LIFESTYLE NEWS
What To Do If A Piercing Hole Closes
By JOSEE NG
Once your piercing hole is closed, don’t try to force an earring through, and don’t reach for a needle to re-pierce your ear. If you try to force anything through your lobe, you can end up with an inflammatory piercing, so here’s a better solution that will not result in a bloody ear.
A piercing done more recently will heal and close faster than one that’s older, since your immune system is working to heal your new wound. This is why you should permanently wear earrings in a new piercing for at least six weeks, and to stave off infections, wash your ears with soap and water at least once a day.
If you’re getting ready for a night out and can’t get your jewelry to go through the piercing hole, resist the urge to push through, instead, opt for the safe alternative of washing your hands and disinfecting the earlobe. Afterward, soften the earlobe with a lubricant like Vaseline, then stretch the hole as large as possible to fit the jewelry, and keep it inserted for a few months.
If your piercing hole is completely shut, you might need a new piercing, which is better done by a well-equipped professional in a sterile environment to reduce the risks of infection, allergy reaction, or scarring. Per Healthline, if your old piercing hole used to sustain an infection, you might want to get a piercing in another spot and check with an expert on the type and material of earrings that can offer you maximum comfort.