Education

PAIN LEVELS OF EAR PIERCINGS

Discover everything you need to know about ear piercing pain with MADAJ Piercings, from preparation to post-piercing care. Learn how individual factors and piercing techniques influence the pain experience, and check our pain scale for different types of ear piercings.

When getting your ears pierced, the first question many people have is: Will the piercing be painful?

Undoubtedly, the ear piercing process is the most stressful part, but here's what you need to know:
The sensation experienced during the piercing of the lobe or ear cartilage varies from person to person and is influenced by many factors such as individual pain threshold, the technique used by the piercer, and piercing aftercare.

PAIN SCALE: WHAT ARE THE MOST PAINFUL EAR PIERCINGS?

At MADAJ Piercings, we have rated pain level ear piercings on their location on a scale of 1 to 10:

1 to 3: Minimal pain
4 and 5: Moderate pain
6 and 7: Severe pain
8 to 10: Extreme pain

ANTITRAGUS PIERCING PAIN LEVEL

Pain Level of Antitragus Piercing: (6/10)
Located opposite the tragus, this area has thicker cartilage than some other areas like the helix, which can increase the pain. However, the peak of pain experienced lasts only a few seconds during the piercing.

There are solutions to minimize pain during antitragus piercing, such as :

The use of lidocaine-based numbing cream (EMLA or generics).
This cream is available in pharmacies by prescription.
It is recommended to apply it between 30 minutes to 1 hour before piercing.
Stay hydrated before and after the piercing.
Avoid stressing.

For more informations about the antitragus piercing, discover our Antitragus Piercing Full Guide.

CONCH PIERCING PAIN LEVEL

Pain Level of Conch Piercing: (7/10)
The conch piercing, which penetrates deep into the cartilage at the center of the ear, is often considered one of the most painful due to the thickness of the cartilage.
Note that the peak of pain experienced lasts only a few seconds, during the piercing process.

Advices to reduce pain during piercing process:

To minimize pain during conch piercing, you can use lidocaine-based numbing cream (EMLA or generics).
This cream is available in pharmacies by prescription.
It is recommended to apply it between 30 minutes to 1 hour on the conch area before piercing.
Stay hydrated.
Be relax, avoid stressing.

Read more about the conch piercing on our Conch Piercing Full Guide.

CONTRACONCH PIERCING PAIN LEVEL

Pain Level of Contraconch Piercing: (7/10)
Similar to the conch in terms of location and type of cartilage, the contraconch is also rated as quite painful for the same reasons.
The peak of pain is only a few seconds during the piercing.
However, it is important to remember that the pain experienced during the piercing process is unique to each individual!

How can I reduce the pain experienced during my contraconch piercing?

To reduce pain during contraconch piercing, use lidocaine-based numbing cream (EMLA or generics).
You can buy this cream in pharmacies by medical prescription.
It is recommended to apply the cream between 30 minutes to 1 hour before the piercing.

For more informations, discover our Contra Conch Piercing Full Guide.

DAITH PIERCING PAIN LEVEL

Pain Level of Daith Piercing: (5/10)
This piercing is done in a part of the cartilage that is thick and difficult to pierce, which can make the process quite painful.
The Daith piercing process causes a moderate painful and the peak of pain experienced lasts only a few seconds!
Note that the pain experienced during the piercing process is unique to each individual.

Reduce the pain during daith piercing procedure:

Consider getting a prescription from your doctor for lidocaine-based numbing cream (EMLA or generic) to minimize the pain.
Apply it between 30 minutes to 1 hour before to pierce your daith.
Avoid stressing, relax, and come with a smile!
Stay hydrated before the piercing.

Discover our Daith Piercing Full Guide.

FORWARD HELIX PIERCING PAIN LEVEL

Pain Level of the Forward Helix Piercing: (5/10)
Cartilage is less flexible than the flesh of the ear, which can cause moderate pain during the forward helix piercing procedure.
However, the peak of pain experienced during cartilage piercing lasts only a few seconds and the pain is less intense than that of a conch or contraconch piercing.

How to minimize the pain experienced during the forward helix piercing?

Use of lidocaine-based numbing cream (EMLA or generics).
This cream is available in pharmacies by prescription.
It is recommended to apply it on the forward helix area between 30 minutes to 1 hour before piercing.
Stay hydrated before and after the piercing
Don't be stressed.

Read more about Forward Helix piercing on our Forward Helix Piercing Full Guide.

