Cartilage earrings are designed for piercings in the cartilage of the ear, with common types including the helix, tragus, orbital, and conch. They take longer to heal than earlobe piercings, and proper care is necessary to prevent infection.
Cartilage earrings are very similar to regular earrings, but are made for piercings in the cartilage of the ear instead of the earlobe, which is free of cartilage. In most cases, cartilage earrings are in the form of studs, barbells, or occasionally hoops. Some of these earrings are also cuffs, which curve around the outer edge of the ear. These earrings are also often made from the same materials as regular earrings, such as silver, gold, or surgical steel.
There are several different areas on the ear that can be pierced for cartilage earrings. Some of the more common types of cartilage piercings include the helix, which is the outer edge of the ear that curves inward, and the tragus, which is where the cartilage begins just above the earlobe. Some people also choose to get orbital piercings, which means that the exit wound and the entry wound are even. Also, a conch piercing is when the middle cartilage inside the ear is pierced.
A person who has just had a cartilage piercing should choose their first cartilage earrings carefully. This is because cartilage piercings generally take a long time to heal, usually much longer than earlobe piercings, and the same earrings must be worn until the healing process is complete. In some cases, it can take up to a year before the first pair of earrings can be changed, although the time is usually closer to six months. For this reason, the chosen earrings must be comfortable and made of a material to which the wearer is not sensitive. A high quality metal like sterling silver or gold may be best to use initially.
Regardless of the type of cartilage earrings chosen, no earring is likely to be comfortable unless proper piercing site care is taken. For the first three days after the area is pierced, it should generally be cleaned at least twice a day with antibacterial soap. After that, using the antibacterial soap just once a day is normally acceptable. Many people stop cleaning their piercings as soon as the pierced area appears to be healed from the outside, but this is generally not recommended. The inside of the cartilage piercing can take much longer to heal than the outside, and the daily cleaning regimen should be maintained until the inside and outside are fully healed to prevent infection.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
