A piercing pillow, a customized pillow with a hole in the center, can help with faster recovery after a new ear piercing. Sleeping with a new ear piercing while wearing earrings can cause an earache or even swelling.
Sleeping on a regular pillow right after getting your ear pierced can be surprisingly painful. The pressure from the pillow pushes directly against the fresh piercing, causing soreness, throbbing, and irritation throughout the night. Even small movements can make the area feel tender or inflamed.
How to Sleep Comfortably with a New Ear Piercing?
Because of this, many people struggle to sleep comfortably unless they find a pillow or sleeping position that keeps pressure off their ears.
A memory foam piercing pillow is as important as any other medication or ointment that you are using for the pierced ear.
Piercing pillows have a dedicated hole in the center so that your ear does not build pressure around the piercing, and you can adjust the ear inside the hole while distributing the weight of your head around the hole.
What is a Piercing Pillow?
Piercing pillows are designed for comfort and healing for sleepers with fresh ear piercings or sleepers who like to sleep with earrings on.
Some pillow brands and companies advertise ear piercing pillows as Donut Pillows or Pillows with a Hole, too.
With different designs and size options available, all types of piercing pillows follow the same structure: a hole in the center.
A normal pillow exposes your ear to unnecessary friction and pressure that can easily damage new or old piercings. An ear-sized hole in the center of the piercing pillow for side sleepers removes the feeling of discomfort.
As there is no friction between the ear with the piercing and the pillow surface, the skin heals quickly.
Size and Design Options for Piercing Pillows
There are standard-sized piercing pillows and travel-friendly pillows with holes available on the market. Buying a standard-sized memory foam piercing pillow is recommended.
Once your ear piercing has healed, you can still use a standard-sized pillow in your daily routine.
Travel-friendly or mini piercing pillows are usually preferred if you got the procedure done from any other place. Having a travel-friendly donut pillow will make your nights comfortable right after the procedure.
Most popular design options for piercing pillows include round pillows and conventional pillows with a hole. If you think making a hole in a normal pillow for ear piercing is a good idea, it is not.
Do I need a Piercing Pillow?
Yes, a piercing pillow is a must-have sleep accessory right after an ear piercing.
If you don’t want to experience pain, discomfort, and possible skin infection, you need to buy ear piercing pillows as soon as possible.
How much Time does Ear Piercing take to heal?
The pain after an ear piercing will go away after a few days. I don’t need to spend money on a pillow with a hole. Are you thinking the same thing? Unfortunately, you are wrong.
- Ear piercings take varying amounts of time to heal
- With lobe piercings typically healing in 6 to 8 weeks
- Cartilage piercings can take 6 to 12 months or longer.
The total healing time depends on the location, with softer tissue like the lobe healing faster than the cartilage, which receives less blood flow.
Can you bear discomfort and pain for such a long time? If your answer is no, you need a piercing pillow.
Possible Benefits of Piercing Pillows
The idea of piercing pillows was to facilitate users with fresh piercing, but sleepers with any type of earache (pain in the ear) can use an ear piercing or a donut pillow. Sleep experts and doctors may also recommend ear piercing pillows to patients who suffer from earaches.
Piercing pillows for side sleepers are quite popular among common users due to the high-quality memory foam used in the products. Here are some salient benefits of using piercing pillows after a fresh ear piercing or to boost the healing process.
1. Pressure Relief
Constant pressure on the sensitive areas can cause swelling, slow down the healing process, and even cause serious infection.
Ear piercing pillows reduce the pressure on the ear by keeping your ear untouched while sleeping on your side.
The hole has a perfect angle, usually 15°, and this ensures an alignment with your shoulders. Your ear with piercing or any other type of pain remains suspended during sleep. A hard surface or a normal pillow can slow down the healing process of a freshly pierced ear.
2. Faster Healing
The ear is a sensitive part of your body, and without proper care, you can damage the pierced bone or skin within a few nights.
Mini donut pillows or memory foam ear piercing pillows minimize irritation and pressure.
The human body and organs need an optimal environment for faster recovery, and pillows for pierced ears provide that ideal level of comfort and support, improving the recovery time.
3. Pain Relief
As a pierced pillow can take up to a few weeks for recovery, sleeping on a normal pillow is almost impossible.
Side sleepers find these medicated pillows more comfortable. Perfectly suspended ear removes the feeling of discomfort and pain.
4. Prevention of Skin Irritation and Complications
A pierced ear is more prone to skin irritation, infections, and other complications.
It helps stabilize the jewelry to prevent accidental snagging or movement that could otherwise cause irritation or even jewelry migration.
5. Improved Hygiene and Airflow
With your pierced ear skin exposed to fresh air flow, the healing process becomes faster and more efficient.
By preventing the moisture built up around your ear and skin, ear piercing pillows promote better and hygienic conditions, necessary for faster healing.
Piercing Pillows vs. Regular Pillows
Why is a normal pillow not recommended for sleepers with freshly pierced ears?
Sleeping on a normal pillow with ear piercing can slow down the healing process by up to 50% and cause severe pain and discomfort.
Piercing Pillows: Include ear holes (2″-4.5″), reduce pressure (<7mmHg), and use medical-grade materials for healing and comfort.
Regular Pillows: Flat surface, apply more pressure (22mmHg+), and lack targeted support for piercings.
Here is a simple chart that can help you differentiate a pillow for ear piercing from a normal pillow.
| Feature | Piercing Pillow | Conventional Pillow |
| Design | An ear-sized hole in the center of the pillow | Uniform and flat surface with no dedicated area for ear placement |
| Pressure on Pierced Ear | Less than 7mmHg | 22mmHg or more |
| Material | Medical-grade memory foam | Different types of materials |
| Possible use cases | Piercing recovery, ear issues, and special medical conditions | Normal sleeping comfort and support |
How to Maintain a Piercing Pillow?
Maintaining a hygienic piercing pillow is absolutely critical for the health of your new piercing.
A fresh ear piercing is an open wound, and a dirty pillow surface can easily infect your skin. You must know how to wash a pillow and how to keep a pillow clean.
Washing Instructions: Covers vs. Inserts
The cleaning process for pillows largely depends on the material, particularly whether you are cleaning the removable cover or the pillow insert itself (which is often memory foam).
Always check the care tag first. Most covers (cotton, bamboo, or polyester blends) can be machine-washed in a gentle cycle using a mild, unscented detergent.
Air drying is usually recommended. If you must use a dryer, use the lowest heat setting to prevent shrinking or damaging the fabric.
Aim to clean the cover at least once a week. Since the piercing is still raw and producing discharge, you need to regularly remove accumulated bacteria and bodily fluids.
Final Words
Sleeping on a piercing pillow right after a fresh ear piercing can boost the healing process by up to 2X. Not taking good care of the pierced ear can cause discomfort, pain, or even serious skin infections.
Piercing pillows or pillows with a hole are not just a sleep accessory but a tool to boost the recovery and healing process.
