Getting ear pierced can be nerve-wracking if it is your first time. Luckily, it is done thousands of times across the globe daily, and there is nothing to fear if you know the basics. Today’s blog will introduce you to the essentials of ear piercing, so you know what you are getting yourself into.
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Who Can’t Get Their Ear Pierced?
If you are a completely healthy adult and don’t have medical conditions, you are probably safe to get any kind of piercing that you like on your ears. However, if you have skin issues on your ears such as an unidentified lesion, mole, cut, rash, or lump, you have to consult with your doctor.
People with conditions that prevent their skin from healing normally are also not candidates for ear piercing. If you have a heart condition such as high blood pressure, you may want to ask your physician first before getting a piercing as the stress may not be good for your heart.
Individuals with autoimmune conditions may also experience strange reactions to the presence of any kind of metal in their skin, so there may be additional risks to getting your ear pierced.
Severe conditions that affect blood and healing, such as hemophilia (a definite red flag for professionals conducting the piercing) and diabetes, are not good candidates for any piercing.
Granted, there are people with heart disease and diabetes who do get piercings from time to time, and they’re fine. However, it is still best to talk to your doctor before getting a piercing on the safe side.
Your doctor would know if you need to put on medicated cream or take some medication after the procedure to keep you healthy. People with hearing issues may also be cautioned against certain things, so there won’t be complications after getting the piercings.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Your Ears Pierced?
If we look at the question from a medical perspective, anyone above the age of six months can safely get piercings because their immune systems are already developed. From an aesthetic point of view, the answer varies. In some cultures, getting piercings is like getting tattoos – there is no ideal time for it because it frowns upon body modifications. However, if you are like us, we believe that if you are already an adult, you have the right to your body, and you can get piercings.
If you are unsure, talk to your family and friends about it. The answers that you will get may not be conclusive, but at least you will have some additional opinions about it. Also, some adults don’t get highly visible piercings for professional reasons.
Maybe some corporate organizations frown upon males wearing earrings and other jewelry around their faces. It’s not logical, but company policies are company policies. Think about it some more before getting a piercing so you will have no regrets about it.
Types of Ear Piercing?
The human ear is a beautiful place to hang various types of jewelry. People get piercings to look beautiful, so they can properly wear the adornments and jewelry that they like. Each person is unique, and therefore, the type of jewelry, and the placement of jewelry on the ear varies.
Standard Lobe Piercing
This is the best type of piercing for beginners. It’s where everyone starts (at least in the West). Just a plain piercing on the largest flap of the ear.
High-Lobe Piercing
The piercing is still on the main lobe, but higher up. This is best for adorning your lobes with additional small studs to create an artistic effect.
Daith Piercing
A slightly difficult piercing because it involves punching a hole through the outer rim of the ‘conch’ area of the ear. A skilled artist should have no issues using a hollow needle to create the space for the jewelry. Anecdotal evidence shows that this may help reduce spikes of migraines. Some people get two daith piercings at once so they can wear two earrings side by side.
Tragus Piercing
The tragus piercing makes use of the small flap near the face. It’s not the most difficult of piercings, so you won’t have to worry. The preferred jewelry for this area is a shiny stud, but you can always experiment with different earrings to see which look best on you. The tragus piercing is a great way to ‘curate’ your ears and adorn yourself with even more artistic studs and earrings.
Conch Piercing
There are two types of conch piercings. The first one, which is considered the easier of the two, is the outer conch piercing. This point is farthest from the tragus area (which lies opposite). A stud is usually placed here because of the distance of the outer conch piercing from the nearest outside area. The more difficult version is the inner conch piercing, which is close to the ear canal. It’s more difficult because it’s farther from the area that the artist can reach easily. If you are thinking of getting your conch area pierced, make sure a professional does it.
Helix Piercing
This piercing is done on the upper region of the outer cartilage of the ear. People normally shift to this spot after exhausting their lobes. The great thing about this location on the ear is you can have multiple piercings done and experiment with stud combinations to see which ones work best with your anatomy and general look.
How Much Does an Ear, Piercing Hurt?
There is no way to sugarcoat the truth: it hurts. It’s not the same as an ant bite, and we can’t say that it’s like getting hit by the edge of a knife. It’s probably somewhere in between.
The most painless piercings are on the lobe (standard for earrings). However, when you are moving up the cartilage and experimenting, it’s best to prepare yourself for more sensations that seem more like an ‘ant bite.’
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