Daith Piercing: Can It Really Cure Migraines? Plus Everything Else You Need To Know

Unlike any other piercing out there, the daith piercing has a pretty interesting background. For many years now, it was believed to cure migraines. Yes, you’ve heard that right – people believe that it can actually cure acute migraine permanently.

While some people get it for medical reasons, some get it for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes. No matter the reason you get it, the truth remains the same: daith piercings are beautiful and will forever be admired by piercing enthusiasts.

Daith Piercing – What is it?

Beautiful daith and industrial piercing on a woman.

The daith piercing is usually located at the small part of the helix, which is above the tragus (that little flap towards the front of the ear).

This type of piercing is categorized as an ear cartilage piercing. Piercers usually have a hard time when getting this type of piercing done, as it is harder to reach. You have to sit still and relax when getting this piercing to be successful with it.

The lower hole in daith piercings should not be visible to give an impression or illusion that the jewelry is coming out of the ear canal. Only trained professionals can do this, so make sure to do your research before finally getting someone to do it.

Does the Daith Piercing Really Help with Migraines?

Well, to start off, the ear has many pressure points. People got the idea that if you try and stimulate these points that migraine pains will go away. It is similar to acupuncture, the only difference is with daith piercings, the piercing or needle stays in place forever (or until you take the piercing off).

A couple of ear piercings including a daith piercing.

Is it Similar to Acupuncture?

Just like acupuncture, daith piercing is expected to work by stimulating the nerves under the skin and in the muscle tissue. This can help the body produce and release certain pain0relieveing chemicals in the brain and body, such as endorphins. The endorphins are known to be responsible for giving the benefits when it comes to acupuncture.

Testimonials on the Daith Piercing

Many people have come forward about their positive experiences with daith piercings. A managing director from Arizona, Nicole Bandes, shares her personal experience with migraines and daith piercings.

She wrote: “”I’ve now had this (piercing) for over six months and can honestly admit that is has worked for me. I’ve seen a reduction in frequency and intensity of my migraines where nothing else seemed to help. My husband noticed it before I did (and that’s saying something). Maybe I just wasn’t willing to admit that it was actually working. Since getting it, I think I’ve had less than five migraines. Only one of those has actually made me fully non functional for a day. I’ve dramatically reduced my use of drugs to deal with the migraines.”

More and more people on Facebook are raving about the daith piercing treating their migraines and helping them get back on their feet.

Are there Clinical Studies Supporting this Case?

There have been no clinical studies to support the effectiveness of the daith piercings and medical professionals seem to be skeptical when it comes to talking about it. They do not believe that a single piercing can change a debilitating illness and suggests that it is more of a placebo effect, wherein a person is convinced to thinking that the method or procedure is working for them.

A daith piercing located on the right area.

Is it Worth the Shot?

While there is no scientific data to back this theory up to date, if you are a migraine sufferer and you are willing to try anything to ease the pain, then getting a daith piercing might be worth the shot. Just make sure to find a reputable piercer that will do the job for you to make sure that you will be safe from any type of infection.

You should also make sure that the piercer that you are going to is very familiar with acupuncture and the background of using daith piercings as a way to treat migraines. They should know exactly what area to pierce to help alleviate the pain of headaches and migraines. Otherwise, your piercing will all just be for aesthetic and cosmetic purposes.

Which Side of the Ear Should I Get my Piercing On?

Daith piercing on the left side of the ear.

Migraine sufferers usually experience migraine on one side of their head. Before deciding on getting a daith piercing, observe your headaches and see which side seems to ache more. If it is on the left side, then have your left ear pierced. If the right aches more, then go ahead and have the right ear pierced.

You can also try going to an acupuncture massage clinic and try undergoing a massage or procedure. If one side of your head provides more relief than the other, then have the ear on that side pierced and see if it will give you some type of relief.

What Should I Expect During a Daith Piercing Procedure?

Once you have finally chosen a reputable piercer that will do your daith piercing, you can set a schedule with them. Choose a time wherein you can rest right after to give your piercing some time to heal.

Once you are in the piercer’s shop, they will ask you to sit right up or lay down – it really depends on where the piercer is comfortable in. They will then put on sterile gloves and sterilize the needle that they will use to pierce your ear.

If your hair is long, they will ask you to put it up in a bun to get your hair out of the way. Once they are able to see the area clearly, they will proceed to cleaning the said area with an antiseptic. After this, you can expect them to mark the area with a pen to make sure that they won’t be missing it.

