While cartilidge piercings don't get infected any more easily, they do take longer to heal, and they can get IRRITATED and HT scarring more often (esp industrials)
But a bit of patience and it'll be fine
Are you sure your mother isn't thinking of gunned cartilidge?
Thats when people start having lots of problems (and people are forever seeing irritation, assuming the worst and panic its infected)
My mothers gone past caring tbh >.<
As long as I don't get massive visible tattoos, she doesn't care. She doesn't like them though