Find out if constant use of headphones can cause permanent damage to your skull and what to do to avoid denting your headphones.
After wearing snug-fitting headphones every day, you may have noticed a dent left in your hair where the headband used to be. this may be normal for you and at most a minor cosmetic concern. but what do you do when you also see a slight indentation in the skin in the area where your headband was?
Reading: Headphone dent in skull
It can be extremely alarming to see your head slightly misshapen due to wearing the headband. it gets worse when you check it after a while, and the dent is still there! Did you really cause a dent in your skull from constant use of headphones?
well, that’s what this article is for. We’ll look at whether wearing headphones can cause a dent in your skull and what you can do to prevent headphone dents.
can headphones dent your head?
Worried that your headphones can indent your skull or change the shape of your head? The good news is, they can’t.
Your headphones may cause a temporary indentation in your hair and even your head, but they won’t damage your skull forever.
So if you’ve ever wondered why you get a dent in your head after removing your headphones, rest assured it’s not permanent damage to your skull. rather, it’s possibly headphone hair or a dent in your scalp from wearing headphones for too long. these two, after all, are very noticeable after a long day of wearing tight headphones.
headphone hair occurs when the headband of the headphones puts pressure on your hair and scalp, flattening it. this results in a dent in the area of hair where the headband originally was.
On the other hand, a slight dent on the head can also happen after prolonged use of tight headphones. Although this sounds alarming, this actually is perfectly temporary! It will go away on its own after some time.
what to do if you feel a dent in your skull
Headphone dents typically last only for a few minutes to a few hours at most. So, if they’re still present for more than a day, that may already be a cause for concern.
here are some conditions behind a bleeding skull:
congenital cranial indentation
Also called craniosynostosis, congenital cleft of the skull is a disease that usually occurs in fetuses and newborns. Babies have flexible, fibrous joints called sutures that separate the bony plates of the skull, which exist to allow the brain to expand as they grow.
craniosynostosis occurs when the newborn’s sutures close too soon, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth, and giving the head a dented appearance.
paget’s disease of bone
In Paget’s disease of bone, the body makes new bone faster than normal, to the point that the rapid remodeling process ends up producing weaker-than-normal bone. This results in multiple problems, such as bone pain, fractures and even deformities. this disease is more common in older people and is rarer in people younger than 50 years.
gorham’s disease
Gorham’s disease, also known as phantom bone disease or Gorham’s bone disease, is a rare condition with no known cause. This disease is characterized by bone loss resulting from the abnormal proliferation of vascular or lymphatic channels within the bone.
trauma
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trauma refers to a serious injury to the body. In some cases, a serious head injury can cause a skull fracture and lead to a dent in the head. this requires immediate medical attention, as this means that a part of the skull may be pointing towards the brain, which can cause further damage.
cancer
Bone cancer occurs when unusual cells grow out of control in the bone and destroy bone tissue. This disease is rare, but some types of bone cancer can end up destroying bone tissues, causing problems such as depressions and irregularities in the skull.
can headphones change the shape of your ear?
Another key concern that headphone users have is if using headphones can permanently change their ear shape.
Fortunately, this is also not possible.
Although the earphones push the ears inward, this constant pressure is not enough to change the shape of the ear forever. That’s because your ears are fully developed when you first start wearing headphones, which means their structure can no longer be changed.
therefore, by adulthood, when most people start wearing headphones, they should be developed enough that even the friction and pressure caused by wearing the headphones won’t affect them.
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So why do the shape of your ears seem to be changing?
The thing is, with constant headphone use, you keep pulling your ears closer to your face.
Normally, your ears will return to their original position after a few hours of not wearing headphones. but, if you wear your headphones all the time, it won’t give your ears time to return to their original position. That’s why it looks like your ears are changing shape, even though they’re not.
what to do if your headphones are uncomfortable or too tight
The main culprit for the discomfort you feel when wearing headphones is often a tight fit that puts too much pressure on your ears or your head. the uncomfortable dent you get in your scalp, especially, is due to the headphone’s headband pressing down on your head.
To prevent or remedy a dent in the earcups, therefore, you will need to prevent the earcups from putting too much pressure on the top of your head.
This is what you can do:
wear the headphones on the back and not on the top to relieve pressure
Through repositioning your headphones’ headband, you can remove the pressure from the top of your head, and thus, avoid headphone dent and headphone hair.
what you can do is place the ear tips snugly on each ear first, and then place the headband behind your head. This allows for a secure fit for your ear tips and also a more comfortable experience for you while wearing your headphones. Plus, you no longer have to worry about getting dents in your headphones!
wear a cap or beanie under your headphones
A cap or beanie can serve as a buffer for the pressure your headphones can exert on your head. It can also serve as extra padding, which can help distribute the pressure more evenly throughout your head. This way, all the force won’t be focused on your scalp, thus helping you avoid having an indentation on your head.
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To do this, simply wear a comfortable hat or cap before wearing the headphones as usual. you may also want to adjust the tightness of the earphones to accommodate whatever hat or cap you’ll be wearing.
consider clamping force
The holding force of the earphones is important to ensure they don’t fall off your head. however, the problem with clamping force is that too strong or too weak can cause you discomfort.
When the headphone clamping force is too strong, it may feel too tight on the head. this ends up putting too much pressure on the head, especially at the top, which can then lead to a dent or hair on the headphones.
so if the clamping force is too weak, that can also be a bad thing! When your headphones are too loose, the headband may end up resting firmly on your head to stay in place. As a result, the headphones will continue to put pressure on your head, ultimately causing a dent.
To remedy this situation, there are two things you can choose to do: loosen your tight earbuds, or adjust your loose earbuds.
To break-in tight headphones, simply look for a sturdy object that’s wider than your head. Clamp the headphones on the object, usually for about 24 hours, or until it fits more loosely.
To tighten loose earbuds, you simply have to do the opposite. find a stable object that is slightly narrower than your head. Attach the headphones to the object of your choice, and then secure them with a string or cord. let it sit for at least 24 hours and see if it’s tight enough for you afterwards.
For more information, you can refer to this article to know what to do if the headphones hurt your ears in any way.
add more padding
quality padding on the headband can make wearing headphones a more comfortable experience.
Excellent padding can help reduce pressure and grip from the earphones by distributing the weight of the earphones more evenly. this relieves pressure on the top of your head, so earbud hairs and dents are less likely.
To change the padding of the earphones, you can either make your own or buy a ready-made replacement.
Handmade headphone cushions are the perfect choice for those looking for cheap but quality cushioning. making the padding of the headband also allows you more control, as you are directly in charge of how it will look and feel in the end.
However, if DIY isn’t your thing, there are many replacement cushion pads available in the market. For instance, you can’t go wrong with this headband cushion pad from TXEsign. It’s made from quality material, and is compatible with most headphones, too! This is the perfect choice if you’re looking for something durable and reliable that won’t break the bank.
conclusion
well, there you have it! As you can see, wearing headphones can’t damage your skull forever; it can only cause dents to your head temporarily, but it’s not much of a concern.
Still, there are plenty of ways you can take to avoid that slight indentation on your head after wearing headphones for a long time. just follow the tips we gave you and you won’t have to worry about dents in your headphones anymore.
Do you find these tips helpful? Leave us a comment and tell us what you think!
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