Contemplating a tragus piercing? You’re not alone. Piercing the tiny nub of cartilage that sits just in front of the ear canal has become more popular since it was discovered that ear cartilage piercings may help manage migraine. The tragus piercing has become a trendy form of body modification. This article delves into the specifics of tragus piercings, covering the procedure, potential risks, aftercare, and the unverified claims of weight loss benefits.
What is a Tragus Piercing?
The tragus is that nubby little outcropping of cartilage that’s right in front of your ear canal. A tragus piercing involves puncturing this small flap of cartilage, allowing for the display of various jewelry options. While you can opt for a surface piercing (meaning it vertically pierces your skin next to your tragus, creating a double-hole effect), most folks choose the traditional tragus piercing, which creates a single hole through the cartilage.
The Piercing Procedure
The technique can vary slightly from piercer to piercer. For example, some pierce from the outside in, while others go from the inside out. Aside from that, tragus piercings are made using a sterile needle - or at least they should be. Generally, your piercer will:
- Clean the area using a medical-grade disinfectant.
- Mark the exact area to be pierced with a nontoxic marker.
- Some piercers place a cork or other barrier in your ear canal to protect it from the needle.
- Insert the needle into the tragus, through to the other side.
- Insert the jewelry into the piercing.
- Apply light pressure to stop any bleeding.
- Clean the area again.
Pain Factor
A lot, according to some people, but only for a second. Cartilage piercings are generally considered more painful than piercing fleshier parts, like the earlobes, but it’s all relative. The pain caused by the needle is so quick, though, that if you take a deep breath as it happens, it’ll be over before you exhale. Having the needle right there next to your ear canal means you hear and feel every little thing. That can be unnerving for some. If you think it’ll help keep your tension in check, wear an earplug, as long as it’s not in the way. Being tense can make the experience feel much worse. While we’re on the subject, it’s worth noting that being drunk or hungover, super tired or stressed, or having an empty stomach can also make things feel more painful. Be sure you’re well rested, have some food in your belly, and aren’t nursing a hangover.
Cost of a Tragus Piercing
A tragus piercing can cost anywhere from $25 to $50. The exact cost depends on several factors, including:
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- the experience of the piercer
- the popularity and location of the studio
- the type of jewelry used
When budgeting for your piercing, make sure to factor in extra costs, like any aftercare products and a tip for your piercer. You’ll also want to find out whether the jewelry is included in the total cost. Keep in mind that some metals and styles cost more than others.
Jewelry Options
You have a few options for the initial piercing and a lot more once your piercing is fully healed. Most piercers use surgical stainless steel because it’s safe for most people and inexpensive.
Here’s a look at the recommended options for initial piercings:
- Surgical stainless steel. This is medical-grade stainless steel used for medical implants. It does contain some nickel, but a low rate of nickel release makes it safe even for most people with a nickel allergy. Still, if you have a severe nickel allergy, you’ll want to skip it.
- Titanium. This is another medical-grade metal, but unlike stainless steel, titanium is completely hypoallergenic. It’s more expensive, but if you have a severe nickel allergy, titanium is what your piercer will likely recommend.
- Solid 14-karat or higher gold. If you like the look of yellow, rose, or white gold and don’t mind paying more, gold is a safe option. Just make sure it’s solid and not gold-plated, which can flake and expose you to nickel and other alloys used under the plating.
- Niobium. This elemental metal is similar to titanium and safe for pretty much everyone, but it doesn’t have the implant-grade designation - not that that’s a big deal here. It also costs less than titanium.
Once you’re healed, the world is your oyster as far as jewelry options. Until then, you’ll need to stick with the jewelry used for the initial piercing. Your piercer can help you choose the best type to start with. Barbells, hoops, and studs are the most common types used for initial piercings:
- Barbells are easy to get in and out of the piercing (though this won’t matter much for the initial piercing).
- Studs might offer some protection against scarring.
- Rings work best if you’re looking for something simple and discreet.
The type of jewelry you go with really just comes down to your personal preference.
