A daith piercing is located just above the tragus (in the photo here, the daith is the gold ring with the clear gems), and the piercings are very similar. It is a piercing through a rather thick section of cartilage, which does make the piercing itself appear to be more dramatic. But the fact is, there is minimal pain with these piercings, and the aesthetic reward is certainly worth any discomfort.

The healing process can be a bit longer and more complicated than most other piercings. Daith piercings to be a magnet for dirt and germs that are around us. And it also requires more attention simply because it is a larger wound than a thin cartilage piercing. It is imperative that you keep it clean and strictly follow your aftercare instructions. As with all ear piercings, I also recommend that you avoid contact with makeup, hairspray, and perfumes; you should also change your pillowcase every day and cleanse your ear after talking on the phone or wearing earphones, earmuffs, etc.

Before deciding to pierce the upper portion of your ear, familiarize yourself with the health risks associated with cartilage ear piercings.

Pain, Swelling and Redness
The signs of inflammation will be present with perichondritis. A painful and red ear is the most common symptom of ear infection, according to the National Institutes of Health. Pain will occur in the cartilage portion of your ear. The redness surrounds the area where the injury has occurred. Ear lobe swelling can occur with an infection of the ear cartilage.

Changes in Shape
Pus can collect between the cartilage and surrounding perichondrium with a severe infection. This pus collection can sometimes result in the death of the cartilage. This happens because the cartilage receives its blood supply and nutrition from the perichondrium. This can lead to a deformed ear. An untreated severe infection of the ear cartilage can change the shape of the ear and result in cauliflower-shaped deformity of the ear.

Discharge
Severe cases of ear cartilage infection will result in fever, discharge seeping from the wound and itching of the ear. A severe ear cartilage infection will cause crusts in the affected area and pus like discharge. The infection from the ear can spread to soft tissues of the face and neck, according to University of Texas Medical Branch. If you have the above symptoms of ear cartilage infection, seek immediate medical attention to prevent complications.

Keloids
Keloids are large, puffy scars that may form when the skin is too thin and scars rather than healing. Especially after a bad infection, keloids can appear on the top portion of the ear as a result of piercing. Cortisone injections, pressure dressing and laser therapy can help smooth out the skin, but it can leave the ear scarred after cartilage piercing.

Hereditary
In some piercees, keloids are a hereditary medical condition. Piercees with close family members, such as parents or siblings, with keloids are most likely to keloid in connection with ear cartilage piercing. Piercing the ear cartilage, no matter the method, results in keloids around, inside or outside of the piercing location. Receiving a piercing with a sterilized needle from a professional body piercer that provides thorough aftercare guidelines decreases the possibility of keloid formation. The piercee, following the aftercare guidelines in addition to the professional procedure, may prevent or slow the formation of a keloid, yet this varies from piercee to piercee. Piercing guns and unprofessional tools cause additional trauma to the cartilage and lack of aftercare may aid in the growth of a keloid. Keloids form mostly at the back of the ear piercing, as this is where the piercing causes the most trauma to the skin.

Considerations
If you are worried that you are prone to keloid scarring, consult your health-care provider and avoid activities such as piercings and tattoos. Likewise, speak with a doctor if you suspect a scar of being a keloid rather than the more common hypertrophic scar.

Daily Care Routine
Do not touch your piercing unless you are cleaning it. Unwashed hands carry bacteria and your piercing is a point where these bacteria can penetrate below your skin and cause an infection.
While healing, your piercing will need to be cleaned once daily.
Cleaning more often than this will harm your piercing.
You will need to use an antibacterial soap that contains either chloroxylenol or triclosan

The step-by-step procedure is:
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap.
Wet the piercing with plain water.
Put a few drops of antibacterial soap on the piercing and work them into a lather with a cotton bud.
Try to loosen any crusted discharge and float it off the jewelry and your skin with the cotton bud.
Leave the antibacterial soap on the piercing for two minutes while rotating the jewelry back and forth, allowing the disinfectant to penetrate the piercing.
Rinse with water and air dry thoroughly. Do not dry with a towel, which may carry bacteria.

Suitable Types:
Captured bead rings
Rings are much cheaper than barbells. Special pliers may be required to remove or replace the bead, especially for thicker gauge jewelry.
Avoid sleepers as the sharp edges at the joint may damage your piercing.
Barbells
Either choose internally threaded barbells or, if the bar is externally threaded, be sure that no threads are exposed.
StudsStuds can work very well providing there is sufficient room to exose the piercing when cleaning.
Suitable Sizes:
Only 18 gauge or heavier jewelry should be used. Smaller gauges will migrate out through the skin.

Suitable Materials:
Surgical Stainless Steel, 18 carat gold, titanium, niobium, PTFE.
Do not use 9 carat gold, silver (which can stain the tissues permanently), or gold plated jewelry in new piercings. In a healing cartilage piercing the gold plating will wear off the jewelry before the piercing is healed. This is not such a problem in healed piercings.

Changing Jewelry:
You may damage your piercing by changing jewelry during the healing period. This is best done by a professional piercer. Once a piercing is healed you can change the jewelry yourself.

Health Issues:
Bacterial Infections
Prevention
Disinfect, wash or avoid the things in your daily life that can carry bacteria:
Telephone handsets
Mobile phones
Hearing aids
Stethoscopes
Pens and pencils
Fingers
Scarves, hats, etc
Pillowcases
Sheets.

Symptoms
Include increased pain, increased redness and an increase in the amount and thickness of the discharge. The infected discharge is usually thick and yellow, green or grey and may have an unusual odour. Consult with your physician or piercer and do not remove the jewelry until you seek advice. Removing the jewelry may prevent pus draining and cause an abscess to form.

Chondritis
Infection of cartilage. This is very difficult to treat and sometimes requires plastic surgery for cure. Consult a physician.

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