Tragus Piercing (Explained): From Pain to Healing Time
In recent years, tragus piercings have become incredibly popular as a distinctive and stylish method to show uniqueness.
Tragus piercings provide a fashionable and daring appearance.
They are situated in the little protrusion of cartilage just in front of the ear canal.
This thorough guide will provide you with all the information you require if you’re thinking about getting a tragus piercing.
Where is the tragus?
A small point of cartilage located on the interior aspect of the external ear is referred to as the tragus.
It partially obscures the pathway leading to the hearing organs and is located in front of the ear entrance.
A popular location for ear piercings is the tragus.
Although these piercings might look amazing, improper care can easily lead to infection.
The hair that grows in the ears is also known by the name tragus.
Tragus piercing meaning: What is tragus piercing?
A piercing on the little bit of cartilage covering the ear canal is called a tragus piercing.
In this sense, it is a form of cartilage piercing as opposed to lobe piercings, which are situated on the fleshy portion of the ear, which is the customary location for earrings.
This piercing makes a striking focal point because it is placed in front of the ear canal.
People who want to show off their flair but don’t want to have regular earlobe piercings sometimes opt for the tragus.
It’s crucial to understand that tragus piercings depend on the anatomy before getting your heart set on one.
While the majority of people have no trouble getting their tragus pierced, some people’s tragus is too narrow or shallow to accommodate a piece of jewelry.
As a result, before deciding to get a tragus piercing, it’s advisable to speak with your piercer.
Tragus piercing costs N5,000–10,000 on average in Nigeria.
How do you get a tragus piercing?
To pierce your tragus, your piercer will:
- Use sterile water and an antiseptic designed for medical use to clean your tragus.
- Use a nontoxic pen or marker to outline the region that will be punctured.
- A sterile needle should be inserted into the tragus’s designated location and removed on the other side.
- Put jewelry into the piercing you’ve already decided on.
- Put an end to the piercing’s bleeding.
- To ensure the area is completely clean, give it another thorough cleaning using water and disinfectant.
Tragus-piercing jewelry
What kind of jewelry is used to pierce the tragus?
Studs: Considering the small size of tragus piercings, studs are an excellent jewelry choice.
For a new piercing, a ball stud works best because of its smooth edges, which make it less likely to catch on clothes and hair.
You can take your studs on more daring adventures once they heal.
Barbell: It is an earring that has a bar in the middle and balls on either end. Tragus barbells will be rather tiny.
Considering how simple it is to install and maintain, this is an excellent choice for a new piercing.
Small hoops can also be worn in the tragus piercing, though we recommend waiting until the piercing has healed before experimenting with hoops of unusual forms or textures.
What kind of jewelry is used for piercing the tragus?
Although many people are sensitive to even minute levels of nickel, fine metals like stainless steel are commonly used for body piercings.
However, they do contain nickel, which is a common source of irritation and piercing infections.
Gold: Better-quality metals will aid in healing and are ideal for those with sensitive skin, despite the allure of selecting a less costly option. 14-karat gold is a suitable substitute for nickel, which is commonly used in inexpensive jewelry.
Platinum: Platinum can also be used as a gold alternative. Platinum has a look similar to that of stainless steel but does not have nickel.
Tragus-piercing pain
Because more pressure is required to get the needle through the cartilage in your ear, tragus piercings typically cause more pain than earlobe piercings.
However, this soreness usually goes away in a few minutes.
Changing out your tragus piercing
Until the piercing is fully healed, do not remove it.
Make sure to fully wash your hands with soap and water before changing your tragus piercing or any other piercing and to clean the region frequently to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Depending on whether your earring is a stud, hoop, barbell, etc., the specific instructions will vary.
Most piercing studios will swap out an earring for free if they’re unsure.
How painful is it to get a tragus piercing?
A thin layer of bendable cartilage makes up the tragus of the ear.
This indicates that, compared to other parts of the ear, there isn’t as much dense tissue packed with pain-producing nerves.
You usually experience less pain the fewer nerves there are.
However, cartilage is more difficult to pierce than normal skin, so your piercer will probably need to use more force to push the needle through, which could result in some additional discomfort, particularly if they’re not very experienced.
Additionally, the level of pain varies from person to person, just like with every piercing.
However, the piercing usually hurts the most for most people shortly after the needle is inserted. This is a result of the needle puncturing the epidermis and nerves.
As the needle passes through the tragus, you could also experience a pinching feeling.
The discomfort that follows a tragus piercing usually subsides quickly, sometimes even disappearing within minutes of the treatment.
Tragus-piercing healing time
About four months
Cartilage piercings, such as tragus piercings, typically take longer to heal—between four months and a year—than your normal lobe piercing, which usually heals in six to eight weeks.
When your tragus is completely healed, you will know.
There won’t be any discomfort, warmth, redness or discoloration, swelling, drainage, or soreness.
Tragus piercing benefits
The tragus piercing may stimulate the vagus nerve, which is the longest of the 12 cranial nerves.
