What is the most painful piercing? Piercing pain from least to most painful

What is the most painful piercing? Piercing pain from least to most painful

There are many options available for body piercing placement. Anatomical factors, including nerve endings and cartilage thickness, may cause piercings to hurt more in some areas and less in others. Being familiar with the most painful piercing will guide you in making the right decision.

Nostrils (L), navel (C), and tongue piercing (R)
Nostrils (L), navel (C), and tongue piercing (R) are among the most painful piercings. Photo: @piercingkenya on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Piercings take only a few minutes to complete. The pain factor differs depending on the body part, with some being more painful than others. The selections can appear endless, ranging from your lips to ears and even private parts. The main factors considered for this ranking are sensitivity, nerve concentration, and healing time.

Most painful piercing

Some piercings hurt more than others, and some may take longer to heal. Here is a list of the most painful piercings, from the least to the most painful.

1. Earlobe

Earlobe piercing
Earlobe piercing is the most common and the least painful. Photo: @piercingkenya on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Ear lobe piercing is the most common and the least painful because of the fleshy nature of the lobe. Many claim it is no more painful than a bee sting, lasting only a few seconds.

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Lobe piercings are simple to take care of, requiring you to clean them with cotton buds and salt water. In six weeks, your ear lobe should be healed.

2. Navel

Navel piercing
Navel piercing healing can take up to six months. Photo: @piercingkenya on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Navel piercings are the second most popular type of body piercings. When one gets their navel pierced, they report feeling as if they have been stung by a bee and experiencing some soreness just after.

Exercise caution when choosing what to wear, as the piercing will take time to heal. Proper aftercare is crucial to promote quick healing, which can take up to six months. Avoid workouts that involve stomach movement, as they may injure the pierced area.

3. Lip

Getting your lip pierced is painless. It involves puncturing the skin with a needle, marking the location with a pen, and inserting a labret stud once the lip has been secured with a small metal clamp.

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Helix piercing cheat sheet: All you need to know before you get one

Your lip is made of soft, fleshy material, which is one reason it is less painful. There may be some soreness and swelling after the piercing, but this should subside in two weeks. It heals fully in six to eight weeks.

4. Nostril

Ladies showing off nostril piercings
After having a piercing, clean it with salt water. Photo: @piercingkenya on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

These nose piercings hurt more than navel, lip, and earlobe piercings. Cartilage is stiffer than flesh, and the needle must pass through it. Many report that it hurts for a moment, and they get watery eyes or feel like they need to sneeze.

After the piercing, clean it with salt water so it should not be too painful. They take six to eight weeks to heal.

5. Eyebrow

Eyebrow piercings
Eyebrow piercings are low on the piercing pain chart. Photo: @luefresh3 on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Eyebrow piercings are low on the piercing pain chart. This is because hardly much skin needs to be punctured by the needle. The area is full of nerve endings, making it more sensitive. People describe the procedure feels more like pressure and a sharp pinch.

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Eyebrow piercings take three months to heal. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution when plucking eyebrows and be careful when dressing or taking clothes off.

6. Tongue

Tongue piercings
Tongue piercing can cause temporary difficulties with eating and speaking. Photo: @piercingkenya on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Although tongue piercings are not considered painful, it is important to remember they may cause more after-effects than others. It is because they frequently swell, which can cause temporary difficulties with eating and speaking.

It is best to consider when to get your piercing done. Avoid times you need to talk and consider scheduling it for the weekend so you will have time for the swelling to go down before heading to work or school. The swelling should subside in a few days.

7. Daith

The daith piercing has become more popular because it has been linked to its potential use for other purposes. A pressure point connected to daith piercings may help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.

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The daith piercing is more painful and uncomfortable than the lobe piercing as it goes through the innermost ear cartilage. It takes three to six months to heal.

8. Helix

The helix is a cartilage piercing inserted at the top of your ear. Because it is made of cartilage, more pressure is needed to puncture the hole. This piercing is around the centre of the piercing pain chart.

A helix piercing requires a strict saline cleaning regimen to ensure the best possible outcome. If clean and safe, a helix piercing can heal in three months. However, some have reported that it took up to six months to recover completely.

9. Dermal anchor

Dermal anchor piercings
The dermal anchor is the most attractive body piercing. Photo: @piercingkenya on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

One of the most attractive body piercings available is dermal anchors, which many choose to have on their cheeks, hands, and chest. The pain threshold for persons who have had dermal anchoring is reportedly 6/10.

