Cartilage Piercing: Everything You Need To Know Before You Get (2021)

Of all the body modifications and piercings, cartilage piercing is one of the many popularly modifications most individuals choose. It has been there for ages and done right; piercing can change one’s appearance. Jewelry of different designs and appeal are also used piercings to make it more unique. However, it is best for newcomers to learn more about this body modification before opting for one. And if you are serious about this kind cartilage piercing and want to have one, this post will help provide answers to any questions you may have about these piercings.

Why People Go for Cartilage Piercing

Certain things can push someone to make up their minds to go ahead with the piercings even with the understanding that there might be cartilage piercing bump bleeding as a result. It might not happen in most cases and depends wholly on the individual or professional handling the piercing.

People get piercings on different parts of their body. But while some are quite simple, some are very extreme and scary. There is no doubt that piercings can appear lovely and inspiring when done right. And the choice of where to pierce depends on the lifestyle and preference of the individual in question. So here are the reasons people pierce their cartilages.

• Love how it looks on others

Some people fell in love with the piercings they see on others and got interested. These set of people do not think about if there could be any pain or discomfort for a while because their minds are clouded by how to beautiful the piercings will be on them.

Piercing can change an individual’s appearance. And it looks adorable when the right jewelry is used. It has been part and parcel of the mainstream since the 1990s. And an increased number of individuals, especially the young adults getting their cartilages and other areas pierced on a daily basis.

• Spiritual or poetic reasons

Piercings can be for spiritual or poetic reasons. We all have our different believes and religion. And sometimes act according to our religious obligations. Some tribes view piercing as a regular thing in their culture. It is cultural and might signify something of great importance to them.

• In memory of a significant event or activity

Piercings might have more meaning to some people than a mere modification to enhance looks. The scare or jewelry placed on the pierced spot might signify something more significant for the individual. That said some people get piercings to mark the date of a significant event that took place in their lives. It could be something that was tragic or a happy moment for them.

• Self-expression

Some people go for piercings to make a statement. They might want others to know that they are courageous or want to stand out. They have passed through the cartilage piercing pain, and so can boldly withstand anything life throws at them.

The self-expression could be about their creativity. Individuals in the creative industry or entertainment industry go for different piercing designs to show how creative they are.

• To look a bit unique and different from others

Of a truth, most piercings look more appealing than others. It has to do with the part of the body you have them on or the kind of jewelry placed on the pierced spot. Most individuals go for jewelry that has the color they like. Some also choose jewelry that blends with the color of their dress so that they can look more appealing and unique.

However, the primary reason people choose cartilage piercing is to enhance their looks. But there are other reasons as we have stated clearly.   

The types of cartilage piercings you can get

The cartilage is the part of the body that is softer than the bones. But it is a bit harder than the flesh. So it should not be confused with it. And the two areas you can have pierced are the ear and nose.

The Ear cartilage piercing

The ear has a significant amount of cartilage. You will discover that the soft lower part of your ear is the part that doesn’t have cartilage. It is just fleshy and tender. However, here are the areas to get ear cartilage the ear piercings.

Helix

Helix is on the ear’s outer rim. It is that curve of your outer ear known as the auricle. Depending on personal preference, you can pierce either the lower or higher part of your helix.

Helix piercing is so popularly requested and well-known by people who do ear piercings. Many even refer to it as cartilage piercing. Industrial piercing involves two helix piercing that are connected with a hardware usually called a bar.

People who don’t like to show off that they have their ear pierced go for the helix piercing and under their hair. Having your piercing on this area gives you the opportunity to hide it when you don’t want others to notice and display it when you pack your hair.

• The antihelix

The anti-helix is the raised cartilage in the ear that is curved inside of the helix. The area where it assumed the curved shape under the helix is the rook.

• Tragus

The tragus is that flap that separates your ear canal from your face. This cartilage is a bit thick and ideal for piercing. This area is very pronounced and is excellent for those who like to show off with their ear piercing by exposing it.

• Industrial piercings

These types of piercings are more extreme. The piercing is not on one, but through two or more piercings in their ear cartilage. The most popular style of the industrial piercings most people go for is the one that passes through the helix and anti-helix. In this double cartilage piercing, both parts of the ear connect with the aid of the barbell jewelry.

The Nose Cartilage Piercing

The nose also has a lot of cartilage like the ear. And it is also convenient for piercing. Nose piercing can change one’s appearance because it is prominent. Everyone can see it because it stays at the front of the face. Here are the different nose piercings that a lot of people go for.

