Aftercare for a helix piercing is as simple as washing it twice a day with saline solution (or antibacterial soap, says Earnest). The hardest part of the process isn’t the washing, though; it’s making sure to do everything in your power to avoid irritating your piercing.
Also to know is, should I clean my cartilage piercing?
Cartilage is more involved than a simple skin piercing. … When healing it is important to clean the piercing once in the morning and once at night. The best way to do this is with a salt water soak. You will need a gallon of distilled water and a bottle of Non-iodized seal salt.
Consequently, can you over clean a cartilage piercing?
Method 2 of 3:
While it is healing, avoid handling your cartilage piercing for any reason other than cleaning it. Turning or twisting the jewelry could cause an infection. The piercing should only be touched with freshly washed hands. Make sure that your clothing and sheets are clean.
How long will cartilage piercing be sore?
How long does the pain last? It is normal for your ear to hurt immediately after getting a cartilage piercing, pain that commonly lasts for two weeks to a month. Be careful to not sleep on the side that was pierced: Doing so will cause healing complications and unnecessary discomfort.
How do I know if my cartilage piercing is healing correctly?
Signs that the piercing is fully healed include the site of the piercing being normal colored and not red, swollen, or tender; no clear or yellowish fluid draining; and no pain when the area is touched. The earliest a cartilage piercing heals for most people is 3 months.
How can I make my cartilage piercing heal faster?
USE WARM SEA SALT WATER (SALINE) SOAKS – MORNING AND EVENING
Soaking your piercing with a warm, mild sea salt water solution will not only feel good, it will also help prevent infection, reduce the risk of scarring, and speed the healing of your piercing.
Why is my cartilage piercing always crusty?
Crusting after body piercing is perfectly normal—this is just the result of your body trying to heal itself. 1? Dead blood cells and plasma make their way to the surface and then dry when exposed to air. While perfectly normal, these crusties do need to be cleaned carefully and thoroughly whenever you notice them.
How do you shower with a new cartilage piercing?
Can I take my cartilage piercing out to sleep?
You shouldn’t take out new piercings — even at night — because the holes can close up. If this happens, you’ll have to wait several more weeks for the skin to heal until you can get the area re-pierced. You’ll also want to avoid twisting and playing with the jewelry to reduce your risk of irritation and infection.
How do I get my cartilage piercing to stop hurting?
You can try heat/ice, or taking pain relievers like ibuprofen/aspirin. Make sure you’re rinsing it with salt water or washing it with antibacterial soap and warm water. Clean it at least two times a day. If it doesn’t start healing and getting better, contact the piercer who did it and/or contact a doctor.
Should I take my cartilage piercing out if it’s infected?
If a new piercing is infected, it is best not to remove the earring. Removing the piercing can allow the wound to close, trapping the infection within the skin. For this reason, it is advisable not to remove an earring from an infected ear unless advised by a doctor or professional piercer.
What to clean fresh piercings with?
Mild Liquid Soap
While sea salt soaks and/or saline rinses are the preferred aftercare for most piercings, soap effectively removes the residue of sweat, dirt, skin oils, cosmetics, cigarette smoke, and natural discharge that can sometimes remain after a salt water soak or saline rinse.
Why is my cartilage piercing not healing?
Cartilage piercings are apparently significantly slower to heal than earlobe piercings because there is no direct blood supply to deliver “healing nutrients.” For this my doctor prescribed two antibacterial treatments: mupirocin ointment (similar to Polysporin) and chlorhexidine rinse.
When should I stop cleaning my piercing?
We suggest cleaning no more than once a day. On average, most piercings will need to be cleaned over the next 3-4 months (unless otherwise stated by your piercer). It is vital that you do not over-clean the piercing. If it has been longer than four months, do not clean the piercing anymore.
