A flat piercing is located in the flat area of the cartilage below the rim of the ear (or where your helix or cartilage piercing would be). Flat piercings are in a unique area, with a lot of space you can choose the perfect location for your new piercing.
Cartilage piercing on the thinner area would seem less painful than on thicker sites, but it is quite the opposite. On a pain scale of 1-10, a flat piercing will land near a solid 7. Hence, if you have a low pain threshold, you might reconsider getting a flat piercing.
The outer conch piercing pierces the cartilage above the inner conch. This is often called a “flat” piercing. While you have a choice of where this piercing is placed, jewelry styles are limited.
As its name suggests, a flat piercing is a cartilage piercing positioned on the flat area in the upper ear. Unlike the helix or industrial piercing located in the ear's rim, the flat piercing is situated below the rim in what is known as the flatter portions of the ear anatomy.
A flat helix piercing can take anywhere between 4-12 months to fully heal but this varies from person to person. On the team we have found that a flat helix typically heals faster than a standard helix piercing because it's slightly more tucked away so doesn't snag on hair or clothing as easily.
Flat Piercing Aftercare
Since cartilage is more susceptible to infection, you must commit to daily aftercare practices. Although this is important for all piercings, it's especially important for cartilage piercings due to the long healing times.
Flat piercings are gorgeous- they do well with studs and are a perfect place to show off large, decorative jewelry or multiple piercings scattered across the upper ear. Chains and charms look adorable here, and be it super big and fancy or small and dainty, all styles wear well.
“Pain tolerance varies, but generally your helix will hurt more than your lobes as it is less fleshy,” says Freed. Cartilage tissue is denser, which can require more force to pierce through, resulting in a bit more pain.
Last but not least, if you're a side sleeper, you should consider getting a flat on the side you don't sleep on. Pressure from a pillow can also complicate your heal time. What Should I Wear in My Flat Piercing? A flat piercing is typically adorned with a cartilage stud.
A triple or double lobe placement with a coordinating earring in the flat piercing breaks up the surface area and appears relatively subtle compared to your ears' natural proportions. Try small studs with chainmail pieces or larger gemstones for a versatile everyday option.
Similar to the anti-tragus and anti-helix piercings, the anti-eyebrow is so-called because it appears directly opposite the eyebrow along the cheekbone below the eye. The anti-eyebrow piercing, also known as the butterfly piercing, is a surface piercing.
The idea of twisting/moving your new piercing daily & doing this frequently throughout the day is outdated & rarely helps the area to heal nicely, in most cases it causes soreness, redness or swelling which leads to longer healing times & can lead to infection.
On social media, people may come across images of this unique piercing on the inner ear, alongside promises that it will ease anxiety and improve quality of life. No scientific evidence supports this idea, but this is primarily because no research has directly tested the claim.
Flat piercings tend to rate as 6-7/10 on the pain scale (less than a snug, rook or industrial piercing). However, the pain level for any piercing is subjective. The average healing time for a flat piercing is 6-10 months. As with any cartilage piercing, it can take up to a year for your flat piercing to fully heal.
Daith piercing might treat anxiety
Researchers² supporting daith piercing as migraine and anxiety treatment say that getting the Daith piercing puts constant pressure on the vagus nerve, which then stimulates parts of the brain linked to mood and anxiety.
A helix piercing is a cartilage placement on the outer upper rim of your ear. Because the cartilage is thinner on the upper ear, helix piercings tend to be the least painful cartilage piercing. They measure around a 4-5/10 on the pain scale and take around 3-6 months to fully heal.
It's possible to pick up an infection from any body of water, so while your piercing heals you should avoid swimming in: swimming pools. streams, lakes and rivers.
It's best to play it safe and wait for any piercing to fully heal before using any headphones or earbuds with it, even if they're not going to directly touch the piercing. If a headphone causes any pain or discomfort, don't use it!
Nose. Nose piercings are notoriously hard healers, as they are a very sensitive area due to the nerves that run though. They take at least 12 weeks before being able to be changed, and even then, may need more time.
Of all the body sites commonly pierced, the navel is the most likely to become infected because of its shape. Infections can often be treated with good skin hygiene and antibiotic medications.
The most common sites where local infections have been described to occur include the navel, ear, nose, and nipple. Less commonly, piercings of the tongue, genitals, and other sites appear to be complicated by infectious disorders.
First off, you'll want to clean your piercing twice per day consistently. Cleaning both the front and the back is crucial to ensure your new flat piercing stays clean the entire time you're healing. You'll want to have two potential options handy for cleaning: saline spray and anti-microbial soap.