How to Clean a Cartilage Piercing

Co-authored by Sasha Blue

Last Updated: October 9, 2024 Approved

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Cartilage piercings are a fun fashion statement but they require a lot of care while they heal. Be gentle with your piercing and always wash your hands before touching it. Clean the area twice a day with a salt water solution and remove loosened crust formations. Check the piercing for signs of infection and avoid the temptation to twist or play with it!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning the Piercing Regularly

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Always wash your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap before handling a cartilage piercing. Touching the pierced area can introduce bacteria or other pathogens to the body.^{[1]
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Sasha Blue
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Expert Interview. 25 November 2019.}
Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in an egg cup of warm water. Place the pierced part of your ear in the water. Remove it after 2-3 minutes of soaking.^{[2]
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Gently remove loosened buildup. Wipe away any buildup of discharge that may have loosened around the piercing. Wet a piece of gauze and gently dab at the debris to remove it. If the crusted formation does not remove easily, leave it alone and do not use force to loosen it.^{[3]
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- Always avoid using cotton balls or Q-tips when cleaning your cartilage piercing, as they may leave behind lint. They may also get caught on the piercing itself, which could cause injury to your ear.
Gently dab the pierced area dry with a paper towel. Avoid using a shared towel, which may spread bacteria and cause an infection. Don't rub the piercing, which could aggravate it while it heals.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Keeping the Piercing Clean

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1
Avoid playing with the piercing. While it is healing, avoid handling your cartilage piercing for any reason other than cleaning it. Turning or twisting the jewelry could cause an infection. The piercing should only be touched with freshly washed hands.^{[5]
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Expert Interview. 25 November 2019.}
- It might also help to sleep on your back instead of your side.^{[7]
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  Expert Interview. 25 November 2019.}
To avoid infection, make sure that your clothing and sheets are clean. During the healing process, clothing that may touch your ear (e.g. a hooded sweatshirt) should be washed after each occasion that you wear it. Make sure that bed sheets (pillow cases in particular) are laundered at least once a week.^{[8]
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Avoid using rubbing alcohol or peroxide on your piercing as they can be very drying and damage your skin. Antibacterial soaps and moisturizing bar soaps may leave behind a residue that might contribute to an infection or longer time to heal.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Checking the Piercing for Infection

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It's normal for the skin around your piercing to be red for the first few days after it is pierced, but redness after 3-4 days is a sign of possible infection. Similarly, changes in color of the skin around the piercing (e.g., to a yellowish tint) can indicate that it is infected. Check the color of your piercing site twice a day in the mirror, preferably before cleaning it.^{[10]
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During the healing process, a slight, white discharge is normal. If you see pus with a yellow or green tinge, your piercing is probably infected. Check your ear for pus before cleaning the piercing, given that you might wash away traces of discharge.^{[11]
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Prolonged bleeding of the piercing site is not normal and is a cause for concern. Similarly, swelling that does not go down after 3-4 days may be a sign of infection. Check the pierced area daily.^{[12]
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If your piercing develops signs of a bacterial infection, contact your physician or visit a walk-in clinic immediately. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics or an anti-bacterial ointment to treat the problem. Left untreated, a cartilage piercing infection may lead to an abscess, which usually requires surgery and may leave ears deformed.^{[13]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I make my cartilage piercing heal faster?

Sasha Blue
Professional Body Piercer
Sasha Blue is a Professional Body Piercer and the Owner of 13 Bats Tattoo and Piercing Studio in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sasha has over 20 years of professional body piercing experience, starting with her apprenticeship in 1997. She is licensed with the County of San Francisco in California.

Sasha Blue

Professional Body Piercer

Expert Answer

Avoid touching and irritating the piercing as much as possible. Also, steer clear of over-the-ear headphones while your piercing heals.

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Question

Should I twist my cartilage piercing?

Sasha Blue
Professional Body Piercer
Sasha Blue is a Professional Body Piercer and the Owner of 13 Bats Tattoo and Piercing Studio in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sasha has over 20 years of professional body piercing experience, starting with her apprenticeship in 1997. She is licensed with the County of San Francisco in California.

Sasha Blue

Professional Body Piercer

Expert Answer

Twisting a piercing is never a good idea. Touching your piercing will only irritate the area and extend your healing time. Plus, you could set yourself up for an infection if you touch the piercing with dirty hands.

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What can I do if I have pain when my piercing is touched?

Community Answer

It is okay. It may hurt for the first few days, but then it will gradually heal. Your best bet is to try to avoid touching it.

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Tips

Keep your new piercing out of contact with body fluids, open water, makeup, phones, hats, headphones, and antibacterial ointments.

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Try to avoid touching your piercing while it's healing unless you're cleaning it. Touching your jewelry with unwashed hands may cause an infection.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If your piercing makes it uncomfortable to lie on your side, sleep on a travel pillow by putting your ear through the hole in the center.
Try to rotate your piercing regularly to help avoid skin growing over the backing on your earring.

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