Facial Piercings & Their Suggested Jewelry

Dermal punches are designed to remove tissue for biopsy procedures. Some piercers and the Association of Professional Piercers http://www.piercing.org/app/ feel that dermal punches are inappropriate for performing piercings. Their use constitutes a medical procedure which could be considered medical malpractice.

CONCH Piercings made straight through the bowl shape of the ear cartilage. Conch piercings can be described as either "lower" or "upper" with regards to the Crus helicis (see DAITH). Depending on the location either a ring or a barbell may be worn. If a barbell is chosen it should be 1/8" wider than the thickness of the cartilage to allow for swelling and proper cleaning. A ring may not be advisable if the wearer sleeps on his/her ears.

DAITH A piercing made through the Crus helicis, the inner-most ridge of cartilage above the Tragus. Because of its interior location the Daith piercing can be slept on comfortably. Placement is located by pinching the ridge and locating the softer spot of cartilage.

Initial jewelry: rings in 18 to 14ga, 3/8" - 7/16" - ?" in diameter.

Piercings made through or around the upper edge of the ear. If the curl is large or well developed the ring must be wide enough to not hug the curl; in this case a piercing made through the apex of the curl parallel to the side of the head may be more comfortable.

Initial jewelry: rings in 18 to 12ga, 3/8" - 7/16" - ?" in diameter.

The triangular prominence of cartilage in front of the opening of the ear canal.

Initial jewelry: rings in 18 to 14ga, 5/16" - 3/8" in diameter.

A piercing is made through the ridge of cartilage opposite and below the tragus.

Initial jewelry: rings and barbells in 18 to 14ga, 3/8" - 7/16" - ?" in diameter/length. In some cases a straight or curved barbell is advisable over a ring, especially if the wearer sleeps on his/her ears. If a barbell is chosen it should be 1/8" wider than the thickness of the cartilage to allow for swelling and proper cleaning.

Refers to two or more piercings through which a single barbell is worn. An Industrial can involve piercings of the helix, tragus, lobe, Conch, or Rook. Piercings should be placed as perpendicular to the tissue as possible to avoid mechanical stress that can cause scarring and migration. If wearing a single piece of jewelry will put too much stress on the piercing the piercings should be healed wearing two separate pieces of jewelry.

ORBIT / ORBITAL Refers to two piercings through which a single ring is worn. Common Orbital combinations include Conch/Lobe, Lobe/Lobe, Conch/Conch. Piercings should be placed as perpendicular to the tissue as possible to avoid mechanical stress that can cause scarring and migration. If wearing a single piece of jewelry will put too much stress on the piercing the piercings should be healed wearing two separate pieces of jewelry.

ROOK / ANTI-HELIX A piercing made through the antihelicis, the ridge of cartilage above the Crus helicis.

Initial jewelry: rings and curved barbells in 18 to 14ga, 5/16" - 3/8" in diameter/length. A curved barbell is advisable over a ring if the wearer sleeps on his/her ears. If a curved barbell is chosen it should be 1/8" wider than the thickness of the cartilage to allow for swelling and proper cleaning.

A horizontal piercing of the antihelix. This piercing is very anatomy dependant and is often difficult to heal, especially if the wearer sleeps on his/her ears. Straight and curved barbells are usually chosen as the most comfortable and unobtrusive style of jewelry. If a barbell is chosen it should be 1/8" wider than the thickness of the cartilage to allow for swelling and proper cleaning.