HELIX PIERCING PAIN LEVEL

Pain Level of Helix Piercing: (4/10)
Located on the outer edge of the ear, helix piercing passes through thin cartilage, causing moderate pain.
Remember that the pain experienced during the helix piercing process is unique to each individual.

Advices to reduce pain during helix piercing process:

To minimize pain during helix piercing, use of lidocaine-based numbing cream (EMLA or generics).
This cream is available in pharmacies by medical prescription.
It is recommended to apply it on the area of the helix between 30 minutes to 1 hour before piercing.
Avoid stressing, relax.
Stay hydrated before and after the piercing; it’s very important.
Consider having a light snack a few hours before.

Discover our Helix Piercing Full Guide.

LOBE PIERCING PAIN LEVEL

Pain Level of Lobe Piercing: (2/10)
Lobe piercing is the least painful of ear piercings because the area is primarily made up of soft tissue with few nerve endings.

How to reduce the pain experienced during the lobe piercing?

There are solutions to reduce pain during lobe piercing, such as the use of lidocaine-based numbing cream (EMLA or generics).
This cream is available in pharmacies by prescription.
It is recommended to apply it between 30 minutes to 1 hour before piercing.
Stay hydrated.
Avoid stressing.

Learn more on our Lobe Piercing Full Guide.

ROOK PIERCING PAIN LEVEL

Pain Level of Rook Piercing: (6/10)
The rook, which passes through the inner upper rim of the ear cartilage, is known to be quite painful due to the thickness of the cartilage.
The pain experienced during the piercing process is unique to each individual and the peak of pain experienced during cartilage piercing lasts only a few seconds.

How to reduce the pain experienced during my rook piercing?

There are solutions to minimize pain during rook piercing, such as the use of lidocaine-based numbing cream (EMLA or generics).
This cream is available in pharmacies by prescription.
It is recommended to apply it between 30 minutes to 1 hour before piercing.

For more informations, read our Rook Piercing Full Guide.

TRAGUS PIERCING PAIN LEVEL

Pain Level of Tragus Piercing: (4/10)
The tragus, located at the entrance of the ear canal, has relatively thin cartilage, making the piercing slightly painful.
The pain of a tragus piercing is generally considered mild to moderate.

Advices to reduce pain during piercing process:

To minimize pain during tragus piercing, use lidocaine-based numbing cream (EMLA or generics).
This cream is available in pharmacies by prescription.
It is recommended to apply it on the tragus piercing area between 30 minutes to 1 hour before piercing.
Avoid stressing, relax, and come with a smile!
Stay hydrated before the piercing; it’s very important.

Discover our Tragus Piercing Full Guide.

RANKING OF EAR PIERCINGS FROM MOST TO LEAST PAINFUL

To help you choose your next piercing, MADAJ Piercings offers a ranking of ear piercings from most to least painful:

ContraConch Piercing and Conch Piercing
Rook Piercing and Antitragus Piercing
Forward Helix Piercing and Daith Piercing
Helix Piercing and Tragus Piercing
Lobe Piercing

MADAJ TIPS TO REDUCE PAIN DURING PIERCING

Just a reminder

Know that a piercer cannot anesthetize you, as this is prohibited!

However, you can get a prescription from your doctor for a lidocaine cream (EMLA or generic) to minimize pain during the piercing.

Instructions for use

This cream should be applied thickly to the front and back of the piercing area 1 hour before the procedure, and covered with cellophane (the goal is to prevent the cream from drying out, simply place the cellophane over the cream, and it will automatically adhere). With this cream, your pain will be limited, and you will only experience an unpleasant sensation after the piercing.

Additional advice

To further reduce pain, make sure to hydrate before the piercing, as it is very important, and get some rest! Do not go to the piercer on an empty stomach, think about having a small snack a few hours before so you do not arrive with an empty stomach!

UNDERSTANDING PAIN & HEALING OF EAR PIERCINGS

These piercings are generally more painful due to the thickness of the cartilage and the lack of blood flow, which not only makes the piercing more painful but also prolongs the healing time. Moreover, the tension exerted by the piercings can increase the sensation of pain during the healing period.

It is crucial to follow piercing aftercare to minimize risks and pain to help you, we suggest consulting our guide on the healing time for ear piercings.

With MADAJ Piercings, you can make your choice with confidence, knowing that our products are designed with the utmost care to ensure both quality and safety.

For any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us by email at contact@madajpiercings.com or through our contact form on our website. Our team is fully available to provide you with all the necessary assistance.