• The septum

This portion of the nose is part (cartilage and flesh) that separates both nostrils. In most cases, the piercing is done through the cartilage but not in every case.

• The nose tip

These types of piercings can be on the bottom of your septum or the top of your nose.  Nose tip piercings are sometimes called rhino piercings.

Must-Know Truth About Cartilage Piercing Pain

The big question that comes to mind when thinking about body piercing is, does cartilage piercing hurt? Some people discarded their urge to get their cartilage pierced because of fear of pain. They believe since the process involves piercing through the skin, it will be painful. But this is not usually the case with cartilage piercing.

The amount of pain one gets from this body modification depends mainly on the tolerance level of the individual. And it is true that most people can cope with pain better than others. If you have had this modification before, you would know that the part of the body being pierced is not as painful as other areas of the pain. The initial sensation you may likely feel will be like the bite of an insect. And will not be too aggravating.  

Things That Can Discourage You from getting Cartilage Piercing

Having cartilage piercing bump on back of ear is not the only feature that discourages people from getting their body pierced. There are other cons you should know about before going for this body modification. Have in mind that the area you get your piercing matters a great deal. It can also have drawbacks too. So here are factors that discourage many to get their cartilages pierced.

• Jewelry can easily get snagged on something

After piercing, the next thing is to place captivating jewelry in the area. These ornaments come in different sizes which you can choose from to place on your pierced cartilage. But the issue is not with the jewelry design available. It has to do with the size of the jewelry.

Most long or protruded jewelry tend to snag on things like clothing, hair, glasses, and combs. And they are not that painful. But it can end up delaying the healing process and cause the area to be red and sore for the entire day.

However, the best thing is to take caution when wearing this kind of jewelry on your ear. Comb hair or wear your glasses carefully to avoid contact between the item and the jewel on the pierced part of your cartilage. The size of the jewelry also matters. Ensure the jewelry you get is comfortable and fits the ear perfectly.

• The long healing process of cartilage piercing

Another can cartilage piercing has the long healing process. The tissue itself heals from the outer to the inside and not the other way round. What this means is that you might find the outer surface looking clean and healthy, but you will be surprised to know that it is still sore in the inside layer.

Most people forget about taking care of their piercings when they discourage the outer surface is clean and neat without realizing that the inner part still hasn’t healed completely. That can lead to infected cartilage piercing or even make the healing process more difficult for the individual.

• There is no blood supply to the cartilage

Another thing many consider before going for cartilage piercing is an infection. Though they are not that serious, as over 30 percent of infected piercings involves bacterial infection one can treat. But one of the reasons the cartilage is at high risk of having an infection is the lack of blood supply to the area. Other areas where blood flows to is milder to treat because the blood carries antibiotics there. But that doesn’t happen with the cartilage.

• Allergic reaction

Cartilage piercings also involves the use of jewelry to make the modifications complete. And tons of different designs and styles of jewelry are available to use. But the main issue is the metal in the jewelry causes most individuals to experience allergic reactions. And even when one end up removing the jewelry, the scar or hole, might never heal.

Things to know about cartilage piercing bump

Many people worry about having bumps after undergoing cartilage piercing. It happens most times due to certain reasons. Here are things you need to know about cartilage piercing bump behind ear or other parts of your body pierced.

What are cartilage piercing bumps?

Bumps are those small and raised scars you find around the pierced holes. They are not dangerous but can cause itching and irritation. Having bumps in pierced areas you cannot cover can make your piercing look unpleasant to the eyes.

But have in mind that most of these bumps will not remain there forever. They will disappear after some time, maybe in 2 to 3 months time.

Factors that cause cartilage piercing bumps

The following factors are responsible for cartilage piercing bump that sometimes appear on the hole of the pierced nose or ear.

• Poor Personal hygiene

Your hygiene after having your ear pierced will determine if you will have bumps or not. You need to be careful to avoid causing infection in the pierced spot.

To maintain good personal hygiene, clean the pierced area properly to prevent dirt-build up and infection. Do not also allow your hair to touch the pierced spot. These are some of the cartilage piercing aftercare.

• Infected piercing equipment

The piercing equipment used on you should be sterilized well because it might have contacted infection one way or the other. Bacteria tend to grow on unsterilized equipment which can lead to contamination that will end up becoming severe.

• Bad choice of jewelry

You need use appropriate jewelry after having your body pierced. Using poor quality jewelry made of cheap metals can cause bumps too. Nickel jewelry causes infection, so stay away from them. Conduct your investigation to know the kind of material used in making the jewelry.