Ashwin Lewis
Sleeping on a fresh cartilage piercing is not recommended as it can cause irritation and even shift the angle of the piercing. Cartilage piercings take longer to heal than soft-tissue piercings, typically between 4 and 12 months, and sleeping on them can lead to complications. It is suggested to sleep on your back or use a travel pillow to avoid putting pressure on the piercing. Keeping the piercing and its surrounding area clean is crucial to prevent infection, which can lead to tissue death in the cartilage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time to heal | 4-12 months |
| Sleeping position | On your back or side |
| Pillow type | "U"-shaped travel pillow, piercing pillow, or smooth pillowcase |
| Clothing | Loose and comfortable |
| Hair | Pulled back to avoid snagging |
| Cleaning | Wash with mild soap and warm water before bed |
| Hair products | Avoid getting hair products on the wound |
| Water | Avoid submerging in unhygienic water for the first two months |
| Cleaning products to avoid | Betadine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, harsh soaps, and ointments |
| Jewellery | Downsize to a shorter post once the swelling has subsided |
| Jewellery removal | Avoid removing jewellery unless there is a severe allergic reaction |
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What You'll Learn
Cartilage piercings take 4-12 months to heal
Cartilage piercings take a long time to heal, anywhere from 4 to 12 months. They may even take longer, up to 16 or 17 months in some cases. This is because they are harder to perforate than soft-tissue piercings, and they heal from the outside in. So, even if your piercing looks and feels healed, it may not be. It's important to be patient and give your piercing time to heal fully.
To help your cartilage piercing heal, you must keep it clean. Wash your hands before you start, and clean the piercing with either a sterile saline solution or a fragrance-free antimicrobial soap. Do this once or twice a day. Avoid homemade salt solutions. Rinse any soap from around the piercing and gently dry the area with a clean, disposable paper towel or tissue. Do not dry with a cloth, as it may carry germs or catch on the jewellery.
Avoid touching your jewellery or the piercing unless you are cleaning it. Touching your piercing with unwashed hands is the easiest way to get an infection. Keep your piercing clean by washing it with a mild soap and warm water before bed.
Cartilage piercings are prone to infection, which can lead to necrosis, or tissue death. This is more common in nose piercings due to the mucus, which can attract staphylococcus bacteria. If you develop an infection, you must consult a healthcare professional.
Once your piercing is fully healed, you can sleep on it. However, it's recommended that you sleep on your back or side to avoid putting pressure on the piercing. You should also wear loose, comfortable clothing to prevent any accidental snags.
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Sleeping on a new piercing can cause irritation and change its angle
Sleeping on a new cartilage piercing can cause a lot of issues. Firstly, it can lead to irritation and discomfort. This is because cartilage piercings take longer to heal than soft-tissue piercings, typically between 4 and 12 months. As a result, sleeping on a new piercing may also change its angle or direction, causing it to grow crooked. This can happen even without pain, and the change in angle is often permanent.
To avoid these issues, it is recommended to sleep on your back or use a travel or "U"-shaped neck pillow, which has a hole for your ear to rest in, thus reducing pressure on the piercing. You can also try clipping your hair up or braiding it to prevent it from snagging on the piercing. Keeping your hair away from the piercing is especially important when washing or styling it.
In addition to these measures, maintaining good hygiene is crucial for cartilage piercings. This includes keeping the piercing clean with mild soap and warm water before bed and changing your pillowcase frequently to prevent skin cells, oils, and makeup from causing irritation. It is also important to avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic water, such as lakes or pools, and to be cautious when using hair products to ensure they do not enter the wound.
Finally, it is important to be patient and allow your piercing to heal fully before attempting to sleep on it. Consult a professional piercer or physician if you have any concerns or if the piercing continues to hurt beyond the first few days.
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Piercing pillows can help prevent pain and injury
Cartilage piercings, such as those on the nose or upper ear, take longer to heal than soft-tissue piercings. They may take anywhere from 4 to 12 months to fully heal, and even longer in some cases. During this time, it is important to keep the piercing clean and cared for correctly to avoid infection. Sleeping directly on a new piercing can cause irritation and can even shift the direction or angle of the piercing. This is especially true for cartilage piercings, which are more susceptible to complications from sleeping on them than earlobe piercings.
