Perhaps you’ve had enough of your ear piercings and wish to close them permanently. Whether it’s due to neglect, medical concerns, or a change of heart, you’re now looking for guidance on how to proceed. Fortunately, this guide provides you with all the information you need to know about permanently closing your ear piercing holes.
Before diving into the details, it’s essential to understand the process and what to expect. This article will cover the different aspects of closing ear piercing holes, including the time it takes for them to heal completely, the methods to use, and what to do if the piercing is infected. With this guide, you’ll be able to make an informed decision and take the necessary steps towards closing your ear piercing holes permanently.
Key Takeaways
- This guide provides comprehensive information on how to close ear piercing holes permanently.
- It covers the time it takes for ear piercing holes to heal completely, the methods to use, and what to do if the piercing is infected.
- By following the guide, you’ll be able to make an informed decision and take the necessary steps towards closing your ear piercing holes permanently.
Do Earring Holes Close Completely?
The duration it takes for an earring hole to close up entirely depends on how well the piercing hole had healed. If the piercing hole had not healed entirely, the hole may not close up completely. On the other hand, if the piercing had healed entirely, the hole may take longer to close up fully.
The type of piercing also determines how fast and how safely the piercing hole closes up. Cartilage ear piercings, eyebrow piercings, belly button piercings, and lip piercings are some of the hardest piercings to close up fully. These piercings often leave intense piercings, making them much harder to close entirely.
Micro-dermal piercings and all other piercings on the ears close up quickly and much sooner. It is essential to note that the piercing earrings should not be removed before the piercing heals completely. If the earrings are removed before the piercing heals completely, the ear piercing holes close up much quicker than healed piercings.
In summary, the duration it takes for an earring hole to close up entirely depends on how well the piercing hole had healed. The type of piercing also determines how fast and how safely the piercing hole closes up.
How Long Does It Take for an Earring Hole to Close Completely?
Ear piercings are a popular fashion statement, but sometimes, for various reasons, people may need to remove their earrings for an extended period. The question arises: how long does it take for an earring hole to close completely?
In general, most ear piercings close up permanently within a few weeks, and attempting to reinsert earrings after this period can be challenging or even impossible. However, this duration varies depending on the piercing type and the healing process.
If a new piercing is not healed completely, the immune system kicks in and tries to repair the hole. Therefore, a new piercing that is entirely unhealed will close up in hours.
The recommended healing time for ear piercings is six weeks to six months, depending on the piercing type. A new earlobe piercing will be closed and healed fully in six to twelve weeks, while cartilage piercings above the ear can take up to several months to heal completely.
To prevent piercings from closing up, especially in the first six months after getting the piercing, earrings should not be removed for more than 24 hours. If someone wants to keep their piercing open but also wants it to heal quickly, they may consider using implant-grade metals like titanium. These metals present no risk of irritation and allow for the fast formation of the healed mucous membrane layer around the metal.
In summary, the duration it takes for an earring hole to close completely varies depending on the piercing type and healing process. It is crucial to follow the recommended healing time and avoid removing earrings for an extended period, especially in the initial six months after getting the piercing.
What About the Older Piercings?
Even piercings that have been around for a long time will eventually close up permanently. It is important to distinguish between healed and permanently closed piercings. Healed piercings have gone through all stages of healing, with the fistulas or channels fully intact. The tissue surrounding the piercing feels normal, with no redness or discharge. However, minimal fluid discharge and some crusting may occur, allowing for the jewelry to be removed for a short time.
For piercings that have been present since childhood, the holes may or may not close up depending on the body’s healing process and abilities. It is essential to note that even if the piercing has been around for a long time, it will eventually close up permanently. Therefore, it is crucial to take care of piercings to ensure they remain healed and open for as long as possible.
How to Close Ear Piercing Hole Permanently
If you have decided to close your ear piercing hole, there are several ways to do it. The method you choose will depend on how long you have had the piercing, the size of the hole, and whether you want to minimize scarring. Here are three methods for closing ear piercing holes permanently:
Method 1: The Sooner, The Better
The best time to close an ear piercing hole is within the first six weeks of getting the piercing. During this time, the tissues are still healing, and the hole is more likely to close up quickly. To encourage faster healing and closing of the ear piercing, stop wearing earrings early. This will allow the piercing to close naturally.
Earlobe piercings tend to close up much faster than piercings on harder cartilaginous areas. However, if the piercing is larger than the 00g gauge, the hole may not shrink back to the original size or disappear too soon. Note that for brand new piercings, the holes close within hours, and you will not struggle to close them up.
Method 2: Speeding Up the Process
If you want to close the piercing hole even faster, you can use hot compresses and kneading massages. These encourage closure and minimize the appearance of the hole. For the best results, clean the pierced area twice daily to prevent infections and speed up the closing process.
To clean the ear, wash your hands first using warm soap and water. Then, dip a piece of clean gauze into saline solution and dab it on the piercing on both sides. Dry the ear with a cotton cloth or paper towel. Within days, the hole size will be relatively small, and you may be the only one able to see it.
Method 3: Stitch It Up
If your earlobes are stretched out, you may need a degree of reconstruction for the ear tissue. A plastic surgeon can do the reconstruction to reverse the changes that are often permanent after healing and stretching out of the earlobe piercing.
In the surgery, excess skin is removed, and the earlobe is fixed by repairing the damage as it would be done on a torn earlobe. The surgical procedure will also help to prevent extreme scarring. This cosmetic procedure takes 15-20 minutes on each earlobe and is done under anesthesia, meaning that it is literally painless and the skin is fixed perfectly.
After the surgery, you’ll need to wash up your stitches thrice daily with warm water and gentle soap for the first week. You also must apply some petroleum jelly over the wound once every day for one week. Just use a small amount of the jelly, and apply after cleaning the ears, which is when they are moist. Petroleum jelly helps to lock in the moisture, and it is an important step because dry skin leads to scarring and scabbing.
In the absence of a gaping hole but with a hole that has significant scarring, the dermatologist or plastic surgeon may recommend the use of cortisone injections that will reduce the scarring. There also are laser treatments and creams that help with these and reduce the appearance of the scars.
In case of complications after the surgery, you should call the surgeon. But if the piercing heals well, the doctor will take out the stitches in 1 or 2 weeks, depending on the healing speed. Finally, it would be best if you didn’t get new piercings on the ear or wear jewelry on any other ear piercings until it heals fully or the recommended 2 months.
What Happens if the Piercing is Infected?
If a piercing becomes infected, it is important to leave the earrings in and clean the piercing frequently with salty or saline water. Removing the jewelry may seal the infection in the ear and lead to abscesses. It is also recommended to seek advice from a piercer or dermatologist for the best course of treatment for faster healing and fewer issues. By seeking professional advice and continuing to clean the piercing, the infection can be properly treated and the piercing can heal without further complications.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the speed of closure for piercings varies from person to person and depends on several factors, including the age of the piercing. Even for piercings older than a year, some may never close up while others may close up in days. Piercings less than a year old may take days or weeks to close up fully. Stephanie, a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies, is also a fashion design major and a writer for our website. With her extensive knowledge and experience in the jewelry industry, she provides actionable tips in her designs and brands posts. Her expertise is valuable in helping readers make informed decisions when it comes to their jewelry choices.
