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Wearing earrings is an excellent way to add a focal point or transform your facial appearance, but if you don’t wear them regularly, the piercing holes may start to close. While some cases require professional help, you can also attempt to reopen them at home by disinfecting the area, proceeding slowly and carefully to avoid pain and infection. With proper preparation and patience, you can succeed and wear earrings again.
Steps
Disinfect the surrounding area
Soften the skin around the earlobe. Before reopening the ear piercing, you need to soften the skin by applying a warm cloth to the earlobe or taking a warm shower. This step will make the piercing process easier.
Wash your hands and wear latex gloves. Thoroughly wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap for 30 seconds to remove dirt, debris, or bacteria. Put on latex or rubber gloves after washing and drying your hands. This step helps prevent bacteria from entering the piercing hole.
Disinfect the earrings with rubbing alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol, commonly known as rubbing alcohol, available at pharmacies or grocery stores, is a strong disinfectant that can kill most bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Soak a cotton ball or swab with alcohol and clean the pair of small stud earrings you will use to reopen the piercing. Ensure they are thoroughly cleaned and placed on a clean surface to dry.
- If you have allergies, choose sterling silver or hypoallergenic earrings to avoid allergic reactions.
Disinfect the earlobe. Use a cotton ball or swab to clean the earlobe with rubbing alcohol. Make sure to clean both the front and back of the earlobe, especially around the piercing hole.
Reopen the piercing hole manually
Feel behind the earlobe. You may feel a small bump, which is likely the closed piercing hole. This bump forms from dead skin cells and seals the piercing during the healing process.
- If the piercing appears completely closed, you might need professional help to reopen it. Remember, the time it takes for a piercing to close varies for each person. Some can reopen their piercings at home after years of not wearing earrings, while others may find theirs sealed shut within months.
Karissa Sanford
Body Piercing Technician
Body Piercing Technician
Your piercing hole is likely just smaller, not completely closed. When you don’t wear earrings, the piercing hole usually shrinks but doesn’t fully close. If the piercing had healed before you removed the earrings, it’s rare for it to seal completely. You can visit a reputable piercing studio to have a partially closed or shrunken piercing reopened.
Lubricate the earlobe. Apply petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) or antibiotic ointment to the earlobe to reduce friction and ease the process. Gently massage the lubricant onto the earlobe using your fingers. The warmth from your hands will also help soften the skin.
Stretch the piercing hole. Use your fingers to gently pull the sides of the earlobe in opposite directions to slightly open the piercing. This helps push some lubricant into the hole. Avoid rubbing or pulling the earlobe too hard.
Apply lubricant to the sterilized earring. Coat a thin layer of petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment onto the sterilized earring post. Try to avoid getting lubricant on the front of the earring, as it may make it slippery and harder to handle.
- Use earrings with thin posts. Thicker posts may not fit through a partially closed piercing. Forcing them through could cause pain, bleeding, or scarring.
Insert the earring into the piercing hole. Look into a mirror, and with one hand, slowly guide the earring through the front of the piercing hole while holding the earlobe with the other hand. Gently press your thumb behind the piercing hole, where the buildup of dead skin cells is located.
Wiggle the earring in the piercing hole. Gently rotate the earring within the piercing hole. You may need to wiggle it slightly for a few minutes to find the correct angle to push it through. Keep your thumb behind the earlobe to feel the position of the earring post.
- If you feel discomfort or pain, try numbing the earlobe with an ice cube for a few minutes before attempting again. If pain or discomfort persists, seek assistance from a professional piercer.
Rotate the earring to push it through the piercing hole. Once you’ve located the piercing hole and the correct angle, slowly rotate the earring to guide it through. Avoid applying too much pressure. Since the hole isn’t fully closed and is lubricated, the earring post should slide through easily.
- If the earring doesn’t go through, stop and try rotating it at a different angle.
Push the earring through. After rotating the earring to reopen the piercing hole, gently push it through. Secure the earring backing behind the earlobe.
- Avoid forcing the earring through to prevent scarring or infection.
Prevent infection after re-piercing. After inserting the earring, wash the earlobe with warm water and antibacterial soap to prevent irritation or infection. Avoid touching the earlobe while it heals to prevent bacteria from entering the piercing. Refrain from using hair care products or powdered cosmetics for several days to keep the piercing clean.
Seek professional assistance. Reopening a piercing without proper care can lead to bleeding, infection, or nerve damage. If you experience pain or can’t reopen the piercing, don’t force it. Consult a doctor or a professional piercer at a piercing studio or jewelry store for safe reopening in a sterile environment.
Caring for the Pierced Ear
Wear earrings for several weeks. After reopening the piercing, keep small earrings in place for at least 6 weeks. Removing them too soon may cause the hole to close again.
Clean the ears with soap and water. Establish a daily cleaning routine in the morning or evening. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap, then clean the earlobes with warm water and soap once a day. This helps maintain hygiene and prevents infection.
- You can also prevent scarring by cleaning with alcohol daily. Dab alcohol on a cotton ball or swab and gently wipe around each piercing.
Rotate the earrings daily. Use clean hands to hold the earrings and gently rotate them. Perform this action daily to prevent the piercing from closing again.
Tips
- If you can’t insert the earring from the front, try rotating the earring post from the back of the earlobe toward the front.
Warnings
- If the earlobe becomes significantly red, swollen, or painful, seek medical attention.
What You’ll Need
- Thin-post earrings
- Antibacterial soap
- Clean hands
- Rubber gloves
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton balls or swabs
- Petroleum jelly (Vaseline)
- Antibiotic ointment
