How Long Does It Take For Ear Piercings To Heal?

How Long Does It Take For Ear Piercings To Heal?

Posted by Dr. Cannon on Dec 17th 2022

You have got your ears pierced, now it is time to take care of the piercing so you can wear the jewelry you always loved.

Ear piercings are painful, no doubt about that. You can make them less painful or reduce the time they stay painful by taking proper care of your ear piercings to make them heal quickly.

We have discussed the estimated healing time for different types of ear piercings, ear piercing healing time for different age groups, allergy-affected ear piercing healing, and how you can take care of ear piercings.

Types Of Ear Piercing And How Long Does It Take For Them To Heal 

How Long Does It Take For Ear Piercings To Heal

Lobe Ear Piercing: Lobe is the soft part of the ear that is hanging near the cheek. It is the most popular ear piercing and also the one that most easily heals. The average healing time for a lobe ear piercing is 2-3 months.

Stacked Lobes Ear Piercing: Stacked lobe ear piercings are multiple piercings in your ear lobe. These piercings are sometimes joined and used for specific jewelry. On average, your stacked lobe ear piercings can take anywhere between 2-3 months to heal.

Upper Lobe Ear Piercing: Lobe is soft and it heals quickly when pierced, upper lobe ear piercing is no different. Your upper lobe ear piercing will heal in 2-3 months on average.

Snakebite Midi Ear Piercing: Snakebite Midi is the center-back part of the ear, right above the lobe. This includes a hard part of the ear that can take on average 3-4 months to heal.

Helix Ear Piercing: Helix is your ear’s raised ring-like structure. A helix ear piercing will heal in 3-4 months on average.

Flat Helix Ear Piercing: It is mid of your ear helix. Piercing in the helix area is painful. A flat helix ear piercing will heal in an average of 3-4 months.

Forward Helix Ear Piercing: It is the frontal part of the ear helix. A piercing in your forward helix will heal in an average of 3-4 months.

Conch Ear Piercing: Conch is the inner part of the ear. A conch ear piercing will heal in an average of 3-4 months.

Tragus Ear Piercing: The tragus is the little raised bone near the ear hole. This type of ear piercing is uncommon and it heals in an average of 3-4 months.

Anti-Tragus Ear Piercing: Anti-tragus is the area of the ear directly opposite to the tragus. Such ear piercings may take 3-4 months to completely heal.

Rook Ear Piercing: Inner ear piercings are painful and take the most time to heal. Your rook ear piercing can take 3-4 months to heal on average.

Daith Ear Piercing: The most exotic and one of the most popular ear piercings is daith ear piercing. It looks like a piercing inside the ear and it may take 3-4 months to heal completely.

Industrial Ear Piercing; It is the type of ear piercing that is done across the ear helix. It is hard to heal and is considered the most painful ear piercing. An industrial ear piercing will heal in an average of 4-5 months.

Ear Piercing Healing Time For Different Age Groups

The healing time for ear piercing for different age groups depends on factors including general health and immunity of the person, type of ear piercing, etc. These healing times are only average and may be different for different people.

Babies and Kids Ear Piercing Care and Healing

Babies’ and youngsters' ear piercings need special care. The ear piercing's healing time and care process are different for kids of different ages.

If the baby's age is under 2 years, you will need to be extra careful and you will need to visit the doctor as soon as you see signs of infection like redness or fever.

All babies and kids touch their ears, or any place you will stop them from touching. You cannot stop them from touching their ear piercing but you can increase the care and check on them.

Be in touch with your pediatrician. The ear piercings in infants will demand constant care.

Clean the ear piercings in the babies and kids at least twice a day with saline or salt water or disinfectant.

Keep the pillow and bed linen clean.

Teens Ear Piercing Care and Healing

When taking care of teens’ ear piercings, the first thing you should take care of is the mobile phone. Admit it or not, our cell phones carry germs and bacteria. The earbuds and earphones are the same as they also have germs on them. A good way of controlling germs on mobile devices and accessories is by regularly cleaning them with alcohol wipes and using speakerphones when calling.

The first 6 to 9 weeks are important for healing ear piercing. If they take care of their ear piercing at this time, the piercing will heal completely.

Other ear-piercing care instructions include:

  • Changing pillowcases regularly and keeping bed linen clean
  • Washing hands before touching the ear piercings
  • Cleaning the ear piercing twice a day with a disinfectant
  • Don't take off the earring in the first 6-9 weeks

Adults Ear Piercing Care and Healing

The ear piercing healing time in adults can be different for everyone. Keep checking your ear piercings for any signs of allergy or infection like bleeding or fever, etc.

Also, contact your doctor if the OTC topical antiseptic is not effective.

These are more tips to help you heal ear piercings safely.

  • Always wash your hands before you touch your ear piercings
  • Don't remove the earrings for at least the first 6 weeks
  • Clean earrings and ear piercings with a disinfectant/antiseptic solution
  • Don't touch ear piercings when they are healing
  • Avoid or limit the use of mobile phones, earphones, earbuds, etc. Use speaker phones

Healing time for Other Types of Ear Piercing

General healing time for normal ear piercing: Mostly, ear piercing healing takes around 2 months but this time can extend to 3 months, depending on various factors. If you are planning something and your ear piercings are a part of that planning, consider keeping the healing time to 3 months to avoid any bad surprises.

Allergy-affected and infected ear piercing healing time: The allergy-affected ear piercings can take anywhere between 3 months to one year to completely heal.

How To Take Care Of Your Ear Piercing When It Is Healing

Ear piercing care is easy, all you have to do is allocate about 20 minutes a day and implement some disciplines on how you touch your ear.

Taking these three steps will help you take proper care of your ear piercing.

Wash The Piercing Area Daily

Make a habit of washing your ear piercings daily with antibacterial soap and warm water. Also, wash your hand every time you want to touch your ear piercings. Tap dry your ear piercing with tissue paper or a soft towel.

Apply Anti-Bacterial Solution On-Ear Piercing

Use an antibacterial solution like saline, or rubbing alcohol for cleaning the ear piercings. If alcohol feels hard, you are good with simple saline.

Doing this 2-3 times daily is enough.

Don’t Remove Piercing Or Ear Ring When It Is Healing

When you keep the ear piercings on, you help the tissues heal. Removing the earring may close the piercing hole or slow the healing process. A good idea is to keep the earrings always on for at least the first 6-9 weeks.

Ear Pillow for Better Sleep with Ear Piercing

Getting a good night's sleep is really a battle with ear piercings. a quality ear pillow helps you get good sleep thanks to its unique design.

Check our range of  ear piercing pillow range and make your sleep comfortable. 

how to take care of your ear piercing

How To Clean Ear Piercing

  • Regularly Clean your Ear Piercing
  • Always Wash your Hands before you Touch Ear Piercings
  • Clean Piercing with Salt & Water Solution
  • Dab the Ear Piercing with Tissue to Dry it
  • Clean the Pierced Area if you Have to take the piercing out
  • Never use the bathroom to clean your ear piercing
  • Try giving Pierced Ear some rest by either changing sides or using an ear pillow
  • Keep away perfume soaps, hair products, or skin care products from ear piercing
  • Stay alert for spotting any signs of allergy 

step by stepprocess of cleaning your ear piercing