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Original poster

DD's pierced ears seem to have partially closed up - is there any alternative to getting them pierced again?

18 replies

GenericDietCola · 15/10/2018 09:34

DD (9) had her ears pierced in the summer holidays. She left the earrings in for 7 weeks, applying lotion twice daily and turning the earrings as instructed (I supervised, so I know she did this properly). We removed them on Thursday morning for the first time, but when we tried to put them back in later that day, there were tiny scabs over the holes and DD said they felt sore. I decided we ought to leave the earrings out overnight and try again on Friday. However, it now feels as though the holes are healing and despite trying quite hard yesterday, neither I nor DD could get the earrings back in.

Should we persevere, or do you think she'd be better off getting her ears re-pierced (she wants them pierced, otherwise I'd be inclined to leave them alone altogether)? I was wondering if I could use Bonjela or something to numb her ears so that she could tolerate me putting the earrings back in. She is quite afraid it might hurt, so is possibly not trying as hard as she could to get them back in! Surely they can't have healed completely in such a short space of time.

Obviously I don't want to hurt her, but she is very keen to have pierced ears, so if there's a way to re-open the holes with minimal discomfort/trauma, I'd like to try. Does anyone have any advice or experience?

OP posts:

Beamur · 15/10/2018 09:39

Something's similar happened to my DD. The person who pierced them had a go at putting them back in but they healed too much (happened really fast) so we had them repierced.

SkinnywannabeKBH · 15/10/2018 09:40

I got my ears pierced when I was 12 or 13. After a while I didn't bother really wearing earrings and still only ever wear them once in a blue moon, so obviously they close over a bit. So I rub lots of moisturizing cream on for a while before I attempt to put the earrings in. I just wiggle with a little pressure until I can find a way through again. Hopefully with a wee bit of work it might go through for her. Just gentle persuasion

DunesOfSand · 15/10/2018 09:43

Get her to soak her ears in the bath, and put some vasaline on the posts. And wiggle them as you try to get them through.

Aprilislonggone · 15/10/2018 09:44

Ice cube on each side and a long posted earring... Dd never felt a thing (she is 11)!!

Original poster

GenericDietCola · 15/10/2018 10:10

Thank you so much! I also have pierced ears, but often don't wear earrings for a while and have to push them through a bit sometimes, so I've tried explaining to her that she'll feel resistance, but it won't really hurt. I will try soaking them, moisturising and icing them, as well as using Vaseline. Hopefully we will have success!

OP posts:

thehorseandhisboy · 15/10/2018 10:18

This happened to my dd when she had her ears pierced at 11. She left her earrings out for a day after 8 weeks and the holes started to heal. they heal very quickly at that age!

I told her the options and she was amenable to me icing her ear, sterilising a needle and re-piercing (the hole was still very visibe).

Otherwise, she would have had to wait for them to heal completely and have them re-pierced I assume.

Three or four days is much longer though - I don't know whether you'd be able to get an earring or needle through easily now.

Original poster

GenericDietCola · 15/10/2018 10:24

Ah that's helpful, thanks thehorseandhisboy. I can definitely feel and see a hole, but I'm not confident it goes all the way through the lobe. I think I will try gently tonight and if I can't get them in, we will get them re-pierced when she's ready.

OP posts:

Davespecifico · 15/10/2018 10:26

I held a warm wet flannel over her ear for a minute or so. Then I gently pulled the earlobe down to stretch the hole. The earring then went in.

Fashionista101 · 15/10/2018 10:35

I would leave them as they have started to heal. Go see a good qualified piercer, they should be left in once pierced and not twisted/turned. That is very old fashioned advice and prolongs healing as you are constantly undoing the healing process of the wound.

RB68 · 15/10/2018 10:38

I sometimes find pushing an earring through from the back can be easier - Mine have been done for 39 yrs but I rarely wear earrings as they always itch after a couple of hrs, even gold, and they kinda close over but don't but can generally push through from behind if a problem.

Fleshier ears tend to heal over more and the sooner redone or pushed through the better. If you can get hold of any of the numbing cream for injections that would work too

Oliphantintheroom · 15/10/2018 10:38

If she is a bit worried about it hurting could you try and poke them in when she’s asleep? Maybe put a bit of bonjela on to numb first

I know it sounds cruel but I speak as a parent of a 10year old who still won’t let me cut her toenails for fear of hurting her so I have to do them when she’s asleep!

Fashionista101 · 15/10/2018 10:38

This should help. Piercing gurus 🙌🏻

DD's pierced ears seem to have partially closed up - is there any alternative to getting them pierced again?

Original poster

GenericDietCola · 15/10/2018 11:38

That's interesting, Fashionista. We were advised to turn the earrings once a day, 180 degrees each way, but not to turn them more than this. I think if she has them re-done, we will leave them in for much longer!

OP posts:

IsTheRainEverComingBack · 15/10/2018 12:44

Never EVER turn a healing peircing! Why are they still giving out this advice? It’s constantly aggitating a wound, noone would tell someone to constantly pick at a healing scab. The only thing that should be done with any piercing is cleaning with saline solution a couple of times a day and leaving alone. Was it done at a proper piercers with a needle or by a gun?

Original poster

GenericDietCola · 15/10/2018 12:52

It was done by an experienced piercer that had been recommended to us and she did say not to turn more than once a day (I know some less reputable places still recommend constant twiddling!). I didn't question the advice as it's what I was told when mine were pierced, but I admit this was 35 years ago and can appreciate the thinking has moved on. I get the rationale not to aggravate a healing wound. Sounds like she will need to have them re-done and this time we will leave well alone for much longer. Thank you so much for all of the responses.

OP posts:

IsTheRainEverComingBack · 15/10/2018 13:23

That you didn’t answer to the method of piercing it sounds like it was a gun - please take her to a proper piercer to get it done by a needle this time, it’s so much better.

WeShouldBeFriends · 15/10/2018 13:34

It will probably be easier to put them through from the back

TheLuckyMrsPine · 15/10/2018 13:55

I think they can heal very quickly at this age. My DD11 took hers out for a netball match 9 weeks after having them done. Went to put them back in 2 hours later and they had closed! She couldn’t/ wouldn’t tolerate me trying to poke back through so we left them. Waste of money for us!

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