean.
In order to keep your ears clean, you should use isopropyl alcohol or a sea salt solution to clean your ears with a cotton swab while twisting the earring. This should be done twice a day and no more. If you continually mess with your earring (like me) you can irritate the piercing site and be more likely to spread infection.
5. Stop touching it.
I cannot stress enough how much you need to avoid touching your ear piercing. If you have not just washed your hand, then do not touch it. I had a bad habit of wanting to mess with mine, which is most likely the reason it got infected.
6. Things to avoid.
Yes, pools are a big part of the summer and a ton of fun, but they are not good for a new piercing. Pools, lakes, oceans, or any body of water can be a great site for bacteria to get into your new piercing. Other things to avoid doing are sleeping on your new piercing and keeping your hair down. It's best to keep your hair out of your face and try to avoid getting hair products such as shampoo or gel on your newly pierced ear.
7. Know the risks.
You should know that a cartilage piercing carries a lot higher chance of infection and permanent ear scaring or cartilage deformation. If you notice persistent swelling, redness, or oozing after 24 hours, you need to contact your professional body piercer or a doctor. You do not want permanent damage done to your ear.
8. It's best not to take it out.
Even if you're experiencing an infection, it is best not to take the piercing out. If you take it out then the puss from the infection will not have a place to drain. This could create an abscess or knot at the piercing site. However, your body could be having an allergic reaction to the earring, so ultimately consult a professional.
9. Listen to the professionals.
While it is best not to take it out, you should ultimately listen to a professional. My physician told me to take mine out and I did. However, the next day he had to make a small incision in my ear to drain the puss. He also prescribed antibiotics and an antibiotic ointment, and, thankfully, my ear is healing up nicely.
Overall, know what you're getting into when you get your cartilage pierced and be aware of the risks. It's super cute and seems like a great idea until something goes wrong. So be safe and don't end up like me in the doctor's office with a cut in your ear that won't stop bleeding, a ton of swelling, a lot of pain and wasted money with no ear cartilage piercing in the end.
