Industrial piercing - care, jewelry and advice

For those looking to make a statement with their jewelry and piercings, industrial piercings are a popular choice.

This stylish piercing, sometimes also referred to as a scaffold piercing, usually consists of two holes in the upper cartilage of the ear connected by a single piece of jewelry. However, it is possible to do an industrial piercing with as many individual piercings as your anatomy allows. Typically, long bars are used for industrial piercings, although several other types of jewelry are available on the market.

Although the name industrial may sound a bit harsh, this piercing can actually be quite beautiful or even delicate depending on the jewelry chosen. That being said, it's still not a piercing for the faint of heart. Industrial is often considered one of the most painful ear piercings. This is likely due to the fact that industrial piercings always involve at least two piercings in one sitting and are usually done in the area of ​​the ear's thick cartilage, which is known to take extra time to heal.

However, there are ways to minimize the discomfort of this piercing if the pain is a deterrent to you. The two most important things you can do to ensure that the piercing process goes smoothly and painlessly is to choose a reputable and experienced piercer and follow a thorough post-op care regimen. Both of these factors will help ensure that the piercing heals properly.

Once you've decided to decorate your ears with this stylish and unique piercing, it's a good idea to take a good look at caring for your new piercing. In this handy guide, you'll find the best aftercare tips and jewelry options to help you get the most out of your industrial piercing.

Healing time for industrial ear piercing

When choosing any type of cartilage piercing, it is important to consider healing time. Healing times can vary greatly for industrial piercings. Industrial piercings take at least 9-12 months to heal, this number increases with triple or quadruple industrial piercings or interesting but viable additions.

Good cleaning and post-operative care of your piercing will help speed up the healing process and ensure that you are on the shorter end of the healing spectrum.

Carefully choose the perfect time of year for your piercing. Keep in mind that it's best to avoid pools, hot tubs, oceans, lakes, and other water activities while your piercing heals. If these are regular parts of your summer plans, it may be best to get pierced in the winter. However, if you often wear hats in the winter, you might also consider that they might snag on your new jewelry.

It is also not recommended to do an industrial piercing of both ears at the same time. This is because you shouldn't sleep on your side with your new piercing while it heals.

Industrial Piercing Care

Aftercare is critical to ensure that the piercing heals properly. Improper piercing care can lead to infection! Fortunately, proper piercing care is neither difficult nor expensive. For the most part, all it takes is taking the time to properly clean the piercing, avoiding irritants and not tugging or snagging on new jewelry.

To properly clean your piercing, you first need to make sure your hands are clean. Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching a piercing. we only recommend sterile saline wash and mild medical soap to clean the piercing area, but never rub soap into the piercing itself. A piercing specialist can usually recommend a good product for this purpose. At pierced.co we recommend NeilMed Neilcleanse after a piercing. Avoid using any other solutions, such as hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or scented soap, on your piercing. Substances like this can actually slow down your body's natural ability to heal.

It is important to keep foreign irritants away from your new piercing. This includes any hair or skin care products you may be using. Ideally, it's best to avoid products like hairspray entirely while the piercing heals, but if that's not possible, be sure to protect the ear from the spray.

Pulling or snagging on jewelry can also slow down the healing process, so be extra careful when combing your hair and don't wear any hair accessories or headwear that could snag. Those with long hair can tie it back to keep it from getting tangled in the jewelry while the industrial piercing heals.

What to do if you suspect an infection or hypertrophic scars

Piercing bumps, swelling, pus, or hot skin around the area of ​​the piercing can be signs of an infected piercing for any type of body jewelry. Infection is actually very unlikely, unless in cases of extreme neglect and there is a source of bacterial transfer, 99% of piercing-related problems are due to irritation caused by problems such as sleep, pressure, inappropriate jewelry or touch. If you suspect your piercing is infected, it's best to get it checked right away rather than letting the infection get worse. Visit your doctor to have it evaluated, especially if you notice a fever along with other symptoms of an infection.

Another potential cause of irritation could be an allergic reaction to certain metals. When choosing jewelry, it's always best to stick with implant-grade metals to avoid potential reactions.

Types of jewelry for industrial piercing

The 14 gauge straight barbell is a classic style of industrial piercing jewelry. However, you are definitely not limited to an industrial barbell! There are a number of other fun styles and jewelry options you can consider for your industrial piercing. More unusual bar options are available with pendants, zigzags or words. You can also replace the simple metal threaded ends of the rod with more stylish ends, such as those with unique gems or fun shapes. It should be noted that costume jewelry should never be worn, as the materials are not suitable for wearing inside the body. only materials suitable for implants should be worn

Our favorite ear piercings

Ready to get yourself an industrial piercing?

Whether you're in the Newmarket, Mississauga, or Toronto area and are ready to learn more or get yourself an industrial piercing, the Pierced team is here to help. Our highly acclaimed piercing salon has experienced piercers who make sure your next piercing session is comfortable, quick and as painless as possible. Not to mention, we have a wide selection of jewelry to complement your industrial piercing perfectly.