Conch Piercing Guide: Types, Pain, and Care

A conch piercing is located in the inner part of the ear - not at the edge, unlike most other ear piercings. Because of its location, it’s a very customizable piercing!

The outer and inner conch

There are two versions of this piercing: outer conch and inner conch. So what’s the difference?

Most ears have a small horizontal fold in the middle of the ear:

• If the piercing is placed above the transverse fold of the ear, it is an outer conch. It sits right between the helix and the rook piercings.
• If it is placed below the fold,  it is an inner conch. This piercing sits opposite the outer conch, right next to the entrance to the ear canal. Be aware that an inner conch piercing can be a bit more painful.

What jewelry should I wear?

For this piercing, a short labret is a perfect choice, but rings and horseshoes look incredible too.

You can use 99% of tragus jewelry for this piercing, but you’ll need to assess the specific measurements for your ear. That is, you should choose a large enough piercing ring or a horseshoe to cover the edge of your ear.

How do I take care of my conch piercing?

You should treat your conch piercing like any other piercing. Clean it twice a day with an isotonic saline solution. Washing it more often will stress it and delay the healing period. Overall, follow your piercer's advice and avoid touching it unless necessary.

A piercing made through the cartilage is harder to heal as cartilage heals in layers. It is therefore important to avoid infection in a cartilage piercing, as the body cannot regenerate cartilage.

Can my conch piercing be stretched?

You can stretch your conch piercing in size. However, the amount you can stretch is minimal, as this is a cartilage piercing. Therefore, it is recommended to start stretching with a dermal punch, where a piece of cartilage is removed instead of expanding it.

Some find it harder to stretch an inner conch, as the surface is slightly concave, whereas the surface around an outer conch is flatter.