Your Complete Guide to Tragus Piercing

Looking for an ear piercing that stands out from the crowd? Tragus piercings may not have the same popularity as other types of ear cartilage piercings, such as helical piercings. But keeping the tragus out of the picture doesn't make this unique piercing any less stylish. 

Want to know a little more about this underrated piercing? We've put together a handy guide to everything tragus piercing related, from procedure and care to healing time and jewelry options. 

What is a tragus piercing?

Your tragus is a small flap of cartilage above the front of your ear canal where your ear connects to your head. Thus, a tragus piercing is a piercing that goes through a crescent-shaped flap. 

Before getting a tragus piercing, it is important to note that tragus piercings are anatomically dependent. While most people can pierce a tragus without problems, some people have a tragus that is too small or too thin to properly hold the jewelry. Therefore, it is best to consult with your piercer before deciding on a tragus piercing. 

Does a tragus piercing hurt?

We know that cartilage piercings have a bad reputation for being painful. However, the tragus is usually one of the easiest cartilage punctures to get on the pain scale. This is because there are nerve endings in the tragus. So for now, you may experience some discomfort when piercing the tragus.

Always keep in mind that a professional piercing shop using sharp, sterilized needles will also help make your piercing as painless as possible. Never trust a shop that uses piercing guns for tragus piercings. Piercing guns cannot be properly sterilized and this can lead to severe cartilage damage. 

Care after tragus piercing

Cartilage piercings, such as tragus piercings, usually have a longer healing time, requiring very careful piercing care to ensure proper healing. 

First of all, never touch the piercing except to clean it, and your hands must be thoroughly washed! Once your hands are completely clean, you will need to apply alcohol-free soap and saline spray to them daily. Find out more about our aftercare procedure here.

In addition to cleaning your piercing regularly, it's important to avoid irritating substances, such as hair or skin care products. You also shouldn't pull or tug on your jewelry. Be careful when styling your hair so that your hair does not get caught in the jewelry. 

For those who are big music lovers, you may also need to avoid certain types of headphones, such as over-ear headphones, while the piercing heals. This may seem like a daunting task, but it will actually speed up the healing process and help prevent infection. It is also recommended not to sleep on your side with a fresh piercing, as this can irritate the area and cause the new piercing to get stuck and dislodged. 

Tejo piercing healing time

As with most ear cartilage piercings, a tragus piercing takes an average of 4 to 6 months to fully heal. If you want your piercing to heal as quickly as possible, remember to take good care of it. If you save on aftercare, you can delay the healing process even longer, with some piercings taking up to a year to heal completely. 

A stronger immune system will also help your body put more energy into healing your piercing. So try to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking as much as possible. 

Signs of an infected tragus piercing

You're unlikely to get an infection if you follow the care tips above, but it's still important to be aware of the signs of any potential danger in case a problem occurs. 

During the first week after the piercing, swelling, redness, irritation, and a clear or white discharge are usually observed. However, if these symptoms persist or seem excessive, you may want to contact your piercer to be on the safe side. 

If you develop a fever or the skin around the piercing feels hot to the touch, it's best not to wait and contact your piercer immediately. 

Tragus Piercing Jewelry 

You'll be limited to the jewelry you choose for your initial piercing until your piercing is completely healed... so be sure to choose your first jewelry wisely! However, once your piercing has healed, you can change your look to suit your mood with a variety of fun jewelry options. 

Most people opt for flat back jewelry or rings after their tragus piercing has completely healed, although you can also opt for a barbell if you want to stand out from the crowd. 

When choosing jewelry, remember that large jewelry can interfere with listening to music or talking on the phone.