To avoid this issue, you can use a piercing pillow, such as a "U"-shaped travel pillow or a donut pillow, which allows your ears to stick out and ensures that there is no pressure on the piercing. This can help prevent pain and potential injury to the piercing. It is recommended to slip a clean pillowcase or t-shirt over the piercing pillow and sleep on each side of the pillow just once between changes to prevent additional bacteria from entering the piercing site.
In addition to using a piercing pillow, there are a few other steps you can take to maintain a healthy cartilage piercing while you sleep. These include sleeping on your back or side to avoid pressure on the piercing, wearing loose and comfortable clothing to prevent accidental snags, and keeping your piercing clean by washing it with a mild soap and warm water before bed. It is also important to avoid covering the piercing with band-aids, as this can cause irritation and migration.
By following these steps and taking good care of your cartilage piercing, you can help prevent pain and injury and ensure that your piercing heals properly.
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Keep the piercing clean to avoid infection
Cartilage piercings take longer to heal than soft-tissue piercings, and they can cause health problems if not properly cared for. An infected cartilage piercing can lead to necrosis, or tissue death. To avoid infection, it is important to keep your piercing clean.
Firstly, wash your hands before you start. Clean the piercing once or twice a day with a sterile saline solution or a fragrance-free antimicrobial soap. You can also use a piercing aftercare spray or single-use sterile saline pods. Avoid homemade salt solutions, and be sure to rinse any soap from around the piercing. Gently dry the area with a clean, disposable paper towel or tissue, and avoid drying with a cloth, as it may carry germs or catch on the jewellery.
In addition to your daily cleaning routine, there are some other things you can do to maintain a healthy piercing. Keep your phone, headphones, hats, and anything else that touches your piercing clean. Be careful with hair care and avoid contact with your piercing while you wash, dry, or style your hair. If you’re getting your hair cut or styled, let the barber or stylist know about your piercing.
It is also important to keep your sleeping surface clean. Put your pillow inside a clean T-shirt before you go to bed. Change the shirt from back to front or outside to inside each day. Switch to a new shirt once you’ve used all the surfaces.
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Downsize to a shorter post once the swelling has subsided
Cartilage piercings take longer to heal than soft-tissue piercings, with healing times ranging from 4 to 12 months. During this time, it is important to avoid sleeping on your cartilage piercing. Sleeping on a new piercing can cause irritation and even shift the direction or angle of the piercing. It can also lead to permanent crookedness.
Once your piercing is fully healed, you can sleep on it. However, it is important to downsize to a shorter post to ensure that your piercing stays comfortable and doesn't get snagged while you sleep. A longer post is typically used initially to allow for swelling.
To downsize your cartilage piercing, consult a professional piercer. They can guide you on the appropriate length for your new post and help you change it. It is important to ensure that your piercing is fully healed before downsizing, as removing the jewellery can interfere with the healing process.
In addition to downsizing, there are other steps you can take to maintain a healthy piercing while you sleep:
- Sleep on your back or side: This helps to avoid putting pressure on your piercing. You can also use a travel pillow with a "U" shape or a donut pillow, which allows your ears to stick out and avoids pressure on the piercing.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing: This prevents accidental snags.
- Keep your hair pulled back: If you have long hair, tie it back to avoid snags and tangles.
- Keep your piercing clean: Wash it with a mild soap and warm water before bed to reduce the risk of infection. Change your pillowcase frequently to prevent skin cells, oils, and makeup from irritating your piercing.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you should avoid sleeping on a fresh cartilage piercing. Doing so can cause irritation and even shift the direction or angle of the piercing.
Try sleeping on your back. If you're a side sleeper, use a travel pillow with a hole in the middle, a piercing pillow, or a donut pillow. You can also clip your hair up and away from your ear.
Cartilage piercings can take anywhere from 4 to 12 months to fully heal. It's important to confirm with a professional piercer that your piercing is fully healed before sleeping on it.
Keep your piercing clean by washing it with a mild soap and warm water before bed. Avoid harsh soaps, ointments, and hair products that can damage cells or prevent air circulation. Change your pillowcase frequently to prevent skin cells, oils, and makeup from irritating your piercing.
Contact your piercer and physician. In most cases, you'll need to treat the infection with an antibiotic cream.
