Cartilage piercings heal more slowly than earlobe piercings and are prone to irritation. In the first few days after getting your piercing, you may notice a bump or general swelling around the jewelry. You may also experience: redness.
Just so, how long should a cartilage piercing be swollen?
These are all typical symptoms of the body beginning to heal the wound. Although it can sometimes take around 8 weeks for the wound to fully heal, these symptoms should not last more than 2 weeks. Infection may be present if a person experiences: swelling that does not go down after 48 hours.
- Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure to the piercing site.
- Apply a cold pack to help reduce swelling or bruising. …
- Wash the wound for 5 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day, with large amounts of warm water.
- Elevate the piercing area, if possible, to help reduce swelling.
Subsequently, 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.
Is my piercing infected or just healing?
According to Thompson, the telltale signs of an infection are simple: “The area around the piercing is warm to the touch, you notice extreme redness or red streaks protruding from it, and it has discolored pus, normally with a green or brown tint,” Thompson says.
Why is my cartilage piercing still swollen after a year?
They’re caused by an excess of protein in the skin that attempts to repair itself from damage. It can take up to a year after you got your piercing for them to show up. They, too, are benign but can cause pain and itching.
Should I ice my cartilage piercing?
How can I make a cartilage piercing swelling go down? Use a hot compress – get a small towel or washcloth, soak it in hot water, squeeze out any excess water and gently press it to the piercing. You can also ice it or take ibuprofen to help reduce swelling.
How long does piercing swelling last?
Swelling and inflammation: Days 4–10
The swelling tends to increase for several days after the piercing, and it may last for a week or slightly longer .
Why is my piercing still swollen?
Your body recognizes the piercing as an injury, so it reacts the same way. As a result, some swelling is normal for piercings. But you should still monitor any swelling. If swelling occurs again after the initial swelling goes away it is a likely sign of infection.
What helps a swollen piercing?
Treating the infection at home
- Wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing.
- Clean around the piercing with a saltwater rinse three times a day. …
- Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments. …
- Don’t remove the piercing. …
- Clean the piercing on both sides of your earlobe.
Should I take my piercing out if it’s swollen?
When to remove a piercing
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.
How long should a cartilage piercing be sore?
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 you know if your body is rejecting a piercing?
Symptoms of piercing rejection
- more of the jewelry becoming visible on the outside of the piercing.
- the piercing remaining sore, red, irritated, or dry after the first few days.
- the jewelry becoming visible under the skin.
- the piercing hole appearing to be getting larger.
- the jewelry looking like it is hanging differently.
How do you know a piercing is healing?
During Healing: You may note some itching at the site. You may note whitish-yellow fluid that is not pus. This fluid coats jewelry and forms a crust when it dries. After Healing: Sometimes jewelry will not move freely within the piercing tract.
Why is my new cartilage piercing throbbing?
Pain scale
Cartilage piercings can have major differences in pain level and healing time. Cartilage is thick, hard tissue that doesn’t pierce as easily as soft earlobes. … This intense throbbing pain will last for at least a few days before easing up. You can expect to have some difficulty sleeping the first few nights.
