Cartilage ear piercings may take up to a year to fully heal, but generally take 3-6 months (as opposed to the ear lobe, that takes just 4-6 weeks). They heal from the outside in, so even if it looks fine on the outside, you should not assume it is fully healed.
Likewise, people ask, why does damaged cartilage heal slowly?
Chondrocytes rely on diffusion to obtain nutrients as, unlike bone, cartilage is avascular, meaning there are no vessels to carry blood to cartilage tissue. This lack of blood supply causes cartilage to heal very slowly compared with bone.
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.
Simply so, 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.
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.
Do cartilage piercings ever stop hurting?
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.
What heals faster bone or cartilage?
Muscle has a rich blood supply, which is why it is the
| Tissue types: | Range of time for healing: |
|---|---|
| Tendon | 4-6 weeks |
| Bone | 6-8 weeks |
| Ligaments | 10-12 weeks |
| Cartilage | ~12 weeks |
Why are joint injuries often slow to heal?
Tendons/cartilage: Joint injuries are often slow to heal because of the involvement of tendons and cartilage in the injury. Tendons, ligaments and cartilage do not have a good blood supply and so repair mechanisms in them progress more slowly than in tissues with a good blood supply.
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.
How long does it take for pierced cartilage to heal?
4 to 12 months
Can I put Vaseline on my cartilage piercing?
Yes, vaseline and petroleum jelly products are meant to protect the skin. No, you should not use it on your piercing. … Second, the barrier may actually trap harmful bacteria inside of the piercing, which could cause an infection or worse.
Why does my cartilage piercing still hurt?
Ashley explains, “Cartilage is not very vascular tissue and because blood flow is an integral part of the healing process the healing time takes a bit longer.” However, Ashley tells me not to worry too much about the pain, “This does not mean that it hurts for the entirety of that time; usually, if the piercing is …
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.
Why does my cartilage piercing hurt so much?
Cartilage piercings are more painful than ear lobe piercings but less painful than other kinds of body piercings. This is because cartilage tissue is thick and hard. So, you are bound to experience some pain and discomfort. To get an idea about how much it will hurt you, try pinching the ear cartilage area.
