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An earlobe piercing takes six to eight weeks to heal, the Cleveland Clinic says. It is the quickest ear piercing to heal in our guides, which give six to ten weeks. Cartilage takes months longer.
What the sources give
| Source | Earlobe |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic | Six to eight weeks |
| American Family Physician (2005) | Earlobe and auricle: 6 to 8 weeks |
| This site | 6 to 10 weeks |
| American Academy of Dermatology | Do not remove for six weeks or more, even at night |
| 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. The American Academy of Dermatology’s six weeks is a minimum for keeping the jewelry in, not a healing time.
How to tell it has healed
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.
- 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. If you are unsure, ask your piercer. When can I change my earlobe piercing has an interactive checklist.
Other lobe placements
| Piercing | Healing | Downsize at |
|---|---|---|
| Earlobe | 6 to 10 weeks | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Second lobe | 6 to 10 weeks | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Stacked lobe | 6 to 10 weeks | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Transverse lobe | 12 to 24 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks |
These are typical ranges from our guides. Ear piercing healing time compares every ear placement, including cartilage.
The downsize
Our guides give four to six weeks for the downsize on a lobe if the initial post was long. The APP says many piercings require a downsize before the piercing is healed, and that you should see a qualified piercer to perform downsizes or any jewelry changes during healing. Piercing downsizing explains why.
While it heals
- Leave the jewelry in. The American Academy of Dermatology says to keep it in even at night. 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.
- Avoid friction, pressure and playing with it. The APP lists these, along with vigorous cleaning, as things to avoid.
- Dry with clean disposable gauze. The APP says cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry.
- Keep it out of pools and hot tubs. See swimming with a new piercing.
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, and ear piercing at Claire’s, Banter and Rowan compared sets out what each retailer says about age and method.
When to see a doctor
The NHS advises an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 if you think a piercing might be infected, and to leave your jewellery in unless a doctor tells you to take it out. The APP says to see a doctor if you have severe redness, swelling or pain, or if symptoms last for a week or get worse. Irritated or infected piercing has a symptom table.
What it costs
How much is ear piercing compares studio and retail prices for a lobe.
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
How long does an earlobe piercing take to heal?
The Cleveland Clinic gives six to eight weeks, and a 2005 American Family Physician review gives the same for the earlobe and auricle. Our guides give six to ten weeks. Claire's says 3 to 6 weeks and Banter says at least 4 to 6, which are shorter, so plan for the longer figure.
How can I tell if my earlobe piercing has healed?
The Cleveland Clinic lists four signs: 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.
Can I take my earrings out before it has healed?
Not for at least six weeks. The American Academy of Dermatology says not to remove a new piercing for six weeks or more, even at night, because taking the starter jewelry out too early may cause the piercing to close. The Cleveland Clinic says not to change your earrings until the piercing is fully healed.
Do second and stacked lobes heal at the same speed?
In our guides the second lobe and stacked lobe take six to ten weeks, the same as a first lobe. A transverse lobe, a barbell running sideways through the lobe, takes twelve to twenty-four.
When can I change my earlobe earrings?
Not until the piercing has healed, which is six to eight weeks at the earliest. The guide on changing an earlobe piercing has the checklist, the timing from each source, and what the APP says about who should make the first change.
What if my earlobe piercing looks infected?
The NHS advises an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 if you think a piercing might be infected, and to leave your jewellery in unless a doctor tells you to take it out. The APP says to see a doctor if you have severe redness, swelling or pain, or if symptoms last for a week or get worse.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic - Ear piercing 101: healing, hurting, cleaning and morehttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced
- Meltzer (2005) - Complications of body piercing. American Family Physicianhttps://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2005/1115/p2029.html
- 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 - Troubleshootinghttps://safepiercing.org/troubleshooting/
- NHS - Infected piercingshttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/infected-piercings/
- Claire's - Piercing guidehttps://www.claires.com/pages/piercing-guide
- Banter by Piercing Pagoda - Ear piercinghttps://www.banter.com/ear-piercing
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.