On this page
Is your piercing healed?
Tick everything that is true right now. All four have to hold, and the calendar has to agree, before a jewelry change is a good idea.
Tick the boxes above to see where you stand.
This is a guide, not a clearance. Even with all four true, having your piercer look at it and make the first change is the safer route, and it is usually quick and cheap. If anything is hot, spreading, producing thick or coloured discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor rather than a piercer.
Do not change an earlobe piercing until it has fully healed. For an earlobe that is six to eight weeks at the earliest, and the calendar is only half of the answer: the piercing also has to pass the checks below.
The timeline, by source
| Source | Advice |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic | Do not change earrings until the piercing is fully healed. Earlobe: six to eight weeks |
| American Academy of Dermatology | Do not remove a new piercing for six weeks or more, even at night |
| This site | Earlobe healing takes 6 to 10 weeks |
| Claire’s | Lobes 3 to 6 weeks |
| Banter (Piercing Pagoda) | Earlobe at least 4 to 6 weeks |
Claire’s and Banter give shorter figures. We do not know how they define healed, so plan for the longer ones. How long an earlobe piercing takes to heal compares the sources.
Do not take them out at night
The American Academy of Dermatology says to keep a new piercing in for six weeks or more, even at night, because removing the starter jewelry too early may cause the piercing to close. That applies from the day you are pierced until at least week six.
Is it ready?
The Cleveland Clinic gives four signs of a healed earlobe piercing: it does not hurt, it is not red or swollen, it is not crusty, scabby or flaking, and you can rotate the jewelry easily. The tool below turns our four readiness tests into a checklist and compares them with the healing time for your piercing.
The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) warns that a piercing may seem healed before the healing process is actually complete. If you are unsure, have your piercer look at it.
Who should make the first change
The APP says to leave the initial jewelry in place for the entire healing process unless there is a problem with its size, style or material, and to see a qualified piercer for downsizes or any jewelry change during healing. What a first change costs varies:
- The studio price lists we checked charged $10 for a jewelry change in Oakland and Philadelphia, and Amato says all changes are free.
- Rowan lists a free jewelry change with a Rowan earring purchase.
- Banter mentions complimentary follow-up visits.
What to change to
The Cleveland Clinic says the safest choices are typically 14K gold, medical-grade steel or titanium, and advises avoiding alloys such as nickel, which is common in costume jewelry. The APP’s accepted list for initial piercings includes implant-certified titanium (ASTM F-136), and it accepts both internally threaded and threadless jewelry. Flat-back earrings and the materials guide explain what to look for.
Second, stacked and transverse lobes
In our guides a second lobe and a stacked lobe take six to ten weeks, the same as a first lobe. A transverse lobe takes twelve to twenty-four, so wait longer.
Cartilage is different
If the piercing is cartilage, read when can I change my cartilage piercing. Cartilage takes months, not weeks.
Children
The Cleveland Clinic quotes a physician who recommends needles for piercing children, because guns are not always sterilised between uses. Baby ear piercing covers what pediatricians say.
Not medical advice
This page is educational. If a piercing is hot, has spreading redness, thick coloured discharge or red streaks, or you feel unwell, see a doctor the same day.
Frequently asked questions
When can I change my earlobe piercing?
Not until it has fully healed. The Cleveland Clinic says not to change your earrings until the piercing is fully healed, and gives six to eight weeks for an earlobe. The American Academy of Dermatology says not to remove a new piercing for six weeks or more. Claire's says lobes take 3 to 6 weeks and Banter says at least 4 to 6, but plan for the longer figure.
Can I take my earrings out at night?
Not in the first six weeks. The American Academy of Dermatology says to keep a new piercing in, even at night, for six weeks or more, because removing the starter jewelry too early may cause the piercing to close.
How do I know it is ready?
The Cleveland Clinic lists four signs of a healed earlobe: it does not hurt, it is not red or swollen, it is not crusty, scabby or flaking, and you can rotate the jewelry easily. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) warns that a piercing may seem healed before the healing process is actually complete, so if you are unsure, ask your piercer.
What should I change to?
The Cleveland Clinic says the safest choices are typically 14K gold, medical-grade steel or titanium, and advises avoiding alloys such as nickel, which is common in costume jewelry. The APP's accepted list for initial piercings includes implant-certified titanium (ASTM F-136), and it accepts both internally threaded and threadless jewelry.
Who should make the first change?
The APP advises seeing a qualified piercer for downsizes or any jewelry change during healing. Studio price lists we checked charged $10 for a jewelry change in Oakland and Philadelphia, and Amato says changes are free. Rowan lists a free jewelry change with a Rowan earring purchase, and Banter mentions complimentary follow-up visits.
Do second and stacked lobes follow the same timing?
In our guides a second lobe and a stacked lobe take six to ten weeks, the same as a first lobe. A transverse lobe takes twelve to twenty-four, so wait longer.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic - Ear piercing 101: healing, hurting, cleaning and morehttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced
- American Academy of Dermatology - How to care for a new piercinghttps://www.aad.org/news/how-to-care-for-a-new-piercing
- Association of Professional Piercers - Suggested aftercare for body piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for initial piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
- Claire's - Piercing guidehttps://www.claires.com/pages/piercing-guide
- Banter by Piercing Pagoda - Ear piercinghttps://www.banter.com/ear-piercing
- Rowan - Piercing serviceshttps://heyrowan.com/pages/piercing-services
- Industrial Tattoo and Piercing (Oakland) - Priceshttps://industrialtattooandpiercing.com/prices/
- Infinite Body Piercing (Philadelphia) - Prices for piercing serviceshttps://infinitebody.com/pages/prices-for-piercing-services
- Amato Piercing (Coral Springs) - Priceshttps://amatopiercing.com/prices/
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.