A Guide to Industrial Piercing and Its Aftercare

Industrial piercing is one of the most eye-catching accessories in recent times due to its novel style. However, it requires strict aftercare in order to be successful.
A Guide to Industrial Piercing and Its Aftercare

Last update: 27 May, 2022

Accessories such as industrial piercing continue to consolidate as a huge part of modern body adornments day after day. This is because people pay a lot of attention to their appearance as it helps them express themselves in terms of tastes, feelings of comfort, personality, and of course, freedom.

Piercings have been successfully incorporated into the world of fashion to strengthen diversity, highlight certain areas of the body, personalize the image according to each individual’s personality, and encourage originality. There’s a clear visual intention, so the ears are one of the most selected places for piercings.

The location of an industrial piercing is usually the cartilage of the upper part of the ear. Its main characteristic is that two piercings come together. This is typically because they connect through the same metal bar that goes through the two holes.

Let’s take a closer look at this type of piercing, what it entails, and how to look after it.

The industrial piercing procedure

There must be a well-planned step-by-step procedure that keeps safety into account.

It’s important to emphasize that this is simple that takes only a few minutes as long as a trained professional does it. The proper procedure for piercing is as follows:

  • The professional must disinfect the entire area to pierce as well as any jewelry, needles, and gloves they’re going to use. This is essential to prevent infections.
  • Then, they draw the two points to pierce. This is mainly so the professional can advise on the most appropriate places to intervene so that the person to pierce can make a final decision.
  • Then, they use a hollow needle to open the first hole in its entirety, and then perforate the second hole with a different needle.
  • Finally, they pierce the two holes with an industrial bar and place a round jewel on each end.
A person handling sterilized tools.
The hygiene of the professional who performs the piercing is key to prevent infections that complicate the procedure.

What does the success of the piercing depend on?

It’s important to be informed on the subject to know all the phases of the procedure before undergoing it. This avoids improvisations that could affect the final result.

It’s essential to previously examine the ear that’s going to be pierced for an industrial piercing to be successful. This is why you must always consult an expert.

This examination is to select the most appropriate position and angle to pierce the cartilage of every individual, taking into account that all ears have a specific size and shape.

This is because not taking into account this phase of the process can lead to piercing the wrong part of the ear and it could lead to discomfort, irritation, and frequent pain. A bad procedure could escalate into a huge problem. The study of the ear is also key to select an appropriate size of the industrial piercing bar.

Possibility of infection in an industrial piercing

There can be infections in all types of piercings due to serious carelessness or not maintaining proper aftercare, as recommended by the specialist. In the case of industrial piercings, the proximity to a greasy area, such as hair can lead to the colonization of bacteria.

Also, the possibility is a little higher because there are two piercings to take care of. However, you can prevent discomfort with proper cleaning.

Some symptoms of industrial piercing infection may include:

  • Heavy bleeding
  • Pus in large quantities
  • Swelling without improvement
  • Intense pain

In case of infection

Ideally, don’t let a piercing get infected because the upper cartilage is an area that can take longer than usual to heal. This is explained by the lack of blood concentration.

In any case, you can take measures to prevent the situation from progressing and worsening if an infection does occur. These are:

  • Clean the area with a saline solution to keep the infection at bay.
  • Don’t remove the metal bar because lumps may form in the pierced holes if you do.
  • Apply ice to reduce swelling and any redness that may occur around the infected area.
  • Dry the entire area after cleaning and always make sure there’s no residue or debris left behind.

Proper industrial piercing aftercare

Looking after the piercing is key to help speed up the healing process of each of the holes. Also, it’s necessary to keep bacteria from settling in and complicate the formation of new tissue.

This is what you need to do for the industrial piercing to heal as it should:

  • Wash the pierced areas three times a day with soap and water.
  • Keep hair away from the pierced area so as not to transfer any dirt or grease.
  • Don’t toggle the jewelry. This is key to avoid dirtying the bar.
  • Don’t sleep on the piercing, as it could cause redness and inflammation.
  • Clean the jewelry with a saline solution to keep it from accumulating dirt.
  • Don’t remove the piercing before it heals completely as it can lead to serious injuries.
  • Don’t clean with alcohol, it’s counterproductive for the healing process.
  • Dry the area well so that no lumps or harmful substances accumulate.
Three tools used for piercing.
The placement of this kind of jewelry involves double piercings, which also doubles the aftercare.

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There are some final recommendations to take into account to increase the chances of success of this procedure. For example, skip the headphones and any other accessories that may rub the area.

Don’t remove scabs, as you’d only be creating a new wound every time. Keep in mind that the definitive healing process takes from 6 to 12 months. However, it all depends on the individual.

Consult the piercer immediately if you notice any anomalies to prevent major risks. Keep in mind that you can only remove the jewelry after the specialist examines it and says it’s OK to do so.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Fornes B. Díez P. Sierra C. Complicaciones y cuidados de los piercings y los tatuajes [Internet]. Valencia: Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 2012 [citado 16 de febrero de 2021]
  • Ferrer H. Gala H. Bertrán J. Ortiz L. Piercing: ¿moda inofensiva? [Internet]. Cuba: MEDISAN, 2007 [citado 16 de febrero de 2021]
  • Kluger, Nicolas, et al. “Body piercing: a national survey in france.” Dermatology 235.1 (2019): 71-78.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.