It transmits a ton of information from your organs to your brain and back.
Vascular nerve stimulation (VNS) is beneficial in treating chronic headache disorders such as migraine and cluster headaches, according to the American Headache Society.
Tragus-piercing migraines
The hypothesis behind migraine therapy using tragus piercings is that they act as a stimulant to the vagus nerve, which in turn reduces migraine pain.
While vagus nerve stimulation has been demonstrated to benefit diseases including depression and epilepsy, there are only anecdotal reports of its ability to relieve migraines.
What kind of aftercare is involved with tragus piercings?
It’s essential to adhere to the recommended aftercare after receiving a tragus piercing to promote a speedy and healthy healing process.
The following are crucial tragus-piercing aftercare guidelines:
Twice a day, clean the piercing. Use a moderate, fragrance-free soap or a saline solution to gently clean the piercing region.
To get rid of any discharge or crusting around the piercing site, use a cotton swab or pad.
Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. These products might be too strong and slow down the healing process.
Avoid using them to clean your piercings.
Try not to touch the piercing unless necessary, and wash your hands before doing so. Naturally, the purpose of this is to stop bacteria from getting in.
Steer clear of sleeping on the pierced side. Steer clear of sleeping on the side of the recently pierced tragus to avoid pressure and irritation on the piercing.
When you sleep, using a travel pillow or a pillow in the shape of a doughnut can help relieve pressure on that area.
Watch out for hair and cosmetics products: Make sure that makeup and hair products, like gels and sprays, stay out of direct contact with the piercing site.
These goods have the potential to irritate the skin and spread bacteria.
Steer clear of swimming or submerging the piercing for the first several months. Lakes, swimming pools, and hot tubs contain bacteria that can lead to illness.
Put on fine, implant-grade jewelry. This is also crucial for a quicker, infection-free healing process.
Side effects of tragus piercing
There are always some hazards to be aware of, even if you’re set on getting a tragus piercing, it won’t be worth losing sleep over them (especially if you hire a reliable piercer and follow the aftercare instructions).
Sometimes individuals are unable to get their tragus pierced because of its small size.
Please be aware that if a piercer determines it is not safe for you to have your tragus pierced, they are free to refuse your request.
When getting any kind of piercing, there are additional hazards to consider:
Keloid scarring: An unusual, elevated scar that may extend over the site of the initial injury.
Before obtaining a piercing, find out whether there is a family history of keloid, as it is believed to be inherited.
Piercing rejection: This is typically limited to surface piercings, in which the earring is pierced merely through the skin rather than into the cartilage itself.
Infection and inflammation: Proper follow-up is essential.
Refrain from handling the piercing with unclean hands, applying cosmetics there, or wearing earbuds that could irritate it while it heals.
Speak with your piercer or get medical help if you’re worried or think you could have an infection.
Due to an overabundance of collagen being created at the piercing site, hypertrophic scarring is rather frequent with cartilage piercings but should eventually heal.
When to see a doctor
When it comes to piercings, discomfort is normal.
However, if the pain doesn’t go away at all after a few days or seems to become worse over time, you should contact a medical practitioner.
Also, you ought to get medical attention if you observe:
- Discomfort or pain in other areas of your ear or within your ear canal;
- Dark yellow or green discharge from the piercing;
- Warmth or throbbing around the piercing;
- Dull agonizing pain that worsens over time or becomes intolerable, etc.
Conclusion
The additional pressure required to force the needle through the cartilage in your ear makes tragus piercings more painful than earlobe piercings.
However, this soreness usually goes away in a few minutes.
While some soreness is normal during the healing process, particularly if pressure is applied to the area, most patients find that the pain is manageable.
However, if you experience throbbing pain or the soreness becomes intolerable, get in touch with a healthcare provider right away.
These symptoms may indicate an underlying problem, such as a piercing rejection or an infection.
FAQs
Is tragus piercing for men?
Tragus-piercing men
A man’s tragus piercing is situated outside the ear, directly beneath the outer cartilage.
Because it’s quite manly and not too obvious, this piercing is very popular and reasonably easy to get.
Is anti-tragus piercing painful?
The anti-tragus, although appealing, is one of the most sensitive placements available, scoring a 6-7/10 on the pain scale.
It takes six to twelve months for this piercing to fully heal.
After receiving this piercing, you must refrain from sleeping on this ear and use no headphones, earbuds, or earphones for at least six months.
How painful is a tragus piercing?
The tragus is a fashionable accent to a well-chosen ear and is a common ear piercing among trend-setting celebrities.
It is placed on the cartilage over the ear canal.
Comparable to a helix placement, a tragus piercing is typically graded at 4/10, which is rather low on the pain scale.
Are there any risks with a tragus piercing?
Compared to other piercings, the tragus is more prone to adverse effects because it is formed of cartilage.
To avoid unpleasant side effects from your tragus piercing, such as infection, scarring, and allergic responses, it’s crucial to follow the recommended aftercare procedures.