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Potential Risks and Complications
Some tenderness and swelling is basically par for the course the first couple of days after puncturing tissue, along with some watery discharge and crusting. More serious complications are possible, but you can greatly reduce your chance of these by making sure you go with an experienced piercer. Here’s a look at the main things to watch for:
- Infection. An open wound (like a piercing) can allow bacteria to get in and cause infection. This can cause redness, pain, inflammation, and bleeding that doesn’t stop or gets worse. It can also cause dark or foul-smelling pus and a fever.
- Bloodborne infections. You can contract bloodborne infections from a contaminated needle, including hepatitis B and C, and HIV. Insisting your piercer use a sterilized, disposable needle is a must!
- Bumps. Keloids, pustules, and granulomas are just some types of bumps that are common with cartilage piercings. Allergic reactions (more on those in a sec) can also cause itchy bumps or a rash.
- Allergic reaction. Allergies to certain metals are fairly common, especially nickel. A lot of body jewelry contains some nickel, which could cause an allergic reaction. Symptoms include itching, redness, and blisters.
- Rejection. Sometimes your body treats jewelry like a foreign object and tries to push it out. This is called a rejection. If it happens, you may notice the hole getting bigger, or skin flaking or thickening around it.
- Catching or tearing. Ouch, right? But it’s possible to catch your piercing on something, like a shirt you pull over your head or a hat, causing the tissue to tear.
Aftercare Instructions
Your piercer will give you aftercare instructions to help your piercing heal faster and lower your risk for complications.
To care for your tragus piercing:
- Rinse it two or three times a day using a saline solution that you can buy or make yourself.
- Avoid touching the piercing so you don’t introduce bacteria and germs into the wound.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or touching your piercing.
- Rinse any crust or discharge with warm water and gentle soap.
- Avoid harsh products or ingredients, like alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and perfumes.
- Try not to use earbuds or headphones until it’s healed, or at least for the first month or two.
- Be careful not to snag or catch your jewelry on things like sweaters, scarves, or hats.
Healing Time
It typically takes 3 to 6 months for a tragus piercing to heal, but it can take a lot longer - up to a year - depending on how well you care for it and whether you experience any complications along the way. Factors like any existing medical conditions, certain medications, and even lifestyle choices, like smoking, can affect healing time.
It’s best to leave the initial jewelry in until the piercing is fully healed. That said, you may be able to swap it out earlier if:
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- your piercing is no longer tender
- the minimum healing time as advised by your piercer has passed
- any weeping or discharge and crusting has stopped
If you need to change it for some reason before it’s healed, have a piercer do it.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Any symptoms that persist or get worse are usually a pretty good indication that things are going south.
Here are specific symptoms to watch out for:
- severe pain
- persistent or worsening inflammation or redness
- swelling that lasts more than 48 hours
- thick, smelly discharge or pus
- excessive bleeding
- warmth from the piercing
- a bump at the piercing site
- fever
- thickening or flaking around the piercing
If you’re not sure if something is unusual, you can contact the piercer to double check, but it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider about any of the above symptoms.
Removal
That depends on how much you dislike it and whether you’re ready to kiss it goodbye for good.
If you’re on the fence, consider keeping it in until it’s healed. You can try another style of jewelry that’s more your bag.
If you really want it out before it’s healed, you or your piercer can take it out, but you’ll still need to continue with the aftercare until it’s healed. Within a few weeks, skin will grow back over the hole.
Tragus Piercings and Weight Loss: Separating Fact from Fiction
One of the more unconventional methods gaining attention is ear piercing for weight loss. The idea is that certain pressure points in the ear can be pierced to curb hunger and promote weight loss. But does this approach hold any merit, or is it just another fleeting trend? The idea of ear piercings for weight loss is rooted in the principles of acupressure and acupuncture. According to proponents, certain pressure points in the ear-such as the Daith, Tragus, and Helix-are connected to nerve pathways that influence appetite and metabolism. For example, the Daith piercing is said to stimulate the vagus nerve, which plays a critical role in regulating digestion and hunger signals.
