Ear Piercings

Types of Ear Piercings

  1. Lobe Piercings
    • Standard Lobe: The most common and basic type of piercing.
    • Upper Lobe: A variation closer to the top of the earlobe.
    • Stretched Lobes: Enlarging lobe piercings with tools or tapers to wear plugs or tunnels.

2. Cartilage Piercings

    • Helix: Located on the outer upper cartilage of the ear.
    • Forward Helix: Found on the cartilage closest to the face.
    • Industrial: A long barbell connects two piercings across the cartilage.
    • Daith: Piercing through the innermost cartilage fold; sometimes associated with migraine relief.
    • Rook: Located on the cartilage ridge above the tragus.
    • Tragus: Positioned on the cartilage above the ear canal.
    • Anti-Tragus: Opposite the tragus on the cartilage.

3. Inner Ear Piercings

  • Conch: Pierced through the middle cartilage of the ear. It can be inner or outer, depending on placement.
  • Orbital: Two piercings connected by a single piece of jewelry, often in the conch area.

4. Specialty Piercings

  • Snug: Positioned on the cartilage ridge between the outer ear and the inner conch.
  • Flat: On the flat part of the upper ear cartilage.
  • Earlobe Clusters: Multiple piercings across the lobe and cartilage for stacking jewelry.

Aftercare Tips

  1. Cleaning: Use a saline solution twice daily to clean the piercing. Avoid alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, which can irritate.
  2. Hands Off: Avoid touching the piercing unnecessarily to prevent infection.
  3. Jewelry Care: Don’t change or remove the jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.
  4. Healing Times:
    • Lobe: 6–8 weeks.
    • Cartilage: 3–12 months, depending on the location.
  5. Watch for Issues:
    • Redness, swelling, or discharge may indicate irritation or infection.
    • Seek professional advice if you suspect complications.