They will ask you if you are ready and if you say yes, they will place a sterile hollow needle to pierce your ear. They might use a pair of clamps to help hold the ear entirely. They will also have some cotton pads, balls, or tissue on hand to help wipe away the pool of blood that will form in your ear.

Once the cartilage has been properly pierced, they will then proceed to insert the jewelry on the pierced area. The piercer will give you proper aftercare instructions, so make sure to listen and follow what they say.

Always keep in mind that the cartilage is a difficult area to pierce. Because of this, you can expect your piercer to use a fair amount of force while piercing the area, which can be painful for some people. Be prepared for the pain and make sure that you can endure it.

Industrial and daith piercing.

What Should I Use to Clean my Piercing?

Just like with any other piercing, cleaning the area with a sea salt water solution would be beneficial for it.

You have two options: you can either buy one from your piercer or make your own. To make your own, you should have a cup of hot water, one-fourth teaspoon sea salt, and a container to dip your piercing in. Mix it together in the container then mix vigorously until you see that the salt has completely dissolved.

Take a clean cotton ball and dip it in the solution. Put the cotton ball against your pierced ear and hold it for a few seconds. Do not rub the area or tug on it: just gently place the cotton ball on the area.

Do this two to three times a day to prevent your piercing from forming blood clots and crusties. Keep on doing the routine religiously until your piercing has fully healed.

How Should I Prepare for the Piercing?

If you are planning on getting a daith piercing soon, you should be responsible enough to follow the rules that come with getting the piercing done. There are certain pointers that you would have to follow to make sure that you will be comfortable during the piercing. Read on to find out what they are.

A simple yet elegant type of daith piercing.

Stay Away from Alcohol

Alcohol can thin your blood, which can be bad if you are planning on getting a piercing done. This can make your wound bleed continuously and heavily, which of course, you would want to avoid. The piercing will also more likely hurt if you are drunk.

Also, it would be unethical for your piercer to do the job on you while you are drunk. It would be best to just come back once you’ve sobered up.

Prepare yourself Physically and Mentally

You would have to be physically and mentally prepared before going ahead and having the piercing done.

Clear your mind and make sure that you are determined to get the piercing. Prepare for the pain that you would have to endure during and after the piercing.

Manage your Expectations

There is no scientific data to back the “daith piercing cures migraine” fad, so make sure to manage your expectations. It might work for some people but for you, it might not. Our bodies react differently to different things, so there is never a guarantee that the daith piercing will ultimately cure your migraine. If it does, then that’s great! If it doesn’t, then look for alternative ways to give relief to your migraines.

Eat Before you Get Pierced

Filling your stomach before you go get pierced is a must. Going in with an empty stomach will increase your chances of getting nauseated during the procedure. Make sure to eat the right amount of food before sitting down in your piercer’s chair.

Find a Reputable Piercer

Nobody wants to contract an infection, so it would be best to do your research and look for a highly reputable piercer before getting them to do the job.

Our skin and bodies can be sensitive and when it is injected with some type of foreign object, it can react negatively.

Make sure to ask your doctor about possible allergies, get tested for it, and most importantly, look for a piercer that is known to be extremely hygienic and careful when it comes to piercings.

Stay Hydrated

Just like with food, going in for the piercing without staying hydrated will be your worst nightmare. You will most likely feel all shaken up, nervous, and nauseated during the whole process.

Make sure to drink a couple of bottles of water before going to the piercer’s shop. Do bring a bottle of water with you as well, to make sure that you will stay hydrated all throughout the process.

Involved Risks When Getting a Daith Piercing

Just like with any other piercing, the daith piercing comes with certain risks. Keep on reading to be aware of it and how to steer clear from these risks.

A cute type of jewelry for a daith piercing.

Acquiring an Infection

One thing that you would clearly want to steer clear of when getting a daith piercing is acquiring any type of infection. Infections may be the result of unhygienic tools and unsterilized jewelry.

If you are experiencing extreme pain, redness, heat, throbbing, and tenderness in the area, then chances are you might have an infection due to the piercing. Another tell-tale sign of an infection is if you see pus draining from the piercing. This will most likely be green or yellowish in color and if you see this coming out of your piercing, go and visit the nearest emergency room and have it treated immediately.

