Tragus Piercing
The tragus piercing is subtle yet unique. Here you'll learn everything about tragus piercings, from the pain involved to the right tragus jewellery and the different variations.
What is a tragus piercing?
The tragus is a part of the ear made of thick cartilage. It's the protruding cartilage that covers the opening to the ear canal. The tragus has a rounded, triangular shape and varies in shape from person to person. Therefore, before piercing, it's important to check whether the cartilage is thick enough for a piercing.
Other Tragus Piercing Variations
In addition to the classic tragus piercing, there are other variations. Here you'll learn exactly where these variations are located and what they look like.
Anti-Tragus Piercing
The anti-tragus piercing pierces a small piece of cartilage above the earlobe. Like the classic tragus, a stud or a small clicker ring can be worn.
Surface Tragus Piercing
With a surface tragus piercing, only the upper layer of skin is pierced instead of the cartilage. A barbell or banana bar is used.
Double Tragus Piercing
With a double tragus piercing, not just one but two holes are pierced through the tragus.
Vertical Tragus Piercing
The vertical tragus piercing is a surface piercing located on the inside of the tragus. It also uses a barbell or banana bar.
How painful is a tragus?
Although the tragus piercing is pierced through thick cartilage, it is less painful than other cartilage piercings because there are few nerve pathways through this area. The pain is approximately 5/10, but can vary depending on your individual pain sensitivity.
The ideal tragus piercing jewellery
Classic stud earrings or small clicker rings can be worn in the tragus piercing. Stud earrings with a marquise crystal are particularly suitable, for example, as they fit the shape of the tragus very nicely.
Find out what you should look for when choosing jewellery here.
The right size
The tragus is pierced with a straight needle, so the initial jewelry is always a stud, not a ring. Stud lengths range from 6mm to 10mm. A longer stud is initially used during piercing, which is usually reduced once the swelling subsides. Those who wish to switch to a ring after healing should choose an inner diameter of 6mm-8mm, depending on their individual cartilage thickness.
The bar thickness of the earring for a tragus piercing should be 1.2mm, as cartilage piercings are always pierced with a 1.2mm piercing needle. A smaller gauge could result in the hole becoming smaller.
Materials
The material used for piercings is crucial. Inferior materials can cause irritation or inflammation during healing. Therefore, only hypoallergenic and sterile materials should be used for freshly pierced piercings.
Materials such as titanium, gold, white gold, or stainless steel are particularly suitable. These materials are well tolerated by most people. Solid gold earrings are particularly durable, as they are very resistant to everyday wear and tear and retain their shine without having to be removed.
Silver is also popular because it is very inexpensive to purchase, but it is not hypoallergenic. Therefore, it should never be worn in freshly pierced piercings, as it can cause inflammation and, in the worst case, lead to blood poisoning.
Recommended jewellery for tragus piercings
Regardless of the jewellery chosen, the healing of a tragus piercing depends significantly on careful aftercare.
How long does it take for a tragus piercing to heal?
The tragus piercing takes about 3 to 8 months to heal completely. Proper care of the piercing is essential to prevent infection.
In summer, healing can be delayed due to heat and contact with water, so we advise against getting a piercing in summer. The tragus piercing should not be changed during the healing phase. In addition, irritation should be avoided so that the healing process is as quick as possible.
Does a tragus help with anxiety?
The tragus stimulates the so-called vagus nerve and can thereby reduce anxiety or stress in the brain.
How painful is it to get a tragus piercing?
The pain associated with piercing a tragus is around 5/10, but can be perceived as stronger or weaker by individuals.
Does a tragus piercing help with weight loss?
Due to its location, the tragus may stimulate the vagus nerve. This is thought to help regulate appetite and reduce cravings. However, there is currently no scientific evidence to support this claim.
How long does it take for a tragus to heal?
The healing of a tragus takes approximately 3-8 months.