Cartilage Piercing Afetrcare
The trend of getting the cartilage of the ear and
the nose pierced for reasons dedicated towards becoming stylish and
cool with a variety of accessories hanging on the nose and the ear
has also been the reason for paying visits to the doctor owing to
the ill effects of such ornamental practices.
Most youngsters have always liked to flaunt trendy accessories and
earrings in order to look cool and sexy. But once they feel the
pinch and the pain that follows piercing, they realize the
importance of the famous phrase “no pain- no gain”. It has been
observed that poor and unhygienic ways of piercing causes swelling
and infection of the ears or the nose and causes pain in the
affected areas. Extreme conditions may lead to cartilage piercing
infections causing the development of abscess containing puss.
Moreover this may be coupled with the development of scars and the
formation of bumps in the ear and the nose. So it’s imperative to
have the right cartilage piercing information and the knowledge of
its procedures as to be away from such problems of pain and
suffering.
Daily Care Routine
Do not touch your piercing unless you are cleaning it. Unwashed
hands carry bacteria and your piercing is a point where these
bacteria can penetrate below your skin and cause an infection.
While healing, your piercing will need to be cleaned once daily.
Cleaning more often than this will harm your piercing.
You will need to use an antibacterial soap that contains either
chloroxylenol or triclosan
The step-by-step procedure is:
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap.
Wet the piercing with plain water.
Put a few drops of antibacterial soap on the piercing and work them
into a lather with a cotton bud.
Try to loosen any crusted discharge and float it off the jewelry and
your skin with the cotton bud.
Leave the antibacterial soap on the piercing for two minutes while
rotating the jewelry back and forth, allowing the disinfectant to
penetrate the piercing.
Rinse with water and air dry thoroughly. Do not dry with a towel,
which may carry bacteria.
Suitable Types:
Captured bead rings
Rings are much cheaper than barbells. Special pliers may be required
to remove or replace the bead, especially for thicker gauge jewelry.
Avoid sleepers as the sharp edges at the joint may damage your
piercing.
Barbells
Either choose internally threaded barbells or, if the bar is
externally threaded, be sure that no threads are exposed.
StudsStuds can work very well providing there is sufficient room to
exose the piercing when cleaning.
Suitable Sizes:
Only 18 gauge or heavier jewelry should be used. Smaller gauges will
migrate out through the skin.
Suitable Materials:
Surgical Stainless Steel, 18 carat gold, titanium, niobium, PTFE.
Do not use 9 carat gold, silver (which can stain the tissues
permanently), or gold plated jewelry in new piercings. In a healing
cartilage piercing the gold plating will wear off the jewelry before
the piercing is healed. This is not such a problem in healed
piercings.
Changing Jewelry:
You may damage your piercing by changing jewelry during the healing
period. This is best done by a professional piercer. Once a piercing
is healed you can change the jewelry yourself.
Health Issues
Bacterial Infections
Prevention
Disinfect, wash or avoid the things in your daily life that can
carry bacteria:
Telephone handsets
Mobile phones
Hearing aids
Stethoscopes
Pens and pencils
Fingers
Scarves, hats, etc
Pillowcases
Sheets.
Symptoms
Include increased pain, increased redness and an increase in the
amount and thickness of the discharge. The infected discharge is
usually thick and yellow, green or grey and may have an unusual
odour. Consult with your physician or piercer and do not remove the
jewelry until you seek advice. Removing the jewelry may prevent pus
draining and cause an abscess to form.
Chondritis
Infection of cartilage. This is very difficult to treat and
sometimes requires plastic surgery for cure. Consult a physician.
Cleaning Agents
Never use alcohol swabs, Betadine, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide,
methylated spirit, or tea tree oil to clean your piercing. These do
kill bacteria but they also destroy your healing flesh. The killed
flesh then becomes easily infected.
Hair
When your hair touches your jewelry it can transfer bacteria into
your piercing. Before your piercing procedure you should wash and
dry your hair. Consider tying your hair back or cutting your hair if
it is touching your jewelry.
Scarring
The inexperienced piercing of the cartilage may cause harm to the
tissues which may lead to the formation of scars in and around the
pierced area. This facilitates the formation of a bump or a ridge
over the pierced area which may bleed at times. For the cure of an
infection caused to that extent you need to consult your physician
who shall be able to offer the best treatment for the same. In order
to avoid such infections you need to ensure proper piercing and
after care measures of cartilage piercing.
Lavender Oil
This essential oil lubricates the piercing and is reputed to reduce
scar tissue and prevent tightening. It must be used in its dilute
form, a drop applied to each side of the piercing with a cotton bud,
the excess removed, and then the jewelry moved back and forth
through the piercing. The correct dilution is 10 drops lavender oil
in 15mls grapeseed or sweet almond oil.
Piercing Guns
Piercing guns are suitable for use along the helix of the ear as
well as on the lobes. The manufacturers are very specific that they
are not to be used on other parts of the ear.
Smoking
Smoking slows healing by suppressing your immune system and blood
circulation to the skin. Smoking will increase the healing time of
cartilage piercings by months.
Swimming
Swimming is not prohibited while your piercing is healing, but you
should only swim for short periods in pools that are thoroughly
chlorine- or ozone-treated. If you swim in the ocean or waterways,
do not swim after heavy rain since storm water run-off often
contains bacteria and parasites.
Viral Infections
Viruses such as Hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV can penetrate a
piercing that has not healed. These viruses may be present in the
blood, saliva, semen, sweat and vaginal secretions of infected
persons. Until your piercing has healed avoid any other person's
bodily fluids contacting your piercing. Practice safe aural sex!
Vitamins
Studies have shown that vitamin C and zinc promote wound healing.
Aim for about 2000-3000 mg vitamin C and 100 mg zinc daily. Note
that these amounts are not available in multivitamin tablets. Ask at
your pharmacist or health-food store for advice on suitable
products. If you are taking any medications, ask your pharmacist to
make sure there are no interactions between them and the vitamin C
and zinc you intend to take. For example, vitamin C can delay the
absorption of the contraceptive pill - they should be taken at
different times.