Where did the belief that “piercings hit nerves” come from?
In Türkiye, beliefs such as “if a nose piercing hits a nerve your face will droop” or “an eyebrow piercing damages the eye nerve” are common. Part of this worry comes from knowing the face is full of nerves, and part from the belief that the ear has acupuncture points. In reality there are very fine sensory nerve endings all over the body, and every piercing passes through some of them; that is why you feel a brief sting during the piercing. But these tiny sensory endings are not the same as the large nerves that control muscle movement.
Nerve risk by area
| Area | Nearby structure | What actually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Nostril | Skin and thin cartilage | The facial nerve, which moves the face, does not run near the surface in this area; there is no evidence that a correctly done nose piercing causes facial paralysis. |
| Septum | Soft tissue in front of the cartilage (“sweet spot”) | In the right spot the needle passes through soft tissue rather than cartilage; piercing in the wrong spot can cause more pain and healing problems. |
| Ear (lobe, helix, tragus, conch, rook, daith) | Skin, cartilage, fine sensory nerves | There are no motor nerves in the ear; temporary tenderness and numbness can occur. The claim that a daith piercing cures migraines has not been scientifically proven either. |
| Eyebrow | Supraorbital sensory nerve and blood vessels | The piercing is placed superficially and vertically on the outer part of the eyebrow; this placement is preferred to stay away from nerves and vessels. There is no evidence that it affects the eye. |
| Lip (labret, Monroe, smiley) | Lip and gum tissue | It needs care not because of nerves but because of friction against teeth and gums; the correct jewelry size matters. |
Are numbness, tingling and aching normal?
In the days after a piercing, mild numbness, tingling, throbbing or sensitivity to touch are common. This is due both to the fine sensory endings passed through during the piercing and to natural swelling during healing. These sensations usually ease as the swelling goes down. Because cartilage piercings can take 6–12 months to heal, an occasional ache is also to be expected; for details, see when does cartilage piercing pain go away article.
When you should see a doctor: numbness that lasts for weeks or keeps spreading, noticing muscle weakness or asymmetry in your face, increasing pain, spreading redness, fever or yellow-green discharge. These symptoms may also be unrelated to the piercing; a doctor needs to assess them. For signs of infection, see infection or irritation guide.
Daith and acupuncture: does an ear piercing “open up” nerves?
The claim that a daith piercing stimulates a branch of the vagus nerve and reduces migraines is widely shared on social media. So far there is no strong clinical study proving this effect; reported improvements are thought to be explainable by the placebo effect. It is best to think of the daith as an aesthetic ear piercing, not a migraine treatment. For a detailed review, see does daith piercing help migraines article.
What reduces the risk of nerve and tissue damage: the right technique
- Placement that suits the anatomy: An experienced piercer marks the entry and exit points according to the anatomy of the area and shows them to you.
- Single-use sterile needle: A sharp needle opens a clean channel without crushing the tissue. A piercing gun is never used on cartilage; at our studio the gun is used only for the lobe. See piercing gun or needle.
- Correct jewelry size: Jewelry that leaves room for swelling but is not longer than necessary reduces pressure and friction.
- Aftercare: Not touching the jewelry, using only saline and not sleeping on it speeds up healing. For the basic rules, see the 7 rules in our are piercings harmful article.
Getting pierced at Cadde Piercing Studio
At our studio in Ümraniye Çarşı, piercings are done by our female piercers. Before piercing, we mark the spot and check it together in the mirror; nothing is pierced until you approve. Our prices include standard surgical steel jewelry, and every service on our prices page is listed individually: nose 450 TL, septum 550 TL, eyebrow 550 TL, helix 450 TL, daith 750 TL. Titanium jewelry is 350 TL; if titanium jewelry is used for the piercing, 350 TL is added to the service price (example: nose 450 + 350 = 800 TL). For more about nose piercings, see nose piercing: right or left side, and for the eyebrow, eyebrow piercing guide in our articles. For appointments, see our Umraniye piercing page or message +90 533 250 01 77 on WhatsApp.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
FAQ
Can a nose piercing hit a nerve?
A nostril piercing passes through skin and thin cartilage. Because the main nerve that moves the face does not run near the surface in this area, there is no reliable evidence that a correctly done nose piercing causes facial paralysis. Temporary numbness or tenderness can occur.
Can an eyebrow piercing damage the eye?
An eyebrow piercing is placed superficially and vertically on the outer part of the eyebrow. This placement is preferred to stay away from the sensory nerve and vessels above the eyebrow; there is no evidence that it damages the eye.
How long does numbness last after a piercing?
Mild numbness or tingling usually eases within a few days to a few weeks as the swelling goes down. If numbness lasts for weeks, spreads or comes with muscle weakness, you should see a doctor.
Do ear piercings help nerve-related conditions?
Claims that ear piercings such as the daith help with conditions like migraine or anxiety have not been scientifically proven. Get an ear piercing for aesthetic reasons, not as a treatment.
Can a piercing in the wrong place cause permanent damage?
A wrong angle or position usually leads to problems such as bumps, rejection (migration), embedded jewelry and scarring rather than nerve damage. That is why it is important to choose an experienced studio that marks placement according to anatomy.
What does it feel like if the needle hits a nerve during piercing?
Because every piercing passes through fine sensory endings, you feel a short, sharp sting; this is normal. A spreading, persistent pain like an electric shock after the piercing is not usual and should be discussed with a doctor.
This content is for general information only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment.