How long industrial piercing hurt

It usually refers to double perforation on the cartilage at the top of your ear. Cartilage piercings — particularly those high on your ear — are more prone to infection than other ear piercings. And because this piercing involves two different holes, your risk for infection doubles.

If you do get an infection, it may or may not affect both holes. Keep reading to learn how to identify infection, what you can do to ease your symptoms, and how to prevent further complications. In some cases, the redness and swelling can spread and enlarge. These could be early signs of an infection around the piercing. In some cases, you may be able to treat the infection at home.

But if your symptoms are severe — or if this is your first time dealing with infection — you should see your piercer right away. If your piercing is new, one of your first impulses might be to play with the jewelry by twisting it back and forth. Moving the jewelry around can increase swelling and irritation, as well as introduce new bacteria into the holes.

The barbell should be completely off-limits except during cleansing. It might also be tempting to take the barbell out to check out the jewelry or as a way to better cleanse the area. Not only can this cause further irritation, removing the jewelry may allow a newer piercing to close. This can trap bacteria inside your body and allow the infection to spread beyond the piercing site. Most piercers recommend a daily cleansing routine for the first several months after you get your piercing.

You should clean two to three times a day with a saline or salt solution. The barbell is then inserted through the first hole before the second piercing. After the second puncture, the barbell is pulled all the way through to the outer cartilage and fastened.

As a precaution, the piercing is cleaned at the entry and exit points to avoid a higher risk of infection. See the complete guide on DIY piercing safety. Industrial piercings get a 6 out of 10 on the pain scale since cartilage contains fewer nerve endings. See more on pain levels for different piercings. Since this piercing requires two punctures, it has a slightly higher rating compared to single piercings.

Try focusing on something else in the moment to distract yourself. They may recommend taking a mild pain reliever like ibuprofen to ease your worries. You will feel two moments of sharp pain during the procedure. You may also experience ear swelling or soreness immediately after the procedure. This is normal and typically these issues go away after a few days of healing. Industrial piercings take anywhere between 3 to 9 months to heal completely, depending on your body and overall health.

In order to avoid piercing issues like ear bumps or infected ear cartilage , the recommended guidelines below should be followed during the healing period:. Remember that abiding by proper aftercare guidelines will save you from multiple risks and potential infections.

Put some of the saline mixture onto a clean towel and hold it on your piercing to dislodge any debris that may be present. Carefully remove these and clean the ends while moving the jewelry as little as possible. Read more about piercing aftercare routine here. Do not remove your initial jewelry until the healing process is complete.

Try to keep your hair up and away from the piercing as it heals. You can also opt for cartilage studs during healing. This includes over-the-ear headphones and sleeping on your side. Putting pressure on the jewelry can damage the healing piercing and contribute to issues like piercing rejection and jewelry migration.

Choose proper starter jewelry. You need to make sure that your industrial is big enough to allow for swelling, especially since you might see more swelling than usual due to the two piercings. Be careful; the longer barbell will be easier to snag. Choose high quality metal to avoid jewelry rejection or skin sensitivities. You should also choose a plain straight barbell. Any charms or added flair could add weight that pulls at the new piercing , which could cause damage.

Additionally, the industrial is usually pierced with a 14G needle, although it can be pierced with a 16G needle. You can string a straight barbell through the two piercings for the industrial look, or you can fill each piercing with a cartilage stud for the standard cartilage piercing aesthetic. Industrial barbells are the most common industrial piercing jewelry to be used. They are the same as a straight barbell, although some industrial barbells have a charm in its center, since the industrial piercing allows for this style.

Feel free to get creative with your industrial barbell styles. Cartilage is notoriously sensitive to pierce and takes longer to heal than other types of tissue. That means you may be stuck with a sore or tender ear for several months.

This helps to prevent bacteria from being pushed through with the piercing needle and causing an infection. The ear will be marked in two places, where each of the holes for the industrial bar jewelry will go through. After the correct spots are marked and your piercing professional has checked that you like the placement, they will use a sharp, hollow piercing needle to enter the ear from the outside of the cartilage and through to the inside. Next, they will insert the needle through the inside of the other marked spot and out through the back of the ear.

You will likely have a choice of jewelry, but remember that more luxurious scaffolding will bump up the overall cost of your industrial piercing. In general, the initial pain of cartilage piercings hurts a bit longer than other piercings because the needle has to pass through tougher, thicker tissue.