Tragus Piercing 101: Everything You Need to Know

Change can be exciting! Switching jobs, moving to a new city, switching up your hair color or even getting a tattoo can be monumental. But let’s be honest, sometimes we just want to dip our toe in the water; we would like to feel different without making a drastic change. A tragus piercing is a perfectly subtle and sophisticated way to do this. Tragus piercings are very popular and fashionable and they also completely elevate the appearance of your already existing ear piercing(s).

Style icons like Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Zoë Kravitz and Scarlett Johansson have this piercing and this should tell you something.

What is a tragus piercing?

The tragus is a small and chunky piece of cartilage that covers the opening of your ear carnal. The piercing sits on top of this cartilage. Although the traditional and usual place to get a ear piercing is the lobe, a piercing on the tragus compliments an already pierced lobe.

The piercing came to the spotlight in the 1980s and has since then continued to grow in popularity. Depending on preference and style, you can wear a stud or hoop on your tragus.

Does a tragus piercing hurt?

If this is holding you back from getting this absolutely stylish look, I’m here to tell you you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Judging from the thickness of the tragus, it does seem like piercing it would be pretty painful. However, when you compare how painful it is with another cartilage piercing like say the helix, there  isn’t  much of a difference. Pain is relative and while it might be very painful to some (they say beauty is pain anyways), it may not be as painful to others.

This should not put you off though. Although it hurts, most people swear that the pain ends the second the piercing is completed. Most experienced piercers would also apply a numbing cream to the tragus before piercing it.

How long does it take to heal?

Just like any piercing, especially cartilage piercings, a crucial factor to take note of is the healing time. A tragus piercing typically takes between six to twelve months to heal.

For a better healing process, you might need to keep things like your phones, headset, earbuds away from the newly pierced area for a few weeks. This is because they likely carry germs and you risk an infection to your piercing.

Other things such as how you care for your new piercing or if an infection occurs contribute to the healing time of your piercing, but normally, it should heal between six months to a year.

How much does it cost to get one?

Where you choose to get your piercing done and the type of jewelry used largely determines the cost. It is expected to cost roughly anywhere from $20-$50.  In Nigeria it costs between N7,000 to N15,000.

You may also need to factor in some extra cost for the jewelry and after care products. Call or book an appointment with the piercer ahead of time so that you are well prepared.

Aftercare

How you care for your new piercing is extremely important. It has a notable effect on your healing time and process as well as whether or not you will experience risk factors like infections. Your piercer is likely to give you aftercare instructions like the following:

  • Cleanse the area twice or thrice a day using a saline solution.
  • Avoid touching the area except when you want to clean it so you don’t introduce bacteria and germs into the wound.
  • Wash your hands before touching it.
  • Avoid applying products with harsh ingredients like alcohol, fragrance and hydrogen peroxide on or near the pierced area.
  • Avoid applying pressure on the area as this may prolong the healing process.
  • Keep devices like your earbuds, headphones and mobile phones away from the piercing for at least a month.
  • Avoid sleeping on the pierced side for the first few months.

Side effects

We all react differently to piercings and although generally considered safe, piercings can have negative side effects. Getting your piercing done by a professional and adequately taking care of your piercing can however reduce the chances of the following side effects :

  • Infections
  • Scarring
  • Allergic reactions from type of jewelry used
  • Hypertrophic scarring
  • Blisters &
  • Rejection.

If you experience any of these reactions after getting your tragus pierced, contact a healthcare provider immediately to prevent further complications.

Useful tips

It is advised to avoid removing your jewelry until it is completely healed. Any pressure in that area can unnecessarily prolong the healing time and may even lead to an infection. If you are certain that your piercing is healed, before changing your jewelry, ensure you do it with thoroughly clean hands.

Jewelry options that are suitable for your tragus piercing are studs, barbells and hoops. Studs and barbells are very good options for a brand new piercing. This is because studs are small and less likely to snag on your hair or clothes and barbells are very easy to wear and clean. Hoops are also a great option for your tragus piercing, however we would recommend you wear them after your piercing has completely healed.

Lastly, you should visit a healthcare provider if after your piercing you experience severe pain, persistent redness or inflammation, swelling that lasts for days, smelly discharge, excessive bleeding, bump and warmth on the newly pierced area.