Minor infection rate, cartilage vs soft-tissue piercings

Ear cartilage is avascular and heals slowly, so infections there are both more frequent and more serious (study of 1,200 piercing sites).

Minor infection rate, cartilage vs soft-tissue piercingsEar cartilage is avascular and heals slowly, so infections there are both more frequent and more serious (study of 1,200 piercing sites).Soft-tissue (lobe) piercings21%Cartilage piercings30%

Source: Simplot & Hoffman, Am J Otolaryngol (PubMed) ↗

Chart by Poli International — Piercing Complications StatisticsFree to reuse with attribution · CC BY 4.0