Cartilage piercings are some of the most common types of ear piercings besides the basic ear lobe piercing. They offer a lot more variety and a more unique look when compared to ear lobe piercings. If you’re interested in getting a cartilage piercing, here’s everything you should know about it.
What Exactly Is It?
Your outer ear is made up of a softer, fleshy part which is basically the ear lobe. The rest of the ear mostly contains a significant amount of cartilage. Cartilage is the connective tissue that is harder than flesh but not as hard as bones. Therefore, as the name suggests, ear cartilage piercing is done by puncturing the cartilage part of your ear.
There is a variety of different types of cartilage piercings depending on the placement. Here’s a list of some of the common ones:
- Helix Piercing
The helix is the outer rim making up the auricle of your ear. You can get the upper or lower part of the helix pierced based on your preferences. You can even get a series of piercings done throughout the helix.
- Anti-Helix Piercing
Anti-helix is the raised part of cartilage curved inside of the outer rim. Most people go for one or two piercings in this area.
- Forward Helix Piercing
This is done where the upper part of the ear rim meets your face. It’s common for people to get three forward helix piercings done in a line going up the ear.
- Tragus Piercing
The tragus is the small flap of cartilage placed right in front of your ear canal. It’s a bit thicker and ideal for piercings.
- Industrial Piercing
An industrial piercing is a long bar that goes through the top of the ear. This piercing can be vertical or horizontal.
- Daith Piercing
This piercing passes through the ear’s innermost cartilage fold called the crux of the helix. People usually like to wear a single small ring or stud in this area.
Do Cartilage Piercings Hurt?
Yes, it’s going to hurt a bit for the first few days but the amount of pain you feel will depend on your pain tolerance and the number of piercings you get done. Choosing a certified professional and picking a safe metal will increase the likelihood of your piercing healing well in a short amount of time.
Cartilage Piercing Aftercare
Cartilage piercings can take a while to heal depending on the placement of the piercing. The healing process can be anywhere from 3 to 6 months.
During this time, you have to maintain good hygiene and clean the piercing at least once a day with salt water wipes. This will help keep cartilage piercing infection at bay. You should also avoid touching it unnecessarily or removing the jewelry. When sleeping, make sure you don’t roll over the piercing.
Practicing overall healthy habits, such as eating well and drinking plenty of water, can result in an easier and faster healing process for your cartilage piercing.
