"A lot of times people will come in thinking they have an infection when it's really just physical irritation," Thompson explains. They're likely hitting it a lot or playing with it — both no-no's. Cartilage piercings experience this often because it's in the line of fire for everyday activities. This can cause redness, swelling, and a little bit of pain. You might even see some white or clear fluid from the piercing — this is lymph fluid, not pus. Dr. Wexler adds that this is normal and may be noticeable for several days after your piercing. If it persists past a few days it's good to rule out an allergy to the jewelry.