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Getting a dermal anchor requires punching a hole beneath the skin and putting the anchor's base within the freshly punched hole. The procedure takes a little longer than a lip piercing, which adds to the pain level.

10. Rook

Also called a smoke piercing, it is done on the inner portion of the ear, especially in the "smoke" cartilaginous fold. The needle passes through the little bendy portion toward the top of your ear. There will be discomfort when the needle penetrates the cartilage, but it should not linger too long.

Because of its location on the ear, the rook is harder to irritate than the Helix, which allows easier aftercare. Depending on each person's reaction, a rook piercing should heal in three to nine months.

11. Conch

Conch piercings
Conch piercing needs a proper cleaning regimen with salt water. Photo: @rebelrebelpiercing on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

One of the most painful ear piercings is conch piercing because it is inserted directly through the ear shell. The cartilage is slightly thicker, and there is less flesh in it. People report feeling more pressure and pain during the piercing, even though it is quick.

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This piercing needs a proper cleaning regimen with salt water as it heals similarly to the helix and rook piercings. It heals within three to six months.

12. Industrial

Industrial piercing
Industrial piercing penetrates two sets of ear cartilage. Photo: @piercingkenya on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Industrial piercings are more painful since they penetrate two sets of ear cartilage. Due to its location, it might be simple to irritate the piercing, increasing the pain. Regular salt water washing and avoiding irritants like hairspray are essential to fasten the healing process. Depending on each person's response, healing can take three to nine months.

13. Septum

Septum piercing
The septum piercing is a contentious procedure. Photo: @piercingkenya on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

The septum piercing is a contentious procedure since some people say it hurts very little, while others say it hurts a lot. The degree of discomfort experienced is influenced by where the piercing is placed.

The piercing industry refers to the soft skin inside the nostrils as "the sweet spot." It is where the piercing should pass through. Although it heals within six to eight months, you should only feel pain and tenderness for about a week.

Read also

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14. Teat

Teats are among the most painful piercings as they are highly concentrated with nerve endings. How sensitive your teats are determines how painful they are for you. Individuals with less sensitive teats experience less pain than those with more sensitive ones.

People with teat piercings claim it feels like a brief pinch or bite. The teat may be sore or swollen for the first few days following the procedure. They can take up to a year to heal, necessitating frequent saltwater washing.

15. Private part piercing

The most painful piercings are those on the female private parts. This is due to the heightened sensitivity and abundance of nerve endings in your private part.

You should visit a piercer who has received training in performing private part piercings to minimise the amount of pain you might feel. Due to the high blood flow, they should heal within eight weeks on average.

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What are the most painful piercings?

Certain piercings hurt more than others. The most painful are the private parts, teat, and septum. These are highly concentrated with nerves, making them more sensitive than others.

What is the most painful piercing for a woman?

Private part piercings are the most painful. The hypodermis has hundreds of nerve endings, so female private part piercings are the most painful.

What piercings are the worst to heal?

Daith piercings can take up to a year to heal completely. It is one of the ear piercing that passes through the innermost ear cartilage just above the ear canal. They are prone to infection and migration.

Individuals have different pain tolerances. Piercings can cause extreme pain for some people while feeling completely insignificant for others. Knowing the most painful piercings will help you identify which choice to make.

Legit.ng recently published an article about septum piercing. Septum piercings are through cartilage, which is more sensitive than regular skin, making it more painful. The septum is a delicate part of the nose that often takes time to heal when pierced.

Previously only associated with cartoon bulls and punks, septum piercings have gained popularity due to the wear of celebrities like Zendaya and Florence Pugh, who favour modern septum piercings. They are modest, uncomplicated, and different from the steel hoops of the past.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Isaac Wangethi avatar

Isaac Wangethi (Lifestyle writer) Isaac Wangethi has been a content writer at Legit since September 2021. He has gained valuable experience working on various projects, such as celebrity biographies, lifestyle, news and many more. Isaac won the Writer of the Year Award on Legit in 2023. He earned a Bsc. of Science in Information Technology in 2017 from the University of Nairobi and a Higher Diploma in Computer Software Engineering from Gretsa University in 2021. In 2023, Isaac finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In March 2024, he completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: Wangethin@gmail.com