What is a daith piercing?
A daith piercing is a type of body piercing that passes through the cartilage of the innermost fold of the ear. It is located in a small, oval-shaped area called the “daith,” which is located just above the tragus (a small, round protrusion of cartilage in the ear). Daith piercings are becoming increasingly popular as a form of body modification, and are often worn as a fashion statement.
Daith piercing benefits, pros and cons
There are plenty of benefits and cons to getting a daith piercing. Here are some of them:
- Pro: For a lot of people, they have been known to help relieve migraines (but there isn’t actually any scientific evidence to say it does help).
- Pro: They look amazing and really elegant with a nice hoop after they’ve healed. Despite being a popular piercing, you can make them look really cool and unique.
- Pro: It can also be a good choice for people who want a piercing that is less visible than other types of ear piercings, as the daith is located deeper within the ear.
- Pro: As far as piercings go, they’re usually considered amongst some of the least-painful.
- Con: Daith piercings may be more prone to infection and scarring than other types of ear piercings.
- Con: Because they go through cartilage, they often take longer to heal.
- Con: If you’re a wearer of in-ear headphones, this might be troublesome during healing and will limit the size of the jewelry you can put in once it’s healed
- Con: Not everyone’s ears are suitable to get one. Some people naturally are born with a smaller daith, so whilst it may be piercable, a shallower daith is more likely to migrate (i.e. your body will reject it and it keep pushing itself out).
Daith piercings for migraines and headaches… Do they help?
If you suffer from migraines, you know they suck! A lot of people believe daith piercings relieve migraines and migraine-related symptoms, but what’s weird is that there’s actually no scientific evidence or trials that proves it actually helps. The most plausible conclusion is that it’s likely a placebo. The daith area is a common spot where acupuncture would be used to help relieve migraine symptoms too. Whilst we can’t recommend it will help with your migraine if you suffer, feel free to try it out and see if it works. Worst-case scenario after it finishes healing is that you have a really cute piercing.
Do daith piercings hurt?
The pain level of a daith piercing can vary greatly from person to person, but a lot of people say it’s one of the least-painful cartilage piercings. Some people may find the experience to be relatively painless, while others may find it to be quite uncomfortable as it passes through the cartilage. The level of pain that you experience will depend on factors such as your individual pain tolerance and the skill of the piercer. It is also worth noting that the healing process for a daith piercing can be somewhat painful, as the piercing site may become sore and tender as it heals especially if you wear headphones a lot.
How long do daith piercings take to heal?
Daith piercings usually take between 3-6 months to fully heal as cartilage piercings usually take longer from the outside in. Most people who get their daith pierced report after about a month or two that it looks healed, but any slight bump will flare it up again.
Can you wear headphones or AirPods with a daith piercing?
It’s not recommended to wear any type of headphones or AirPods while your daith piercing is healing because they’re usually breeding grounds for bacteria. We’re also aware that nobody would get one if they knew they couldn’t listen to music for 3-6 months while it heals, so we’ll always recommend doing the piercing with a small curved barbell instead of a ring and this will give you a lot more space to get your earbud in. Once it’s fully healed, you can then swap it for a ring if you like and you can just flip it up while you have your earbuds in.
Types of jewelry for daith piercings
There are many different types of jewelry that can be worn in a daith piercing. Some common choices include captive bead rings, circular barbells, and straight or curved barbells. The best type of jewelry for you will depend on your personal preferences and the size and shape of your daith piercing. It is important to choose jewelry that is made of high-quality materials like titanium or surgical steel and that fits comfortably in your piercing.
Daith piercing aftercare
Proper aftercare is essential for ensuring the successful healing of a daith piercing. This includes cleaning the piercing regularly with a sterile saline solution, avoiding touch the piercing with dirty hands, and avoiding activities that may irritate the piercing, such as swimming or using headphones. It is also important to follow the specific aftercare instructions provided by your piercer, as every individual’s piercing may have unique needs.
Ready to get a daith piercing yet?
Check out our daith piercing photo gallery