What is a tragus piercing good for?
Tragus and daith piercings: A treatment for migraines and other conditions
Piercing these regions can help treat disorders like epilepsy, depression, anxiety, and recurrent migraines because abnormalities in the vagus nerve are frequently the root of these issues.
Can the tragus be touched after piercing?
To prevent introducing bacteria into the piercing, do not touch it until you have thoroughly cleaned your hands.
For the first day following the piercing, avoid using any soap, shampoo, or disinfectants on the affected area.
After the piercing has healed completely, wait three months before removing or handling the jewelry too roughly.
Can I wear Air pods after tragus piercing?
According to earlier commenters, use over-the-ear headphones only after your piercing has fully healed.
After that, you can wear in-ear headphones if you’d like and safely take off the jewelry for a brief period.
What is the hardest piercing to heal?
Because of the nerves that go through them, nose piercings are infamously difficult to heal.
Before they may be altered, they must wait at least 12 weeks, and even then, further time might be required.
Can you wear earbuds after tragus?
In the first four to eight weeks following the piercing, I would even think about forgoing the use of earbuds or headphones.
Any pressure applied to the piercing during the healing process will cause it to take longer to heal.
We suggest you give it a couple of months before you try sleeping on it.
What not to do with a tragus piercing?
You should refrain from rotating the jewelry for the duration of the healing process.
This is because spinning jewelry can tear scabs and interfere with the healing process.
If at all possible, try not to sleep on the piercing and refrain from hitting or knocking it with a brush or fingers.
What is the downside of tragus piercing?
Scarring and infection: Because there is less blood flow to this part of the ear, tragus piercings are more likely to become infected or leave scars.
By following the recommended aftercare instructions and having a professional perform the piercing, these side effects are less likely to occur.
What does the tragus piercing symbolize?
Having a tragus piercing may improve your intuition and increase your empathy.
Additionally, it is connected to the divine and death in many spiritual beliefs.
What piercing looks nice with a tragus?
A basic barbell or medium-sized hoops work well with this piercing.
The daith appears good for additional layers as it rests near the tragus.
What is the fastest way to heal a tragus piercing?
When applied to a fresh piercing, a warm compress can be very calming; minimizes redness and swelling, and speed up the healing process.
It can be useful to have a fresh towel soaked in warm water.
As an alternative, using chamomile tea bags to make a warm compress can work wonders.
What happens if I sleep on my new tragus piercing?
Sleeping on your newly pierced ear is not advised!
If you sleep on your newly pierced tragus, you can get an overgrowth of it.
The same holds for additional piercings like conch, helix, and other ear piercings.
How do you sleep with a tragus piercing?
Refrain from lying on your pierced side. Try not to sleep on the side of the freshly perforated tragus to avoid pressure and inflammation.
When you sleep, using a travel pillow or a pillow in the shape of a doughnut can help relieve pressure on that area.
How long does tragus take to heal?
3-6 months
How much time does healing take? Tragus piercings usually heal in three to six months, although occasionally it can take up to a year.
Follow your piercer’s aftercare guidelines to ensure seamless operations.
When can I shower after tragus piercing?
After getting the piercing, wait at least three weeks before submerging it in water.
Swimming should be avoided, but taking a shower (with caution) is OK. After cleaning the piercing, avoid rubbing it dry.
Rather, use a fresh cloth or paper towel to gently wipe it dry to prevent tissue injury or scraping.
When can I sleep on tragus piercing?
Any pressure applied to the piercing during the healing process will cause it to take longer to heal.
It is advised that you avoid sleeping on it during the first few months. Travel pillows are useful for relieving pressure.
What are the top 3 most painful piercings?
This is a list of potential pain levels for each form of piercing, from most to least painful.
- One of the body parts with the highest density of nerves is your genitalia.
- Another sensitive place that is frequently pierced is the n*pple.
- Level of pain from a nose piercing.
- A painful dermal piercing.
What are the top 3 least painful piercings?
There’s a good reason why ear piercings are so common: the pain is minimal and the ear tissue heals fast.
- Belly button piercing
- Tongue piercing.
- Eyebrow piercing.
What is the most harmless piercing?
Because the piercing goes through the cartilage, nostrils mend rapidly and rarely bleed.
As long as the piercing doesn’t penetrate the belly button too far, the skin above the belly button is typically thin enough to pierce safely.
Can you sleep on your side with a tragus piercing?
If you recently had a tragus piercing, we advise against sleeping on your side.
Why is my tragus not healing?
Cleaning: An infection may result from handling the wound with unclean or non-sterile hands or tools.
This could spread bacteria to the piercing.
Oxygen deficiency: Tightly fitting earrings that do not provide sufficient space for air to enter the site may also cause an infection.
Will a healed tragus close?
This piercing can last a couple of hours throughout the first six months.
It may take days or even weeks for it to close after a year. After three or four years, the tragus piercing usually closes slowly, if at all.