In today’s world of individuality, people are coming up with newer things to be able to stand out in the crown. One such thing is a tragus piercing, which is a little different from the ear piercings of yore. At ThoughtfulTattoos, we take you down the modern path, and try to explain more about this type of ear piercing, along with its procedure, possibility of infection, and a few ways of aftercare.
The tragus projects just after the front part or opening of the ear canal. The puncture of the ear so as to allow the insertion of a piece of jewelry through the tragus is known as tragus piercing. The following account presents some basic information on the procedure and aftercare of such a piercing.
Procedure
Tragus piercing is usually done with a small 18 gauge hollow needle. A curved needle may also serve the purpose well. A small cork is put on the opening of the ear canal. This is done to prevent the entry of an unwanted particle in the ear canal. The small cork catches the tip of the needle while it passes through the cartilage of the tragus, which is quite thick. The piercer needs to apply more pressure to puncture it in comparison with piercings on any other part of the body. While getting this type of piercing, it is important to keep your head stiff; the best way of doing so is to lie down on your back.
Once a hole is made in the cartilage of the tragus, the jewelry is inserted through it. There is a wide range of jewelry available that can be used. The choice is entirely yours. Many people prefer to use rings with beads. They are nice to look at and give you an ultra stylish appearance. Do spend some time on searching for the right jewelry that can make you look and feel good.
Infection Risk
The tragus does not contain nerve endings, making this piercing not very uncomfortable to bear. However, many people experience pain, mainly because of the pressure applied to puncture the thick cartilage. The intensity of pain felt varies from person to person. Bleeding may occur; the amount depends upon the location of the blood vessels, and hence differs from individual to individual. You may notice bleeding even after an hour or so of a piercing. This is quite natural, as the puncturing of the cartilage destroys some of the blood vessels located there. The presence of a wound and blood makes the pierced tragus quite vulnerable to infection. Therefore, you need to take proper care so that any attack by microbes can be avoided.
Aftercare
The wound produced by a tragus piercing may take 4-11 months to heal completely. The healing time actually depends upon the amount of cartilage that has been pierced. During this healing period, you need to protect the wound from getting worse. There are many things that you can do to accelerate the process of healing.
Never touch the piercing, or allow the piercing to be touched with unwashed hands. Unwashed hands contain bacteria and other micro-organisms that can cause infection at the site of the piercing. Clean the area with good quality antibacterial soap, but not more than once a day. The antibacterial soap should contain chloroxylenol or triclosan. Such a soap gives excellent results. Touch the piercing only when you have to clean it. Avoid unnecessary touching of the piercing. This will help a lot in treating as well as preventing the piercing infection. Take supplements of vitamin C and zinc to speed up the process of healing. Do not change the jewelry that is in the piercing till you notice complete recovery from pain, redness, swelling, and bleeding.
If you are considering to have your tragus pierced, then do go for it. It is one of those trends that is widely popular in all parts of the world. To add to this, a tragus piercing causes less discomfort and trouble in comparison with other types of body piercing. Just a little aftercare is sufficient to enjoy this styling option right from the piercing time.
