Laura Ljaze
Body Piercing

The tragus piercing has really grown in popularity since 2005, with many men and women sporting this subtle body modification. Despite it's popularity, not many people actually know where a tragus piercing is situated, the piercing is placed through the peninsula of cartilage that sits directly in front of the ear canal. (In other words, the hard little flap that helps keep your earphones in!).  Because of the placement, the tragus piercing is perfect for anyone who wants an interesting body modification that doesn't attract too much attention, but still looks cool.

The tragus is an area of cartilage which has very little blood flow or nerve endings which fortunately means that the pain experienced is usually fairly mild and does not last long.  The piercing procedure itself will include some discomfort and a feeling of pressure as the hole is created as well as soreness after the jewellery is inserted and during the initial healing stages.  Of course, the pain experienced from a tragus piercing, as with any piercing, will vary between individuals and a variety of other factors. Generally, though, tragus piercings are very tolerable and over quickly.

Because the tragus piercing goes through a thick piece of cartilage, the healing time is approximately 3-9 months, which is longer than other ear piercings. It is important to wait at least two months before changing your jewellery to reduce the risk of any irritation or infection. It is advisable to visit one of our professional piercers and ask them to assist you with changing your tragus piercing jewellery, as there is an increased risk of damage to the ear or infection by trying to do it yourself at home. Infection rates can be slightly higher for the tragus piercing because of the fact that it is close to the hair and can come into contact with oils and dirt from the scalp.

You can dramatically reduce your risk of any problems by doing the following:

Try to keep your hair tied up and away from the piercing wherever possible during intial healing

Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing

Do not fiddle with or touch your piercing at any other time than during cleaning

Clean both the exit holes of your piercing twice a day with saltwater solution

Maintain good hygiene by regularly washing your hair and neck area

Avoid hot tubs or pools during the first 2 weeks of healing

Do not attempt to change the jewellery until the piercing is fully healed

Consult with a piercer for assistance in changing jewellery

Follow any other aftercare advice given to you by your piercer

Jewellery:  There are plenty of jewellery options for your new tragus piercingincluding barbells and

DISCLAIMER: Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your Piercer. These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a