Before heading to the emergency room, you can temporarily treat the infection yourself. Create a mixture of salt and warm water and soak a cotton ball in it. Place the damp cotton ball on your infected ear to take out any pus or liquid oozing out of it. This will also help prevent the infection from spreading out until you’ve reached the hospital.

Temporary and Permanent Scarring

Unless you are prone to scarring and keloids, you do not have to worry about this. However, getting scars and keloids are more likely with cartilage piercings such as daith.

There are two types of scars: hypertrophic scar and a keloid scar.

Hypertrophic scarring is when you get a bump around the pierced area. This type of scar is typically temporary and goes away on its own after the wound on your piercing heals.

Keloid scars are more on the permanent side, and it is much difficult to get rid of it. This is a result of excess collagen that is being generated in your cartilage’s surroundings. You can avoid getting keloids by doing proper aftercare and making sure that you do not tug on your piercing.

Piercing Pain

No matter what your piercing is, chances are it is going to be associated with some type of pain. Before deciding on a piercing, make sure to do your research and read up about the pain levels.

If you are unsure that you can handle the pain, then don’t do it yet and start preparing yourself for it. Ask your piercer about things that you would have to do before getting the piercing.

What is the Price Range of Daith Piercing?

A glamorous daith piercing.

Daith piercings will definitely cost more than your regular piercing. If you really want to make it work for your migraine, then you should look for a highly-reputable piercer, one that’s been trained to handle daith piercings. They must know the basics of acupuncture, so they would know where exactly to put the piercing on your ear.

Because of this, you can expect to pay around $50 – $60 for the piercing. However, studios and piercers who are in demand will charge you for more, especially during peak seasons. Know that paying more for a very complex piercing would be well worth it, especially if it is going to help you with your migraines.

Will the Daith Piercing Hurt?

Just like any other piercing, the daith will definitely cause you some discomfort and a little bit of pain.

A daith piercing that is totally worth the pain.

During the Piercing

The daith piercing is located at the ear cartilage, which makes it tougher for piercers to get the needle through. They would have to use a little bit more force into the ear cartilage to make sure that the needle goes through, so you can expect a little more pain when having the daith piercing done.

However, the pain is nothing compared to acute migraines. If you are willing to undergo a sharp pain for a couple of seconds and get the chance to decrease the occurrence of your migraines, then by all means, go for it. Just always keep in mind that the daith is not a surefire cure to migraines and that there will be no guarantee that your migraine will be cured permanently.

During the Healing Period

After the piercing is done, you can expect a little bit of throbbing in your ear. This is normal, as your blood is currently circulating and running around the piercing area.

You will also feel a little bit of discomfort and tenderness in your ear for a couple of days until your ear is completely healed.

Make sure to do the proper aftercare that your piercer asked you to do to make sure that your piercing will heal right away.

If you experience the tenderness, discomfort, and throbbing pain for an extended amount of time (say a couple of weeks or months), then give your doctor a visit to make sure that an infection is not present in your pierced area.

How Long Should I Wait for my Daith Piercing to Heal?

A heart-shaped jewelry for a daith piercing.

 

Since the daith piercing is located on the ear’s cartilage, it usually takes longer for it to heal compared to other piercings. Expect a full four to twelve months before seeing your daith piercing completely healed.

If you want to make sure that your daith piercing will heal during that time frame, then you should make the effort to religiously care for your piercing until it fully heals. Avoid tugging on it, and make sure that your hair is always up to avoid getting it caught in your hair. You should also wear loose clothes so your piercing won’t get caught in your shirt.

Lastly, avoid taking out your jewelry before it heals completely. You can only replace it with another type of jewelry once you feel no sign of tenderness, pain, or throbbing in the area.

Daith Piercings For Both Men and Women

A holographic type of jewelry for a daith piercing.

Both men and women tend to get a daith piercing, as it is widely believed to cure migraines.

However, some piercing enthusiasts see it as beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, which is the reason why they get it in the first place.

Whatever your reasons are, if you are ready, then go ahead and try getting one! You will surely be happy with the results.

Photos

We have compiled some amazing photos that you can check out for some inspiration on the daith piercing.

A unique set of ear piercings.

Two simple ear cartilage piercings.

A couple of ear piercings including a daith.

A unique type of jewelry for a daith piercing.

A beautiful tunnel and daith piercing.

A stone-clad jewelry for a daith piercing.

A cute type of jewelry for a daith piercing.

A simple daith piercing.

Famous Kylie Jenner sporting a daith piercing.