- Written ByDan Hunteron December 21, 2019
Last Updated: October 11, 2023
If you’ve recently gotten your earlobes pierced, you may be wondering how long you can keep your earrings out for. You’ll notice that those who had their ears pierced as children can go for weeks without earrings and nothing happens.
How fast your ear piercing will close up depends on a bunch of factors. The most important one of those being how long you’ve had the piercing for.
The healing process for ear piercings can take about four to six weeks. Keep in mind this only applies to earlobe piercings. A piercing through the cartilage of the ear, such as the tragus, can take months to heal fully. Luckily, earlobe piercings don’t come with many complications and usually close up without any scarring or bumps.
How long it takes for an ear piercing to close depends on how old it is:
- New: A few hours
- Less than a year: A couple of days
- Several years: Many weeks
How Do Piercings Heal?
When you pierce your ear — or any part of your body — you’re basically creating a tunnel through your skin. This tiny flesh tunnel is referred to as a fistula. The healing process is centered on making sure this fistula grows strong. This is done through the production of new skin cells in the affected area.
The strength or thickness of the fistula depends on the body part. Your piercing is considered wholly healed when the fistula has completely formed. For ear piercings, this can take up to six months. If you remove your jewelry before the full development of the fistula, you risk the chance of the hole closing up.
This is why people who’ve had their ears pierced since childhood can keep their earrings out for weeks with no issue. The fistula has formed and is strong enough to resist your body’s instinct to heal the open wound. Your immune system will jump into action to quickly close up that hole.
Your Body’s Reaction to Piercings
Sometimes you find yourself in situations where you have no other option but to take your jewelry out. Since the fistula hasn’t fully matured and is still pretty weak, the hole can close up in a few hours.
When you insert jewelry into the hole, your body detects this as a foreign object that needs to be removed. Your body will use all of its power to try to reject this object and heal the wound. When it realizes that it can’t be removed, it begins the fistula growing and strengthening process. This takes several months and even years for some piercings.
For ear piercings, this fistula process won’t happen until a minimum of six months after the initial piercings. That’s why most professionals will recommend not taking out your earrings for two to six months after your procedure.
How to Keep the Piercing Hole Open in Emergency Situations
If it’s necessary to remove it for an operation or x-ray, you should consider putting in plastic or non-metal earrings. You can also insert an acrylic container in the hole until you reinsert it.
It’s not recommended to remove your jewelry frequently in the first couple of weeks or months after the procedure. This can irritate the hole and expose it to more bacteria and dirt. It can also be tricky to reopen a closed piercing, as we explain here.
The Bottom Line
How soon your piercing hole will close depends on how long you’ve had it. It also depends on how frequently you’ve taken your earrings out. It’s best if you leave your jewelry in as often as you can for about a year. After that, you can go extended periods without them.
Without an earring in place, the diameter of the hole will begin to shrink and can completely close up. The general rule is to not remove your earrings at all for the first six weeks. After that, you can remove them for cleaning, but you should quickly put it back in place to prevent closure. This should be done with precaution for about a year.
What to Do If the Hole Closes
If the piercing hole begins to close or you’re unable to reinsert the earrings, follow these simple instructions:
- Wipe the earlobe with rubbing alcohol or saline solution
- Stretch the earlobe to widen the hole
- Try to reinsert the jewelry at a different angle
Ganz genau! Die Wahl eines veganen und alkoholfreien Nachsorgeprodukts ist eine ausgezeichnete Entscheidung für die Pflege deines Piercings. Diese Art von Produkten ist oft sanfter zur Haut und minimiert das Risiko von Reizungen oder allergischen Reaktionen. Es ist entscheidend, während des Heilungsprozesses sorgfältig auf die Pflege deines Piercings zu achten, um Infektionen und andere Komplikationen zu verhindern. Wenn du weitere Fragen zur Pflege deines Piercings hast oder Tipps benötigst, stehe ich gerne zur Verfügung!
Summary
How long it takes a piercing to heal varies from person to person. This is the same for how fast piercing holes can close up. It depends mostly on how old the piercing is. If you’ve had it for years, you can leave it out for weeks without worrying. If your piercing is fresh or less than a year old, try to hold off on removing it often. Give the fistula time to fully develop and mature. Be patient!
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Greetings, enthusiasts of body modification and piercing aficionados! I'm here to share my extensive knowledge and expertise on the topic at hand – earlobe piercings and the intricacies of their healing process. As someone deeply immersed in the world of body modification, I bring forth a wealth of firsthand experience and a profound understanding of the physiological aspects involved in the piercing journey.
Now, let's delve into the concepts outlined in the article by Dan Hunter, last updated on October 11, 2023.
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Healing Time for Ear Piercings: The article highlights that the healing process for earlobe piercings typically spans four to six weeks. Notably, this duration applies specifically to earlobe piercings, with cartilage piercings, such as the tragus, requiring a more extended period for complete healing, often taking months.
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Fistula Formation and Healing: The healing mechanism involves the formation of a fistula, a tiny flesh tunnel through the pierced area. The strength and thickness of the fistula depend on the body part, and for ear piercings, a fully developed fistula may take up to six months. Removing jewelry prematurely risks the hole closing up before the fistula is adequately formed.
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Body's Reaction to Piercings: The body perceives inserted jewelry as foreign objects that need removal, triggering the immune system to initiate the fistula growth and strengthening process. In cases where jewelry is removed before the fistula matures, the hole can close up rapidly, particularly for piercings less than a year old.
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Emergency Situations and Jewelry Removal: The article provides guidance on keeping the piercing hole open in emergency situations, suggesting the use of plastic or non-metal earrings or inserting an acrylic container to maintain the opening. However, frequent removal of jewelry in the initial weeks or months is discouraged due to potential irritation and exposure to bacteria.
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Closure of Piercing Holes: The article emphasizes that the speed at which a piercing hole closes depends on its age. New piercings may close within a few hours, those less than a year old in a couple of days, and several years old piercings may take many weeks to close. The general recommendation is to avoid removing earrings for the first six weeks and exercise caution for about a year.
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Dealing with Closed Piercing Holes: In case the piercing hole begins to close or reinserting earrings becomes challenging, the article suggests cleaning the earlobe with rubbing alcohol or saline solution, stretching the earlobe to widen the hole, and attempting to reinsert the jewelry at a different angle.
In conclusion, the key takeaway is that the longevity of your ear piercing is influenced by its age, with proper care and patience being crucial for a successful and lasting piercing experience. If you find yourself in a situation where removal is necessary, following recommended guidelines can help prevent complications and facilitate a smoother healing process.
For those interested in a vegan and alcohol-free aftercare approach, the article briefly mentions the benefits of such products for piercing care, underscoring their gentleness on the skin and reduced risk of irritations or allergic reactions during the healing process. If you have further inquiries or seek additional tips on piercing care, feel free to reach out!
