Q&A for How to Put Your Earring Back when It Won't Go in

It can be! For example, if you have a cartilage piercing and you've slept on that piercing that night, it's normal to wake up with a bump. If the bump goes away during the day, without the irritating factor of sleeping on it any longer. If you have more persistent bumps that don't go away on their own, you should probably dig into it a little bit or even talk with your piercer or with a doctor.

Try putting it in with your other hand. Sometimes it's just the angle you're coming from.

First of all, don't panic. You may have grown some ear skin or a scab where your piercing is. Gather isopropyl alcohol and tissue or cotton swabs/balls to soak up any bleeding or pus. Also, make sure you have some ice, and a thin-needled earring. Ice the area until it is numb. Then wiggle the earring in the back of the ear to find where you will poke the earring through. Go to the front, and try to slide the earring in. If this doesn't work, and the earring gets stuck, take the earring out and ice your ear again to total numbness. Then, gently, carefully, and delicately, poke the earring through the skin or scab. Apply ice afterwards.

Use warm water, salt, and a cotton ball. The heat will make the swelling reduce, and the warmth and moisture will make the scab soft.

Don’t force the earring. Just keep wiggling it in a circle until you can get it through.

It's probably just an air pocket. If you didn't get the piercing as a baby, you are more likely to get them. It will most likely go away on its own, and it not harmful.

It sounds like it's probably an infection. Go to your doctor, you might need antibiotics.

Go back to the place where you got your piercing done, they should be able to open up the piercing and give you advice on how to avoid it happening again.

If your earlobe or ear becomes infected, you should not try to put your earring back in.

No. Simply push them through. However, people have different pain tolerances. You could freeze some water to make ice.

You just have to feel your way through. Place the earring through the front of the hole and press gently, moving it around slightly until it comes out the back.

If your earring won't go through after following all of the steps above, the hole may have completely closed and may need to get pierced. Make sure you see a professional to get their opinion.

Many times when you can only get your earring in through the back it just means that when you are putting it in the right way you are not going through both front and back holes but rather only the front one. To fix this problem put the earring in normally then move the end around while it is in the first hole with your other hand on the back. Eventually, you will feel the end of the earring and the piercing, then push it through.

That is quite normal if you haven't had your earrings in for a while. Try to go in through the back and then the front. Make sure you steralize your earring in case you have to punch through a layer of healed-over flesh.

If the scab is forming around a newly pierced ear, that is normal. Just continue to clean it regularly and it should disappear with time. If a scab is due to an irritated piercing, leave it alone so that is can heal and prevent further irritation.

Just soak it with isopropyl alcohol and ice the ear to numb it.

If you just got your ears pierced or put the earring in mild pain or throbbing may be normal. If it hurts longer than a day or so, check for signs of infection (scarring, oozing yellow liquid). You will need to see a doctor if you suspect an infection.

It depends on how long you've had the piercing. There is a chance it will close up. If you're concerned, I'd suggest you consult a doctor, or at least check in with your piercer.

Earrings shouldn't hurt if you have them pierced by a professional and follow all the instructions. If the area is irritated, you may have an allergy or infection, and it would be best to consult a doctor if you think this is the case.

A washcloth wet with hot water should loosen the blood and wipe it away. Apply some Neosporin to your earring back before you slide it in.

It does sound like it might be infected. You could put some ice on it to help with any pain, and then call your doctor. They will probably prescribe antibiotics.

Soak your pierced area in saline solution (sea salt and warm water) to soften and soothe the skin to make it easier for your earring to slide in. Then gently put your thumb on the back of the pierced area and with your other hand carefully insert the earring into the pierced hole and wiggle it about -- this may take time as it is the first time. Keep wiggling gently and with your thumb, try to feel the back of the post to guide you. If this is too difficult or the earring just won't go in, go to the place you got your ears pierced and let them do it.

No, it's normal to be able to feel a little bump where the piercing is. That means the piercing is healing but not growing back.

Most likely. You may also be allergic to whatever material was used to make the cheap ones.

That's normal. As long as it's not bleeding excessively, you can just wipe away the blood. Clean the whole area and apply a moisturizer at least once a day until it heals.

Make sure your ears are completely clean, then ask someone to place the earrings through. This may hurt, so have ice on standby.

Go to your piercing place. They can either recommend you to a doctor or re-pierce your ear. Do not try to push the piercing through.

Follow the above steps to put your earring back in. You do not need isopropyl.

If part of the earring or stud is stuck in the hole and you can't get it out, you need to seek medical attention. Attempting to remove it by yourself, you risk infection and permanent scarring.

Make sure that you clean it again (and the earring) and then maybe go back to where you got it done and they should put it back in for you with no pain.