The earlobe skin is very fragile, and a split, gash or elongation of the hole can occur. Earlobes most commonly tear from repeated use of heavy or large earrings. At first, people with partial tears are told to simply stop wearing their earrings to let the lobe heal on its own—but that often doesn’t work.
In this post
Can heavy earrings damage your ears?
Earring hole damage can occur due to a variety of causes, from intentional stretching to accidental rips. The most common earring hole injuries are: stretched ear holes, which can occur when the ear hole is stretched due to frequent use of heavy earrings or large gauges.
Do heavy earrings make your ears sag?
Heavy Earrings
The heavier the earring, the more likely the ears are to sag. Ear sagging happens over time and occurs in women who wear heavy earrings frequently. The thickness of your lobe also determines how heavier earrings will affect you.
What to do after wearing heavy earrings?
Numbing creams are easily available at your local chemist shops and are generally used for dental treatments. You can use numbing cream on your earlobes before wearing your earrings and forget about any pain whatsoever. Lubricant like oil or petroleum jelly can easily help you slide your earring through the small hole.
Will a torn earlobe heal itself?
A torn earlobe may not heal on its own
An earlobe that has been torn or stretched will generally not go back to normal on its own. If there has been a tear in the earlobe, then some degree of healing will take place; however, it’s unlikely that the healing process will produce a good cosmetic result.
Why does my earring hole hurt after years?
An infected ear piercing can also develop years after a person got the original piercing. Usually, the infections are minor, and people can treat them at home without complications. Touching the piercing too often with dirty hands or not cleaning the area can lead to infections.
How do you know if your earrings are too heavy?
“If you notice that your earring hole is starting to elongate and become more of a slit rather than a hole, then it is being stretched,” warns Atlanta-based plastic and reconstructive surgeon Aisha Baron, M.D.
Why do heavy earrings hurt?
The earlobe skin is very fragile, and a split, gash or elongation of the hole can occur. Earlobes most commonly tear from repeated use of heavy or large earrings. At first, people with partial tears are told to simply stop wearing their earrings to let the lobe heal on its own—but that often doesn’t work.
Can earrings stretch ear hole?
Ear piercings can stretch over time, especially with the repeated and frequent wear of heavy earrings that pull and elongate the skin tissues in the region. A once tiny hole can become a very large hole – either via intentional body art modification or unwanted stretching of the earlobe over time.
How do I get my earrings to stop hurting my ears?
Management and Treatment
- Applying a warm compress to the infected earlobe or cartilage.
- Rinsing the infected earlobe with sterile saline.
- Using antibiotic ointment on the affected area.
- Taking oral antibiotics for more severe infections.
When can I wear heavy earrings after piercing?
Piercing earrings should be worn 24/7 during the healing period. If you have your earlobes pierced, you can change out your piercing earrings after six weeks. For those of you who have your cartilage pierced, the recommended healing period is 12 weeks.
Can earrings cause headaches?
There’s very little medical research that says new ear piercings commonly cause headaches. Headaches aren’t among the most common side effects of piercings. However, anecdotal evidence suggests it’s not an unusual side effect.
Why do dangle earrings hurt?
This means that when the human body is in contact with metal, it starts to build up a resistance to it. Eventually, this resistance to the metal results in the body producing a reaction. This reaction can range from itching to soreness to swelling to bleeding.
Why will my earring only go in backwards?
The most common cause is simply increased friction between the ear hole and the earring. This is most easily remedied by putting petroleum jelly on the earring post and then inserting it into the ear. The petroleum jelly will lubricate the earring to reduce friction.
Can your earlobe grow back?
If you previously wore gauges, the earlobe will only partially grow back together after they’re removed. To fully repair the earlobe requires the help of a safe, minimally-invasive procedure. Most torn earlobes can be effectively repaired surgically. The procedure is performed with local anesthetic.
What are earlobes for?
Earlobes do not serve a known biological function. The large blood supply in the earlobes may contribute to keeping the ear warm. Studies have found that earlobes continue to grow as people age.
Why do my earring holes smell?
“These cause ‘ear cheese,’ aka an accumulation of rancid oil—oil that gets exposed to air—dead skin cells, as we’re constantly shedding, bacteria, and sweat. It’s more common in people who do not change their earrings much and who sweat a lot.” (Me.)
Should I force my earring in?
After you have twisted the earring around the hole to reopen it, gently push the earring post all the way through. Secure the earring with the earring back. Do not jam or force the earring in. This can lead to scarring or infections.
Why is my old ear piercing leaking clear liquid?
It is a clear, yellowish discharge that would come out of any wound. THIS IS NOT A SIGN OF INFECTION AND IS NOT PUS. In actuality, it’s a good sign, it shows your body is doing what it should and fighting the good fight.
How do you not lose stud earrings?
When you take off your earrings, attach them to each other by poking one stud through the backing of the other and securing it with the second backing. This way, your earrings will never be apart and if you lose one, you lose both.
Why do my earrings droop?
What Is Ear Lobe Droop? This problem stems from too large and heavy an earring being worn on too thin or too bendable an ear lobe. Your earring just points toward the pavement. It sags, it doesn’t sing.