Many people spend their time with headphones on: if you are a gamer, streamer, or music lover, chances are you’ve clocked some serious game time. Others have commented that if you wear the same headphones for long enough there is a potential groove where the headphone band rests and concerns rise about skull deformation. Will headphones really ‘sink’ your skull? Let’s break down the facts.
What Causes the Groove?
- Not skull damage, but pressure marks.
- Impressions can be created by headphones, but it’s all in the head. It would take over 134 kilos of pressure to deform the skull if what it applied to was an object. This is really impossible because typically the headphones weigh 400 to 500 grams.
- Fatty Tissue Compression
- The compression of the low fat wettish white tissue between your skin and skull causes the groove. The tissue is also flexible and bounces back with time, so the effect is fleeting.
Why Does the Groove Appear?
- Extended Wear Time
With hours spent wearing headphones every day, one about wears down the the skin and fat beneath in sustained pressure, creating indentations visible in the skin itself. - Headband Design
Wearing a narrow or heavily padded head band can pressure on a small area, also focusing the pressure on the groove.
How NOT to Sink into the Groove
- Take Regular Breaks
Every hour, take off your headphones and give it a chance to recover. - Adjust Your Headphones
Loosen the headband pressure, but dont let it get too loose so as to cause an impact on the sound quality. - Switch to Alternatives
For longer sessions totally avoid headband pressure use in ear monitors (IEMs) or earbuds. - Massage the Area
Gentle massage is recommended if a groove develops. It allows the fatty tissue to regain the way it was supposed to be.
Final Verdict
Headphones won’t deform your skull, but they’ll put temporary pressure on the skin and fatty tissue. Preventing discomfort is dependent on the ability to take regular breaks and to make proper adjustment.