Cartilage piercings have always been popular because of cool and chic they look. In case you’re not entirely sure what a cartilage piercing is here’s everything you need to should know.

Cartilage areas are found around the ear and in the nose; the actual cartilage feels harder than skin but softer than bones. Many people opt for cartilage piercings because of how unique they are.

Ear cartilage piercings

Since ear piercings are so common, we’ve come up with a quick guide which includes the most popular types of ear cartilage piercings.

Helix piercings

The area of a helix piercing is located on the upper area of the ear. You can choose to get a double helix or triple helix piercing if you’re someone who’s brave.

Daith piercing

A daith piercing goes right through the inner middle cartilage of the ear. If you’re thinking of getting this area pierced then it’s best to choose a straight hollow needle.

Tragus piercing

To easily describe where the tragus is, it’s the area where your ear meets your face. The piece of skin that’s located near your ear canal. The best part of getting a piercing here is that its one of the less painful areas.

Snug Piercing

This piercing is located on the inner part of the ear towards the edge and is quite painful. You can choose how high or low you would want it to be, depending on your preference.

Industrial Piercing

An industrial piercing goes through one end of the ear and comes out the other. A straight barbell is inserted into the ears cartilage and this usually requires areas of the cartilage to be pierced.

Nose cartilage piercings

Compared to ear piercings, getting a nose piercing is slightly more limited. There is two area on the nose that has cartilage which can be pierced.

Nose tip/ Rhino piercing

This piercing is literally on the tip of the nose and the needle goes through the nostrils right to the tip of the nose.

 

Septum nose piercing

The septum is the piece of skin that separates the nostrils. When getting a septum piercing a needle is inserted through the cartilage. This specific piercing has become very trendy and is less painful than you think.

Is it painful to get a cartilage piercing?

If you’re comparing between a regular piercing and a cartilage piercing, then yes it’s definitely more painful. This is because the tissues in the cartilage areas are way more sensitive. You will feel an instant pain as soon as the needle goes through the skin.

Many people have also gone as far as to say that cartilage piercings are quite uncomfortable at first and require some getting used to.

The procedure of a cartilage piercing

This piercing is done just like any other piercing, however, your piercer might not recommend it to you if you have a low threshold to pain.

What happens before getting the piercing?

The area of choice in disinfected with an anti-bacterial product to ensure that there is no dirt or germs on the skin. This step is probably one of the most important steps to take before getting any piercing. It helps a great deal to protect and prevent the area from developing any infections and further inflammation.

What’s next?

Once the area is clean and free from any bacteria the piercer will take the jewelry of your choice and leave it to be inserted in the skin. Next, a piercing gun is applied to your area of choice and the needle is quickly drawn into the skin. After this, your chosen piece of jewelry is inserted in your cartilage piercing.

How long does it take to heal?

The healing process might not be as fast as you’d like. According to the experts, healing can take anywhere from 3 months to 12 months.  Certain piercings (such as a helix piercing) can take a long time to heal.

Cartilage piercings usually heal on the outside first, and then later gets healed on the inside. Ideally speaking you will have to take care of your piercing so that it does not get infected. Clean your piercing daily during the healing period with warm water or a saline solution. Don’t remove your jewelry from the piercing; this could cause a lot more damage than you can think of. Only remove or change jewelry once the piercing has fully healed.