What Are Cartilage Piercings?

Cartilage piercings are holes placed through the firmer, bend-resistant parts of your nose or ear (think the stiff upper ear, helix, tragus). They look great, but they’re a different beast than soft-tissue piercings. Ear cartilage piercing healing time is longer—usually 4 to 12 months—because cartilage has less blood flow. It heals from the outside in, so a piercing can look calm on the surface while the inside is still knitting together.

Impact of Cartilage Piercings on Your Health

Every piercing is a controlled wound, so cartilage piercing aftercare matters. Early on you might see mild soreness, a little redness or bruising, and clear to whitish crust on the jewelry—that’s normal healing debris, not pus.

Red flags for a cartilage piercing infection include:

• Throbbing pain that’s getting worse, not better
• Hot, angry redness with spreading warmth
• Thick gray/yellow/green discharge with a smell
• Fever, chills, or nausea

If that’s you, call a clinician—don’t try to “power through.”

Cartilage piercing bump (keloid or hypertrophic scar)

Even with good care, some folks develop a raised bump around the hole. Sometimes it follows irritation or infection; sometimes it’s just how your skin heals. If you’ve had one before, you’re more likely to see another with new piercings.

What to Expect From a Cartilage Piercing

Pick a pro. Go to a licensed studio that uses a single-use, sterile hollow needle (most pros avoid guns on cartilage due to shattering risk). The artist should glove up, open sterile packs in front of you, and sanitize the area. The actual poke takes minutes; they’ll mark the spot, pierce, place jewelry, and make sure you’re not lightheaded.

Right after. A little bleeding and sting is normal. Over the next days you may notice itchiness and that clear/yellowish crust on the jewelry. That’s part of healing.

How to Clean a Cartilage Piercing

Here’s how to clean a cartilage piercing without ticking it off:

• Hands first. Wash with soap and water before you touch anything.
• Saline only. Twice daily, use sterile 0.9% saline (wound-wash saline spray or a sterile saline vial). Saturate the area, then let it air-dry or gently pat with clean gauze.
• No harsh stuff. Skip alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel, or ointments—they can delay healing.
• Don’t twist/turn. Old myth. Twisting breaks forming tissue and can invite bacteria.
• Keep pressure off. Avoid sleeping on that side, tight headphones, helmets, or hats that squeeze the jewelry. Swap to a clean pillowcase often.
• Hair & products. Keep hair, sprays, and makeup off the site. Rinse gently after showers to clear shampoo/conditioner residue.
• Water rules. Hold off on pools, hot tubs, lakes, and ocean dips early on; they can raise infection risk.
• Leave it in. Don’t remove jewelry until a pro says you’re fully healed—taking it out early can trap infection or let the hole close.

How to Clean a Cartilage Piercing

Once you’re home, cartilage piercing aftercare is on you. Keep it simple and consistent—germs hate routine:

• Wash your hands first. Every single time.
• If you’re wondering how to clean a cartilage piercing, use sterile saline solution (look for saline wound wash made for wound care) or a fragrance-free antimicrobial soap. Clean once or twice a day—not more.
• If you used soap, rinse the area well so nothing’s left sitting on the skin.
• Dry gently with a clean disposable paper towel or tissue. Skip cloth towels—they can carry bacteria and snag on jewelry.

How to Help Your Cartilage Piercing Heal

• Hands off the jewelry. Touching with unwashed hands is the fastest way to kick off a cartilage piercing infection. Only touch during cleaning.
• Dodge contaminants. Keep your ear cartilage piercing away from saliva, makeup, lotions, hairspray, and powders. Hold off on pools, hot tubs, lakes, and rivers—showers beat baths while you’re healing. Skip antibacterial ointments; they block air and slow things down. Keep phones, headphones, hats, and beanies clean if they’re anywhere near the piercing.
• Hair care without chaos. Be mindful when washing, drying, and styling. Tell your barber or stylist you’ve got a fresh piercing so they don’t tug or spray over it.
• Sleep smart. Don’t sleep on the new piercing. Slide your pillow into a clean T-shirt before bed, rotate to a fresh surface nightly, and swap shirts once you’ve used every side.