A piercing in the inner ear is known as a conch piercing. If someone desires this kind of piercing, they should hire a qualified piercer who will carry out the process in a clean environment to lower the danger of infection.
Some people may experience discomfort from a conch piercing both during the procedure and after it has healed. To ensure that the piercing heals properly and does not cause infection or other issues, proper aftercare is crucial.
In this article, we define a conch piercing and outline the steps involved in the surgery. We also discuss some potential advantages, dangers, and issues with this surgery. Lastly, we address some commonly asked issues concerning conch piercings and provide advice on aftercare.
The inner cup of the ear is referred to as the conch, and it received its name because it resembles a conch shell.
The conch has an inside and an exterior:
- The inner conch is situated next to the “daith,” or cartilage fold above the ear canal.
- The outer conch is the portion of the ear that is closest to the antihelix, the first of the two ridges that make up the ear’s outer contour.
- The inner conch, outer conch, or both can be punctured.
What exactly does the process involve?
A hollow piercing needle is normally used by a skilled piercer to accomplish a piercing. The piercer will clean the conch before marking the exact spot for the piercing and inserting the jewelry.
The piercer can do a dermal punch, in which they use a little tool to remove a circle of cartilage if the client wants to wear bigger jewelry.
Conch piercing procedures include:
- Cleaning the conch region to prevent infection
- Identifying the site of the piercing, in part so that the client may confirm the placement, inserting the jewelry,
- Which the client will have chosen before the piercing
- Applying light pressure to the piercing to ease bleeding
- Cleaning the area
Potential advantages of getting a conch piercing
Conch piercings, according to some, can help treat problems including migraine and anxiety.
Migraine
Following a conch piercing, several individuals claim that their migraine frequency and intensity have improved. Such statements are not, however, sufficiently supported by science.
Instead, the majority of the current study has concentrated on the consequences of a daith piercing.
For instance, a 2017 case study mentions a confidential online poll of 380 migraine sufferers who had their ears pierced. Following the piercing, 47.2% of the subjects said they experienced fewer migraines.
More study is required to examine any potential associations between the frequency of migraine attacks and having a daith piercing, according to the authors, who also point out that the placebo effect may have an impact on these results.
Anxiety
Once more, daith piercing has been the focus of most studies on the relationship between anxiety and piercings.
Some people think that getting their daith pierced might make them feel less anxious. This, according to acupuncturists, is because the daith is stimulated, which they feel aids in maintaining homeostasis, or generally steady internal circumstances.
There are anecdotal accounts of relief, however, there is no peer-reviewed study examining whether this piercing or a conch piercing helps reduce anxiety.
Cleaning
Conch piercings can be uncomfortable to clean and take 4 to 12 months to heal. To avoid infection at this period, a person should clean their piercing often.
The best methods for cleaning the piercing may change slightly amongst various piercers. Others might advise using clean gauze and saline solution to apply as often as required to the piercing.
Some would advise using a mild soap, which you should gently massage around the piercing before rinsing. However, it is recommended to avoid using strong cleaners or alcohol because they might harm the region.
To lower the risk of infection, one should properly wash their hands before handling or caring for the piercing. They should use a clean, disposable paper towel to gently wipe the area dry after they’ve rinsed the piercing.
Even though it seems and feels as though the piercing has healed considerably sooner, a person should keep cleaning the piercing often for up to a year.
Aftercare: Pain and healing
A conch piercing could seem painful and uncomfortable at first. Typical signs include the following:
- Bleeding \sswelling \stenderness
- Bruising \sitching \sdiscoloration
- Tightening of the tissue’s fluid secretion, which may cause a little crust to develop around the piercing
One should stay away from the following things when healing:
- Washing too much, could irritate the piercing and prevent healing
- Using the following things to clean the piercing:
- Rough soaps
- Using cosmetic goods, such as scents and lotions, covering the piercing with heavy or dangling jewelry until the piercing is fully healed, and bathing it in potentially unclean water, such as that from hot tubs, pools, and lakes
- A conch piercing can shut, much like other forms of piercings, if the wearer takes the jewelry out before the wound has entirely healed.
Possible dangers or issues
There is a danger of infection with every piercing. Infections or other problems arise in around 35% of ear piercings. Compared to lobe piercings, cartilage piercings may have a higher risk of infection.
- Infection warning signals could include:
- Edema, discolored skin, and discomfort
- Fever, nausea, and vomiting are persistent or get worse symptoms. Green or yellow pus in the piercing, red streaks close to the piercing.
- A person should get medical help if they think their piercing is contaminated. They shouldn’t take out the piercing on their own.
Other issues that might arise from a piercing include:
- Immediately following cartilage piercing, these irritated or inflamed parts of the body may appear.
- After a piercing, keloids—areas of elevated scar tissue—are not unusual.
- Contact dermatitis: Individuals who are allergic or sensitive to a chemical may have an itchy skin rash after coming into touch with that material.
- Abscess: This is the medical name for a painful pus-filled swelling that often results from a bacterial infection.
Options for conch piercing jewelry
A piercer may assist a customer in selecting the right jewelry for their conch piercing. Alternatives include
Conch-piercing studs often feature flat backs as opposed to rounder ones to avoid digging into the side of the head.
Bars: Swelling is possible using a bar that has little balls on either end. It is also simple to maintain.
Hoops: A piercer would often wait until the healing process is over before advising a hoop for a conch piercing. This is due to the fact that hoops are mobile. Moreover, they are more likely to get tangled in hairbrushes, clothes, or other objects, which can impede the healing process.
Outlook
A conch piercing’s entire recovery time might range from 4 to 12 months, much like with other kinds of cartilage piercing.
Conch piercings can be uncomfortable both during the piercing process and while they are healing.
Every piercing has a risk of infection and needs upkeep. To lower the risk of consequences, anybody who exhibits infection-related symptoms should consult a doctor as soon as feasible.
Frequently Asked Question
1. What to clean conch piercing with?
For at least three months, clean your piercing at least twice a day. Before handling or cleaning your piercing, carefully wash your hands. Obtain a saline solution from the store, or mix 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt with 1 cup of distilled or bottled water.
2. What size conch piercing?
The majority of conch piercing jewellery is between 16 and 14 gauge, with 14 gauge being the most popular size.
3. What is conch piercing good for?
While conch piercings can hurt, some people obtain them to treat acute or ongoing discomfort. The same fundamental principle underlies both acupuncture and acupressure. It is believed that activating specific body spots, many of which are located on the ears, might offer relief.
4. Is conch piercing sore?
You’ll probably experience a scorching, throbbing pain after receiving a conch piercing. The duration of this might be many hours or perhaps several days. as it recovers For several months, you’ll probably still experience some discomfort, especially while cleaning the piercing.
5. Are conch piercings trashy?
Because the conch is formed of cartilage, a type of thick, hard tissue that is more challenging to penetrate than soft tissue like your earlobe, the pain from conch piercing is typically more intense than the agony from earlobe piercing. As a result of having less blood flow than soft tissue, cartilage tissue heals more slowly.
6. Are conch piercings hard to heal?
It may take longer for the cartilage to mend since it does not have a strong blood supply. Conch piercings performed with a needle usually take 6 to 9 months to fully heal, however, those performed using a dermal punch may take up to a year.
7. Can conch piercings cause headaches?
The claim that headaches are frequently caused by new ear piercings is not supported by much medical evidence. The most frequent negative consequences of body piercings are not headaches.
8. How long does conch piercing change?
The healing period after conch piercing
Conch piercings often take 6 to 12 months, sometimes more, to heal completely enough to switch out the jewelry.