How Long Should You Keep Your Piercing Earrings In?

By Joe DunneApr 3, 2025

Woman wearing a discreet lab-grown diamond earring, ideal after a lobe piercing – Laveran Paris

At Laveran Paris, we craft ethical, sustainable lab-grown diamond jewelry that flatters newly pierced ears and bolder styles alike. Before choosing a pair of diamond earrings for your pierced ears, it is essential to understand the basics of healing and how long you need to keep your piercing earrings in.

In this article, we guide you step by step through how long to keep your medical earrings in, how to care for them, and when to move on to your first pieces of fine jewelry.

Why are medical earrings so important?

Medical earrings (also called piercing studs) are specially designed for the healing phase. Made of surgical steel, titanium or hypoallergenic gold, they are non-allergenic, sterile and very lightweight.

Their screw-back clasp keeps the lobe well ventilated, without excessive pressure, and prevents the hole from closing. Comfortable, they can be worn without discomfort day and night, which is essential during the first weeks of healing.

These earrings should stay in continuously throughout the healing period, without removing them, to avoid any infection or premature closing of the hole.

How does the piercing method affect healing time?

Healing time can vary depending on the technique used to pierce your ears:

With a needle: performed by a professional, this method is more hygienic and causes less micro-trauma. The piercing channel is clean, which promotes faster healing that is also less painful.
With a piercing gun: a quick but more aggressive method, it uses strong pressure to pierce the ear. This can cause mild inflammation and therefore slow down healing, especially if the gun is used incorrectly.

At Laveran Paris, we recommend seeing an experienced professional for a safe piercing that respects your anatomy.

Piercing healing time: lobe, cartilage and second hole

Earlobe healing

The healing time for an earlobe is on average 6 to 8 weeks. During this period, it is strongly advised not to remove your medical earrings. Even if the skin looks healed on the outside, the piercing channel remains fragile on the inside.

Cartilage healing

For a cartilage piercing (helix, tragus, etc.), the process takes longer: between 3 and 6 months, or even up to a year. Cartilage heals more slowly because it has a smaller blood supply than the lobe.

What about a second hole in the lobe?

A second hole in the lobe generally follows the same healing time as the first: about 6 to 8 weeks, provided it is not too close to the first one.

Can you take out piercing earrings before 6 weeks?

It is not advisable to take out piercing earrings before 6 weeks for a lobe, or before 3 months for cartilage. Removing the earring too early can cause the hole to close, pain or infection.

Are you thinking, "I can't get my medical earrings out"? Never force them. Ask a professional or a specialized jeweler for help.

How do you care for your pierced ears while they heal?

1. Disinfect regularly

For the first 3 weeks, clean the front and back of the ear twice a day with a sterile saline solution or a gentle, alcohol-free antiseptic.

How long should you disinfect pierced ears? Ideally, at least 2 times a day for 3 weeks, then once a day until fully healed.

2. Don't touch your earrings with dirty hands

Always wash your hands before handling your jewelry. Avoid turning your earrings too often.

3. Watch out for allergies

If you notice redness, swelling or itching, you may be allergic to certain materials. Choose medical earrings in titanium, surgical steel or hypoallergenic gold.

And for children: how long should babies keep their earrings in?

Piercing a baby's ears requires even more care. Baby earrings should be kept in continuously for at least 2 to 3 months. Always choose suitable piercing studs, such as hypoallergenic earrings or 18K gold ones.

How do you know if your ears have healed properly?

Here are a few signs of good healing:

No pain or warmth
No lingering redness
The hole no longer oozes
You can touch it lightly without discomfort

What to do once healed? Choosing your first earrings

Once healing is complete, follow these tips:

Favor noble materials: 14K or 18K gold, or lab-grown diamonds.
Avoid heavy or dangling earrings that pull on the lobe.
Choose studs for a secure hold.

Our advice before changing your first earrings:

Wait until healing is complete
Choose hypoallergenic, quality jewelry
Favor jewelry in lab-grown diamond, titanium or certified gold

Why choose lab-grown diamond earrings?

At Laveran Paris, our fine jewelry creations in lab-grown diamond are perfect for anyone who wants to adorn their ears with elegance and an ethical conscience. These diamonds, identical to natural diamonds, are grown in a laboratory with respect for the environment and without human exploitation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long should you keep a medical earring in after a piercing?
For a lobe piercing, it is recommended to keep a medical earring in for 6 to 8 weeks without removing it. For cartilage, allow 3 to 6 months. This time is needed for complete healing.

Can you remove a piercing earring before 6 weeks?
No, it is not advisable to remove a piercing stud before 6 weeks. Doing so can cause the hole to close, an infection or poor healing of the lobe.

How do you care for pierced ears while they heal?
Clean your ears twice a day with a saline solution or a gentle, alcohol-free antiseptic. Wash your hands before touching them and avoid turning your earrings so as not to irritate the area.

How do you know when your ear has finished healing?
A well-healed ear has no more pain, redness or swelling. The hole no longer oozes and the jewelry can be handled without discomfort.

What should you wear after the piercing has healed?
After healing, opt for hypoallergenic earrings: titanium, 18K gold or lab-grown diamonds like those offered by Laveran Paris, combining safety, durability and elegance.

Conclusion:

Healing an ear piercing takes time and careful attention. Keeping your medical earrings in for 6 to 8 weeks is a crucial step to ensure a lasting, attractive and healthy result.