The Pain Level of Cartilage Piercings
Your ear cartilage is a thick and tough tissue. Therefore, piercing comes with a certain amount of pain and discomfort. While cartilage piercings hurt more than earlobe piercings, they hurt less than getting piercings on other parts of the body. The cartilage piercing pain level usually ranges from 4 to 8. But everyone has a different threshold for pain. So, it’s crucial to remember that everyone will have a different experience. You should know that two types of pain are associated with ear cartilage piercings. One is the initial pain that comes from the needle getting pierced. The later pain follows during the healing period. You might be surprised to feel no initial pain at all. Even if you feel any initial pain, it’s over quite fast. Getting a piercing is not like getting inked, where the needle enters your skin multiple times. But at the same time, a piercing needle goes deeper than a tattoo needle. Therefore, the pain would be pretty intense for a second or two.How Long Will You Feel the Cartilage Piercing Pain?
The later pain continues for a week after you get an ear cartilage piercing pain. The pain will continue as long as the inflammation does not heal. Your ear cartilage gets less blood flow than other parts of the body. Therefore, the later pain from a cartilage piercing lasts more than other parts of the body. Once the inflammation settles down, you are not likely to experience pain. However, it will hurt if your jewelry gets pulled or pressed against. That’s why it’s recommended not to change a cartilage earring until the piercing has healed completely. If you continue to experience pain and tenderness, it might be an indication of a cartilage piercing infection. If you suspect an infection, get the piercing area checked by a doctor immediately.Factors Affecting Cartilage Piercing Pain
A huge variety of factors help determine the extent of your cartilage piercing pain. Some of the factors are as follows:1. Area of the Cartilage Piercing
The portion of your cartilage that you get pierced will largely influence the amount of pain you experience. Some areas in your ear cartilage are more sensitive than others. For instance, getting a helix piercing will hurt less than a tragus piercing. A conch piercing hurts more than a tragus piercing. If you want to comprehend how much pain you would feel, you can pinch the cartilage area you want to get pierced. The feeling won’t be like a needle penetrating that area. But it will provide you with some idea regarding how well you would be able to handle the pain.2. The Person Doing the Piercing
Your piercer will have a huge role to play in the amount of pain you experience from cartilage piercing. An experienced piercer will get it right in one go and cause minimal pain. You should determine other people’s experiences with a local piercer before going to them. You should also go to your piercer when it comes to changing the cartilage piercing earring for the first time. They will be able to determine whether the piercing has healed completely and change the earring smoothly and more gently.3. Number of Piercings You Get in the Same Sitting
If you get multiple piercings at the same time, you will definitely experience more pain. Therefore, be prepared to feel more discomfort if you are getting multiple piercings in the same sitting. Ideally, you should get one at a time and develop an idea about the amount of pain you might experience.4. Your Anxiety Level
Your pain will be more intense if you are too anxious about getting a piercing. It’s pretty normal to worry before getting an actual piercing. But in most cases, your worry is worse than the real experience. One of the easiest ways to bring down your anxiety related to getting a cartilage piercing is to stay informed about the process. Once you know how a cartilage piercing is done, you won’t come across any uncertainties during the process. Being clueless about how the piercing will be done might make you more queasy and nervous.5. Whether Your Apply Numbing Cream
Before getting a cartilage piercing, you might apply a lidocaine numbing cream in that area. Apply the cream and wait for some time, as advised on the packaging. You will still feel some sensation while a needle is inserted through the area. But applying numbing cream can make your piercing experience more comfortable.6. Your Body’s Healing Response
The later pain that you experience from a cartilage piercing will depend on the healing response of your body. Swelling, infection, bruising, and piercing bumps might increase the pain level. A few things you can follow to prevent these issues are as follows:- Wash the piercing area twice a day.
- After washing, wipe off the area with a paper towel. Avoid cloth towels because they might get stuck to the earring.
- Never touch the piercing without disinfected hands.
- Don’t sleep on the side of the piercing.
- Be careful while washing and styling your hair.
