Getting a new piercing means more than just aftercare during the day—your sleeping habits need to change too. Many people don’t realize that sleeping on a fresh piercing can cause serious complications like irritation, scarring, and even migration. Whether you have a nose piercing, ear cartilage piercing, or facial piercing, understanding proper sleeping positions and techniques will help you avoid these common problems. This guide covers everything you need to know about protecting your piercing while you sleep.
Sleeping Positions for Facial and Nose Piercings
Facial piercing sleeping tips require adjustments to your usual routine. If you have a facial piercing or nose piercing, you need to modify your sleep habits. For people who normally sleep face down, this position must change completely. Sleep on your back instead. Alternatively, sleep on your side.
The key is keeping your face away from the pillow surface. Back sleeping provides the safest position for healing facial piercings without any contact pressure.
Managing Sleep with Ear and Cartilage Piercings
Cartilage piercing sleep side management presents a bigger challenge. When you get cartilage pierced or receive any ear piercing, the location determines your sleeping options. If you get pierced on one side, sleep on the opposite side. This sounds simple, but requires conscious effort.
You will occasionally wake up sleeping on the side with new piercings. This happens unconsciously during sleep. When you notice this, roll over immediately. Sleep on the other side. Do your best to avoid sleeping on a piercing throughout the night.
The Piercing Pillow Technique
-
Donut Memory Foam Piercing Pillow
Original price was: $89.00.$79.00Current price is: $79.00. -
Donut Piercing Pillow
Original price was: $59.90.$39.90Current price is: $39.90. -
Memory Foam Piercing Pillow
Original price was: $99.00.$89.00Current price is: $89.00. -
Piercing Pillow for Side Sleepers
Original price was: $120.00.$99.00Current price is: $99.00.
A piercing pillow for ear piercing offers an excellent solution. Those pillows work perfectly. They have a design with a large hole in the middle. These pillows are ideal for people with ear piercings on both sides who cannot choose just one side.
Your ear fits perfectly in that little opening. Place your pierced ear in the hollow center. The pillow supports your head while keeping pressure off the piercing. This setup might feel awkward initially. You will get used to it quickly. Your body adapts to this sleeping arrangement. The piercing pillow technique really helps protect fresh piercings during the healing period.
The Arm Nook Method
Another effective sleeping position for piercing involves using your arm. Take your arm and create a small space in the crook of your elbow. Use this area as your pillow. Position your ear in that little nook. Sleep with your head resting there.
This position seems really weird at first. You will get used to it over time. You would be amazed how the body adapts to new sleeping positions. This method works especially well for avoiding sleeping on piercing when you don’t have a travel pillow available.
Critical Healing Timeline
The healing period piercing care timeline varies by individual and piercing type. On average, avoid sleeping on your piercing for the first two to three months at all costs. Some people heal faster. Others need more time. Different piercings require different healing periods.
During this entire healing period, maintain vigilance about your sleeping position. Do not sleep on your body piercing regardless of how comfortable it feels. Consistent protection during sleep prevents irritation from sleeping, excessive scar tissue piercing formation, and potential migration from sleeping on piercing.