Earlobe piercings heal quicker and are less painful than cartilage piercings — proper cleaning and care are important
Does it hurt to get your ears pierced?
How much an ear piercing hurts depends on the location, piercing method and your pain tolerance.
Ear piercing is typically described as feeling something like a quick pinch, followed by some throbbing. You may find that the area is sensitive to the touch until it’s fully healed.
Earlobes are fatty tissue, so they don’t have many nerves in them. They hurt the least.
But stay away from taking aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil®) beforehand. Those medications tend to thin your blood and could cause more bleeding.
How long do ear piercings take to heal?
Ear lobe piercings tend to heal in about six to eight weeks. Cartilage piercings take longer. They may take up to six months or a year to fully heal.
When can I change my ear piercing?
You shouldn’t change your earrings until your piercing is fully healed. Watch for these signs of a healed piercing:
It doesn’t hurt.
It’s not red or swollen.
It’s not crusty, scabby or flaking.
You can rotate the jewelry easily.
When you do switch earrings, choose hypoallergenic materials that don’t contain alloys, like nickel (which you often find in costume jewelry). The safest choices are typically:
14K gold
Medical-grade steel
Titanium
