Earlobes & Ear Cartilage Piercings

Earlobes are the most common piercing bar none. The soft tissue of the earlobe is very flexible and can be stretched to a large gauge if done slowly over time. Gradually stepping up the gauge of the worn jewelry can be effective if enough time is given for the tissue to heal between stretches. Initial piercings of the earlobe take between six to eight weeks to heal.

Ear cartilage hosts a great number piercings. The names of the individual piercings can vary, but the most common are:

• Tragus: the nodule of cartilage right in front of ear canal.

• Conch: the back wall of the ear cartilage.

• Helix: the outside rim of the ear cartilage.

• Rook: the cartilage fold in the upper third of the ear.

• Daith: the cartilage fold right above the ear canal.

• Industrial: multiple helix piercings with a single bar between them.

None of these piercings are connected to any pressure points of the ear; they are purely aesthetic and have no medicial properties. Ear cartilage can take between three to six months or longer to heal.