Everything you need to know about daith piercing healing
Is your daith piercing taking time to heal? Or are you not yet pierced and wondering whether to take the plunge?
The time a piercing takes to heal can put some people off. At Solstice, we felt the same for a while. And we have a few tips to share.
Tucked inside the ear, the daith is a fold of cartilage just above the ear canal. This discreet piercing takes several months to heal. If you're curious about migraine-related claims sometimes linked to daith piercings, see the scientific review published in Headache in 2024.
In this article, you'll learn:
- How to support your daith piercing's healing
- How long healing takes
Let's explore it together!
How long does a daith piercing take to heal?
Before any piercing, your piercer should examine your ear. If your cartilage is thick enough and your anatomy is suitable, you may be able to have your daith pierced. Unfortunately, it isn't always possible.
At your appointment, your piercer places the jewellery and healing begins straight away. Your daith piercing then settles gradually in 3 broad stages:
- Inflammation and fluid discharge: the wound may bleed and be red, swollen and painful
- Irritation and granulation: crusts can form around the jewellery
- Healing: the crusts fall away and the wound is clean
Depending on your anatomy and how your piercing is healing, this process can take several months. Signs that the area may be settling include the following, but only a professional assessment can confirm whether the piercing is healed:
- Normal skin colour around the piercing
- No redness, swelling or tenderness
- No clear or yellowish fluid discharge
- No pain around the piercing
Depending on how healing is progressing, your piercer may be able to change the initial jewellery if they judge that the piercing is ready and they carry out the change themselves. They can advise whether another piece, such as a hoop or circular barbell, is suitable at that stage. Do not change it yourself, as you risk infection. Our catalogue jewellery is for healed piercings, not initial piercing or healing.
This personal account discusses getting a daith piercing and then healing in this inner part of the ear. It is one person's experience, not a guaranteed timeframe.
How can you support cartilage healing?
To support your daith's healing, keep your aftercare simple and consistent. Do not apply essential oils to the wound (see the APP aftercare recommendations).
The purpose of piercing aftercare is to keep the area clean while your body heals. Clean the area 1 to 2 times a day with saline solution, following your piercer's advice on suitable products.
Pay attention to your lifestyle:
- Nutrition, hydration and sleep
- Take extra care with sport
- Avoid swimming while it is healing
Because the daith is close to the ear canal, earbuds are another everyday contact to plan for. This video distinguishes their use during healing from their use once the piercing has healed.
A daith piercing can become irritated, so aftercare is important. If you suspect your ear is infected, especially if swelling and pain appear suddenly, seek medical advice promptly. Keep following your piercer's aftercare instructions while the piercing is still healing.
Good healing also starts with preparation. Choose a piercer you trust, who follows strict hygiene standards. They should use properly disinfected equipment, with sterile equipment where required for the procedure. Avoid jewellery shops that use a piercing gun, an instrument that can be dangerous and painful.