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An industrial piercing takes 36 to 52 weeks to heal, roughly eight months to a year, in our guides. Its range starts higher than any other ear piercing on the site.
An industrial is two holes in the upper ear cartilage joined by one bar. Every hole in cartilage heals slowly, and this one has two.
What the sources give
| Source | Industrial or ear cartilage |
|---|---|
| This site | Industrial: 36 to 52 weeks |
| Cleveland Clinic | Cartilage may take up to six months or a year to fully heal. Its six to 12 months list names daith, rook, conch, helix and tragus |
The Cleveland Clinic does not give a separate figure for an industrial, so the industrial number is our estimate. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) warns that a piercing may seem healed before the healing process is actually complete. A 2005 review in American Family Physician says ear cartilage piercings are associated with poor healing and more serious infection because cartilage is avascular, meaning it has no blood supply of its own.
How it compares
| Piercing | Healing | Downsize at |
|---|---|---|
| Helix | 24 to 52 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Snug | 24 to 52 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Orbital | 24 to 52 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Industrial | 36 to 52 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
Cartilage piercing healing time compares every placement.
The downsize
An industrial starts with a longer bar than you will need, to leave room for swelling. Our guides give eight to twelve weeks. The APP says many piercings require a downsize before the piercing is healed, and that you should see a qualified piercer to perform downsizes or any jewelry changes during healing. Piercing downsizing explains why.
What slows healing
The APP’s aftercare advice is to avoid friction and pressure from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry and vigorous cleaning. It adds that sleeping directly on a healing cartilage piercing can cause irritation and even shift the piercing’s angle, and suggests a travel pillow on top of your pillow with the ear in the opening.
Do not change the jewelry early. The APP says to leave the initial jewelry in place for the entire healing process unless there is a problem with its size, style or material. When can I change my cartilage piercing explains how to check.
When to see a doctor
The APP says to see a doctor if you have severe redness, swelling or pain, or if symptoms last for a week or get worse. The American Family Physician review says infections can develop in the first month. Leave the jewelry in unless a doctor says otherwise. Irritated or infected piercing has a symptom table, and cartilage piercing bumps covers lumps.
What it costs
How much is an industrial piercing sets out studio prices and the first-year total.
Not medical advice
This page is educational. If a piercing is hot, has spreading redness, thick coloured discharge or red streaks, or you feel unwell, see a doctor the same day.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an industrial piercing take to heal?
Our guides give 36 to 52 weeks, roughly eight months to a year. The Cleveland Clinic says cartilage may take up to six months or a year to fully heal, though its list of six to twelve months names daith, rook, conch, helix and tragus rather than the industrial. The outside can look settled long before the piercing has healed.
Why does an industrial take longer than a helix?
It is two holes joined by one bar, and our guides put the industrial at 36 to 52 weeks against 24 to 52 for a helix. That is our estimate. The Cleveland Clinic does not give a separate figure for an industrial.
When should I downsize an industrial bar?
Our guides give eight to twelve weeks, once the initial swelling has gone. The APP says many piercings require a downsize before the piercing is healed, and that you should see a qualified piercer to do it.
Can I change the bar or wear a hoop?
Not until it has healed. The APP says to leave the initial jewelry in place for the entire healing process unless there is a problem with its size, style or material, apart from a downsize by a piercer. Our guide on changing a cartilage piercing explains how to check.
Can I sleep on an industrial piercing?
Not while it is healing. The APP says sleeping directly on a healing cartilage piercing can cause irritation and even shift the piercing's angle, and suggests a travel pillow on top of your pillow with the ear in the opening.
What if it looks infected?
The APP says to see a doctor if you have severe redness, swelling or pain, or if symptoms last for a week or get worse. A 2005 American Family Physician review says ear cartilage piercings are associated with more serious infection, and that infections can develop in the first month. Leave the jewelry in unless a doctor says otherwise.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic - Ear piercing 101: healing, hurting, cleaning and morehttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced
- Meltzer (2005) - Complications of body piercing. American Family Physicianhttps://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2005/1115/p2029.html
- Association of Professional Piercers - Suggested aftercare for body piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Troubleshootinghttps://safepiercing.org/troubleshooting/
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.