A piercing in the inner ear is known as a conch piercing. If someone wants this kind of piercing, they should hire a professional piercer. They will carry out the operation in a clean home to reduce the chance of infection.
Many people may experience pain from a conch piercing before and during the procedure and after it has recovered. You must ensure that the piercing heals properly and does not cause infection or other issues; proper aftercare is important.
In this article, we explain a conch piercing and take the necessary actions involved in the operation. We also discuss some potential health benefits of conch piercing, concerns, and issues with this procedure. Similarly, we answered some asked many times problems about conch piercings and provided advice on aftercare.
What is a Conch Piercing?
The inner cup of the ear is referred to as the conch, and it received its name because that resembled a conch shell. The conch has an interior and an exterior:
| Inner Conch | The “daith,” or cartilage fold well above the ear canal, is parallel to this portion of the conch. |
| Exterior Conch | Some of the first two boundaries that make up the outer contour of the ear, the antihelix, is placed close to the outer conch. |
What does the Procedure Entail?
- A hollow piercing needle used in major types of nose piercing is normally used by a skilled piercer to accomplish a piercing. The piercer would clean the conch before determining the best position for the piercing and inserting the device.
- The piercer can do a dermal punching, in which they use some method to remove a circle of cartilage if the client wants to wear a larger jeweller.
- Cleaning the conch line to prevent infection and identifying the piercing location, in part so the client can approve the professional placement. They are the procedures for a conch piercing.
- Using a needle or dermal punch to puncture the skin; inserting jewellery that the client selected prior to the surgery gently, pressing on the piercing to stop bleeding, and washing the area.
Possible Benefits of Conch Piercing
Conch piercings, according to one of them, can help treat problems like migraines and anxiety. Although there are any health benefits of conch piercing, we will discuss some of them:
Migraine
Following a conch piercing, several people claim that their migraine frequency and intensity have improved. Such statements are not, however, sufficiently based on science. Instead, the majority of the current study has focused on the benefits of a Daith piercing.
For instance, a 2017 case study mentions a confidential online survey of 380 migraine sufferers who had their noses pierced. After getting their ears pierced, 47.2% of the participants said their migraines occurred less regularly. It is one of the essential benefits of ear piercing for females.
Further study is required to examine any potential associations between the frequency of migraine and having a Daith piercing. According to the authors, who also point out that the placebo effect may have an impact on these results?
Conch piercings might have a comparable impact, although further research is required to prove this.
Anxiety
Again, the majority of research on the link between anxiety and piercings has centred on the Daith piercing.
Some people feel that a piercing in the daith might assist ease anxiety. This, according to acupuncturists, is because the daith is stimulated. Therefore, they feel it aids in maintaining homeostasis or generally steady internal circumstances.
There are anecdotal accounts of relief; however, there is no peer-reviewed study. They examine 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 time, a person should clean their piercing frequently.
The best methods for cleaning the piercing may change slightly amongst various piercers. Some might suggest using clean gauze. They are saline solutions to apply as often as required to the piercing. Others would advise using a mild soap. Therefore, you should gently massage around the piercing before rinsing. However, it is advised to prevent using harsh cleaners or alcohol because they can harm the region.
To lower the risk of infection, one should properly wash their hands before touching or caring for the piercing. They should use a clean, disposable paper towel to gently press the area dry because they’ve rinsed the piercing.
Even if it appears and feels almost as if the piercing has healed considerably sooner, a person should keep cleaning the piercing frequently for up to a year.
Aftercare: Pain and Healing
A conch piercing, which is one of the major types of nose piercing, could seem painful and uncomfortable at first. Typical signs include: bruising, coloring, tightness of the tissue, bleeding, swelling, discomfort, itching, swelling, and discharge of fluid, which can create a thin crust around the piercing.
One should stay away from the following things when healing:
- Excessive cleaning might irritate the piercing and prevent healing
- using the following products to clean the piercing:
- aggressive soaps
- Iodine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohol
- Wearing heavy or hanging jewellery until the piercing is entirely healed.
- Submerging the piercing in potentially unclean water, such as that from hot tubs, pools, and lakes.
- Using cosmetic goods, such as scents and lotions.
- A conch piercing can close, just like other forms of piercing. If the user takes the jewellery out before the area is entirely healed.
Potential Risks or Complications
There is a risk of infection with every piercing. Infections or other problems arise in about 35% of ear piercings. Compared to lobe piercings, cartilage piercings may carry a higher risk of infection.
Pain, swelling, the coloring of the skin, green or yellow pus inside the piercing, red streaks close to the piercing, fever, nausea. The increasing symptoms are all signs that an infection may be present.
A person should get medical help if they think their piercing is infected. Therefore, they shouldn’t take out the piercing on their own. Additional issues that could develop from a piercing include:
Cartilage Piercing Bumps:
These irritable or inflammatory spots might appear right away after a cartilage piercing.
Keloids:
These elevated scar tissue patches are frequent following piercing.
Contact Dermatitis:
People with allergies or sensitivity to a substance might get those itchy skin rashes after having contact with that material.
Abscess:
This is the name for a painful pus-filled swelling that often results from a bacterial infection.
Jewellery Options for a Conch Piercing
A piercer can assist a customer with major types of nose piercing. They guide you in determining the proper jewellery for their conch piercing. Alternatives include
-
Studs:
Conch piercing studs often have flat backs as opposed to rounder ones to avoid pushing into the side of the head.
-
Bars:
Swelling can be accommodated by bars with little balls on either end. It is also simple to maintain.
-
Hoops:
A piercer will normally wait until the recovery process is over before suggesting a hoop for a conch piercing. Additionally, they are more likely to get tangled in hair ties, clothing, or other objects, which can impair the healing process.
The following options are available for newly pierced ears when choosing jewellery:
- Titanium: People who are more sensitive to nickel should consider this lightweight metal.
- Niobium: This metal resembles titanium and comes in a variety of colours.
- Gold: 14 karats or higher white, yellow, or rose gold that is nickel- and cadmium-free is suitable for piercings.
- Platinum: Although it is sometimes the most expensive solution, this weighty precious metal is great for piercing.
- Glass: The following varieties are often risk-free for piercings:
-
- Soda-lime glass without lead
- Borosilicic acid without lead
- Quartz-fused glass
Final Verdict:
An inner ear cartilage piercing known as a conch is performed. Conch piercing pain from the operation could last during the early stages of recovery.
Some claim that specific ear piercings can be beneficial for treating conditions including migraines and anxiety. These claims are not backed up by that much scientific data, and researchers point out that the reports could simply be the result of the placebo effect.
Conch piercings come with many risks, including infection, contact dermatitis, and scars. To lower the risk of infection following a conch piercing, regular cleaning and maintenance are necessary during the healing process. Therefore, anyone who notices infection symptoms should speak with a doctor for specific assistance.
FAQs:
What is the overall cost of conch piercing?
The price of a conch piercing will vary depending on the piercer; however, based on anecdotal data, it is normally between $30 to $90. The price of jewellery might also vary depending on the type that someone chooses.
Is piercing a conch painful?
A conch piercing is often thought to be unpleasant, though everyone’s level of discomfort varies. The initial discomfort from the piercing should subside when done by a qualified professional piercer. However, a person may feel some pain while recovering, particularly at night.
In comparison to other ear piercings, how painful is this one?
Typically, piercings inside the conch pain more than piercings in the earlobe.
What kind of piercing helps anxiety?
The effectiveness of ear piercing in reducing anxiety has not been covered in detail. However, some anecdotal evidence indicates that daith piercing might help reduce anxiety symptoms.
