Q&A for How to Reopen a Partially Closed Ear Piercing Hole

It's best not to do that. If you force the earring through, you're risking intense pain, possible infection, crooked alignment, and permanent nasty scarring. Be gentle with your piercing, and go to a doctor or nurse for help if necessary. It's a safer and easier option than trying to force the piercing in.

Wait for 2-3 weeks. The longer the better, try to be patient.

If it's a new piercing, keep the starter earrings in for six weeks. Then switch to other earrings, but keep them in at all times for six months. Afterwards, it should be safe to take them out. It's recommended that you wear a pair at least once a week to prevent the hole from closing up. However, for some, the holes may quickly close up if earrings aren't worn on a daily basis. If you've recently reopened your piercings, wear your earrings for a few days, and keep twisting them to keep the hole open. If you're worried that they might close up, you could also wear them to sleep. After that, it might be safe to occasionally remove them.

If you've recently pierced your ears, it's recommended that you keep the starter earrings in for six weeks. After that, other lightweight earrings can be inserted, but they must be worn at all times for six months to make sure that the holes don't close. Otherwise, your skin will heal and cause the hole to close.

It's great that you were able to get at least one of the earrings in. As for the knot in your left ear, carefully play around with it - try different angles, wriggle it around a bit to try to find the hole, etc. You could also try to insert it after a shower, which is when your skin will be softer. Try gently pulling at the skin around the piercing too. However, be gentle, and make sure you've coated the earring post with plenty of Vaseline. If you feel any pain or uncertainty, immediately stop. If worse comes to worse, see a professional, who'll be able to help you better.

You have probably pushed it in too roughly and should take it out and run peroxide in the hole to help fight infection.

If you don't have rubbing alcohol, you could use hydrogen peroxide or antibiotic ointment as alternatives. As for Vaseline, extra virgin olive oil or grape-seed oil could be suitable substitutes.

If you've tried all the tips above to no avail, see the person who pierced it or a professional (a nurse, doctor or health specialist). Piercings can be rather tricky, and it's best to have someone else help you so that you avoid making any mistakes. If you don't want to go to a professional just yet, be gentle, and immediately stop if you feel any pain or uncertainty. Make sure the earring post is disinfected and coated in Vaseline before trying to reinsert the earring.

Sterilize your earring (with a saline solution, antibiotic ointment, etc.) to avoid infections. There are different methods to remove the earring back. Ask someone to grab the earring back with tweezers (it gives you a better grip) and gently pull it out. You could also use nail scissors (sterilized first) to grip the back. Stop if you feel any pain. You can always consult a doctor or nurse, as they'll be able to do a safer and better job in helping you, popping it out for you in a second.

If you pierced your ears yourself, and do not have a professional ear fluid, there is a real chance they will close. If you went to a piercing shop, they probably told you how to clean the ear and everything. and if you take them out for five hours, they should not close. But be sure, pop the earrings in right after, or they will close up, since the hole is so small. After putting them back in, be sure to keep them like that for about six to eight weeks, unless you have a rapid aftercare ear cleanser.

It depends on how much your piercing holes have healed. There are people who have been able to reopen piercings that are years old, so it might work for you. If you aren't certain, consult a professional rather than try to do it on your own. Be careful when you've left it this long!

If it hangs out, you might want to continue pushing. Otherwise, the piercing hole won't be entirely opened, and you may have trouble fitting your earrings in. Keep gently twisting the earring to encourage it to go in. Try gently stretching the skin around your piercing to help make the hole bigger. If you're having a lot of trouble, you may want to consider consulting a doctor or nurse, as it's a safer option to have someone trained professionally to help you.

Isopropyl alcohol is what you're looking for, as it's the type that kills bacteria. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, you could use a saline solution, antibiotic ointment, or hydrogen peroxide. Talk to your pharmacist if you need further advice or to find the right item.

Wait until your infection ceases. If the holes close, wait at least two months before getting them repierced.

They are trying to close up because you do not wear earrings often enough. Try wearing earrings 2 - 3 times a week to keep the holes open.

Whether or not your holes will close depends on how long your ears have been pierced and why you need to take them out for a week. Typically, if there is no infection and your ears have been pierced for more than a few months, your holes will probably not close.

It truly depends on how long the earrings have been out - if they have been out for a long time, then yes, I would recommend re-piercing them. On the other hand, if the hole is still partially there, then you may follow the steps above to reopen your piercings.

Ask you mom or dad to check or ask them to take you to the place you had your piercings to check.

You need to sterilize the piercing, so you need rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

Get it re-pierced, it has closed up. You can also try re-piercing it yourself by buying a piercing needle (preferably 20 gauge) and sterilizing you ear. I'd recommend getting it done with a needle as piercing guns are known to cause keloids.

Most supermarkets should sell it, but you can also try buying some online.

Go back to your piercer and tell them your situation. Since your hole is closing, ask them to repierce it for you.

No, you should not remove earrings from newly pierced ears, this makes them likely to close up. Unless your piercings have already healed, you should not take them out.

It may be an allergic reaction. Try silver earrings or earrings that don’t contain nickel.

No, it shouldn’t be bloody if you do it gently and with patience. You shouldn’t jam the earring in. Be gentle.