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Cartilage piercing
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I pierced my cartilage last week, and it's been fine. But I've just taken the back off to clean it, and it's all swollen. But, only at the back. It's really red as well, and hot. And, I kind of don't know what to do? It's been fine, and I haven't done anything different today to what I normally do. I just googled it, but that wasn't much use, pretty much all the advice is "go back to your piercer"
So, ideas? Please? x
So, ideas? Please? x
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If it's hot that could be a sign of an infection (have you been using salt water and is it all pus filled?) or it could be just natural healing- as increased blood flow to the area could warm it up and make it red.
Does this help?
Edit: mine isnt red or hurts or anything though so i would say keep cleaning it for another week or so and if it doesnt get better go back to the piercer
If it was really hurting me then I would gently clean it again and that would help with the burning senasation! It would make it itch more but... I just kept on with it and months later it is ALOT better, but if I sleep on it the cartilage goes hard though I think it should be alright in time though c:
First, do not touch them, rotate them, take the back off them... anything at all. The less contact you have the better. The jewelry should be big enough to allow for the piercing to swell. Though that part is probably too late now
Most "cleaning solutions" are shit and will do more harm than good as they contain alcohol which will only dry the piercing and hinder in its healing.
For the first half of the healing process (cartlidge is about 3-12 months, depending on where it was) clean twice a day with a non iodized sea salt soak. Fill a mug of filtered water and heat it to as hot as you can stand, add a couple pinches of the sea salt. Soak a clean paper towel in it and completly cover the piercing. Keep it there for 5 minutes.
Also, I dont know if you have the brand there but Provone soap is what I've heard reccomended by nearly everybody. http://www.fluxpiercing.co.uk/shop/product_details/provon_medicated_soap.htm Clean with that twice a day for the first half of the healing process. I shower twice a day so I just do it then because it is really easy. With a brand new q-tip for each ear and each side, just clean the front and back.
For the second half, do that once a day.
Do not over clean, do not use alcohol, do not use the average antibacterial soap as these will only hurt the piercing. Your body will do quite a good job taking care of this puncture by itself.
Also, put a clean t-shirt over your pillow every night. This keeps any type of oils, dirt or whatever that may be hiding out on your pillow case from touching the new piercing. You can get about 4 nights out of 1 shirt... one night on each side, then turn it inside out. It keeps what your laying on very clean without having to do laundry every day.
Thank you for the advice x
I agree with the above advice, the itching is a good sign of healing, i've just had my naval done and its a bit red and crusty with a red spot on the side but i'm not worrying too much cuz it's only been 5 weeks.
I asked a friend of mine who's training to be a piercer, and she said that it can hurt for another few months! Which I'm not too happy about.. but I'm sure it'll be okay in the end (well, hopefully!) x
Basically, I'm a bit worried! I've been cleaning it every day with salt water, but the back is still really swollen.
I can't see it, but I can feel it, and I asked my boyfriend to have a look.. and he said it's like a lump, that's really red.
It hurts as well. Should I just keep cleaning it like I am? Or should I clean more? x
I have that on the side of my piercing and it does get red/sore/hot but im just cleaning it regularly and otherwise leaving it alone. I reckon it'll heal in it's own time
I showed it to a friend of mine who's a trainee piercer, and she told me to put tea tree oil on it, put it read on the internet you have to dilute tea tree before you put it on your skin? Is that true, or can I just put it on my skin? x