The piercing that supposedly helps migraines is called the Daith piercing, located in the fold of cartilage just above the entrance to the ear canal. Supporters of this treatment claim that it activates a pressure point that relieves migraine symptoms. The piercing that supposedly helps with allergies is called the helix piercing, located at a particular point on top of the ear called the allergy point. When pierced, it's said to relieve allergy symptoms like congestion and a sore throat. The Daith piercing, which also supposedly helps with migraines, is said to help ease chronic anxiety. Another piercing is popular as well, called the Shen men or "heavenly gate" piercing. Located on the thick piece of cartilage that juts out just below the top curve of the ear, some believe that it can reduce anxiety.
While the theory sounds intriguing, it’s important to note that these claims lack strong scientific backing. Most of the information comes from anecdotal reports or traditional practices rather than rigorous studies.
The basis of the theory: acupuncture and "qi"
Some call it body piercing. Some call it acupuncture. Some call it absurd. Ear stapling is a derivative of acupuncture, which involves stimulating certain points on the body with fine needles. Both have limited scientific backing, but a couple of studies back up the use of auricular acupuncture in weight loss. Most believers point the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture for the source of the effect, while some attribute it to underlying physical connections in the body. According to some sources, the outer ear and the abdominal organs are right next to each other during fetal development in the womb, and the physical connection between these body parts remains via nerve pathways even after they are no longer in close proximity. In this explanation, stimulating a part of the external ear also stimulates the abdominal organs, including the stomach. Other practitioners claim that piercing this particular area of the ear releases endorphins -- chemicals released by the brain during pleasurable activities that make you feel good. But most people look at ear stapling as a derivative of acupuncture. The basis of acupuncture is the concept of qi, or life force (see How does acupressure work?). In ancient Chinese practices (and many modern derivatives of the ancient form), stimulating specific points on the body using needles or finger pressure can open or clear certain channels that run throughout the body that are crucial to overall health and wellbeing. Believers in ear stapling claim that by continuously stimulating the Zero Point location, which is said by some to include the Stomach point presented above, they can curb appetite, reduce stress and increase metabolism, among other benefits. Some people who have undergone the procedure say it also eliminates migraine headaches, nicotine craving and insomnia.
Evidence (or lack of evidence)
But is there scientific evidence to support these claims? A couple of scientific studies back up the use of auricular acupuncture in weight loss. According to one study conducted at the University of Adelaide in Australia in 1998, "Acupuncture stimulates the auricular branch of the vagal nerve and raises serotonin levels, both of which have been shown to increase tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach, thus suppressing appetite." In this study, a group of 60 obese subjects were split into two groups, with only one of the groups receiving acupuncture treatment. The treatment consisted of a simultaneous stimulation of the Shen Men and Stomach points. The results showed that the acupuncture group was more likely to experience a reduced appetite and to lose weight than the control group. Skeptics point out that the placebo effect -- a term used to describe the phenomenon of something working because you believe it's going to work -- is an possible explanation for all of these positive results.
Concerns and Realities
If you’ve heard stories of people losing weight after getting a Daith or Tragus piercing, it’s important to take those claims with a grain of salt. Anecdotal evidence can be compelling, but it doesn’t account for other factors that might influence weight loss, such as changes in diet or exercise routines. Without controlled studies to validate these claims, there’s no reliable way to link ear piercings directly to weight loss.
Risks Associated with Ear Piercings for Weight Loss
- Lack of scientific evidence: The biggest drawback is that there is no robust scientific research proving that ear piercings aid in weight loss.
- Risk of infection and complications: Cartilage piercings like the Daith, Tragus, and Helix are prone to infections, especially if not cared for properly.
- Potential for nerve damage: Piercing areas like the Tragus are dense with nerve endings, making them more susceptible to damage during the procedure.
- Healing time and maintenance: Cartilage piercings take 6-9 months or longer to heal completely.
Alternative, Proven Methods for Weight Loss
If appetite control is a challenge, GLP-1 medications like Semaglutide offer a scientifically proven solution. GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone that regulates hunger and helps you feel full after eating. Studies have shown that GLP-1 medications are effective in helping people lose weight and maintain it over time. Unlike trends with little evidence, these treatments are backed by extensive clinical research and are often part of comprehensive medical weight loss programs.