Migraine and piercings – the two sound like an odd combination, right? But quite surprisingly, claims of a daith piercing as an effective form of migraine treatment continuously crop up in online forums and discussions. So can an ear piercing treat migraine?
A migraine is a kind of headache that causes severe, pulsating pain on one side of your head. The pain is exacerbated with smell, sound, lights, and physical activity. It usually lasts up to 4 hours at the least. Often it can extend to several days. According to statistics, twelve percent of Americans are born with this disorder. Before we get into more detail, let’s first understand what a daith piercing is.
What is a Daith Piercing?
As you know by now, ear piercings are so varied. Gone are the days when people only sported piercings in their earlobes. All the other areas in your ear can be pierced. An example of an unconventional ear piercing is the daith piercing. The hole is made through the smallest fold in your ear cartilage just right above the ear canal. It’s a tough and fleshy spot that can be pretty challenging to pierce.
Nonetheless, over the last two decades, people have been going crazy over daith piercings. As a matter of fact, they prefer to have them on both ears.
One of the reasons why daith piercings are growing in popularity is that they can treat migraine. Instead of constantly taking pain medications for their migraines, people think that getting a daith piercing will solve their headaches, literally and figuratively.
Can Migraines Be Treated With a Piece of Jewelry?
The big question people are dying to know is if a daith piercing can truly treat migraine and if it holds water. It’s common knowledge that acupuncture is known for treating migraines. However, the idea of a daith piercing used for treatment came from the concept that the acupuncture point is located in the same spot as the piercing.
Dr. Will Foster, a known acupuncturist in Tennessee, confirms that it is indeed a pressure point connected with digestive organs in that particular Part of your ear.
The constant pressure coming from the piercing is what causes pain relief. Dr. Foster says that it is only effective if it is accurately done on the exact spot. This cannot be achieved without the supervision of a certified acupuncturist. But, even if there is guidance from an acupuncturist, pain relief is still not guaranteed.
Are Daith Piercings Safe?
All body piercings involve risks. A daith piercing is no exemption. Since this type of ear piercing takes place in the cartilage just right above your ear canal, the risk is higher. Some of the complications of daith piercings are swelling, bleeding, persistent pain, scarring, abscess, infection, and worsening migraines.
Furthermore, since this piercing spot is exact, it can be quite challenging to pierce. It’s also more painful compared to earlobe piercings. If you are hellbent on getting a daith piercing even after knowing the risks and complications involved, the best you can do is to look for a licensed piercer. It’s also important to regularly clean the site to minimize your chances of developing an infection.
What To Do Before Getting a Daith Piercing?
Once you’ve decided to get a daith piercing, make sure you choose a professional piercer and not just a friend of a friend’s or someone you found online that offered a low service fee. Don’t shortchange your safety. Part of your piercing’s success is the experience and skill of your piercer. So, don’t rush. Take your time and find a good piercer you can trust.
You can also ask to check their studio. If it’s well ventilated, fully lit, and more importantly, if it’s clean. It should have a sink so that the piercer can wash their hands before handling the instruments. Observe the area. All the equipment has to be sterilized and placed in sealed packaging.
Your professional piercer should explain the procedure to you in layman’s terms so you’ll know what to expect. They should also recommend the appropriate jewelry for a daith piercing. Before the procedure, complications and risks must be discussed as well as the healing time.
Aftercare instructions are critical to keeping your piercing infection-free. Your piercer should go over the list verbally and provide written instructions that you can take home.
How Should You Care for a Daith Piercing?
Aftercare instructions are pretty much the same for all types of ear piercings. The important thing is you should diligently follow these instructions to prevent getting the site infected.
- You must wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling your jewelry. As much as possible, keep your hands off the site.
- Don’t switch jewelry while the wound is still healing. Instead, leave it there for up to two months or more, even when you sleep or shower, to prevent the hole from closing up.
- Regularly wash your ear with soap and water.
- You may jiggle or twist it to keep the hole open.
- Clean the site at least twice a day in saline solution.
Discomfort and swelling are typical for the first couple of days, but if they persist and become worse, you should let your doctor know to check if your piercing is infected. If yes, you’ll likely be given antibiotics to stop it from spreading.
Are You Ready to Give Daith Piercings A Try?
If you’re scheduled for a daith piercing, just make sure to clean the area properly.
If you’re looking for a safe product to clean your piercings, Dr. Piercing Aftercare can help.
At Dr. Piercing Aftercare, we’ve developed convenient medicated swabs that you can use to clean your piercings and keep infection away. We are proud of our products. They are made and tested in a cGMP compliant and FDA-registered facility in America.
We use advanced technology on our swabs for easy application. Each pack contains thirty-six medicated swabs that are proven and tested to promote your body’s natural healing process while preventing infection. Contact us today, or check out our website to learn more about our products.
