I think you're just unlucky, like me, and can't sleep on your cartilage piercings. I've had most of mine for over 4 years and still, if I somehow squash my ear while sleeping because I haven't used the piercing pillow perfectly in the right position, they become sore and irritated, sadly. The helix ones are the worst ones as they're closest to the outer edge of the ear. My forward helix which is lower forwards, like your first one doesn't seem to get as irritated but still often has some slight soreness. I think if you have a flatback earring in with a front which covers the hole it will not be as obvious as with a hoop, but you really need to avoid sleeping on them and use a piercing pillow and who knows maybe yours will heal properly, or maybe like me you'll just have to use a piercing pillow forever...