There are many factors that impact whether a piercing has healed, including piercing placement, piercing style, and ear anatomy. 

Here are some tips to help you figure out if your ear piercing has healed enough to change your earrings:

1. No Pain or Tenderness

When you gently touch your piercing, it should feel completely comfortable—no soreness, no discomfort. If it still stings or hurts a bit, make sure to keep it clean with Advanced Aftercare Solution until the pain goes away.

2. No Redness or Swelling

Your piercing should blend in with the rest of your skin, no angry red spots or puffiness. A little inflammation during healing is totally normal (it’s just part of the process!), but if it’s still looking a little inflamed after a while, make sure you’re keeping everything you put in or around your ear clean - including cell phones, headphones, and beanies.

3. No Discharge, Pus, or Crust

A healed piercing should be dry, aside from natural skin oils. A bit of dried-up gunk during healing is normal, but once it’s healed, there should be no more crust, scabs, or flaking skin. If you’re seeing green or smelly goo, it could be a sign of infection. If you're experiencing heat, swelling, or pain, that’s your piercing saying, “I need a little help!” Don’t wait—get it checked out at your local Rowan studio to clarify if you’re experiencing normal symptoms or not before it turns into a bigger issue.

4. Jewelry Swap is Smooth

Swapping jewelry should be easy-breezy. If the hole feels tight or the jewelry won’t budge, your piercing might still need more time to heal. Need help with a jewelry swap? We’ve got you covered! At Rowan, we offer jewelry change services to make sure things go smoothly. Reach out to your nearest Rowan studio for more info.

Still not sure if your piercing is fully healed? Come in for a consultation at your nearest Rowan, or drop a quick message to our Nurse Helpline at nursehelpline@heyrowan.com. Our nurses are here to help you with all the details and let you know if your ear still needs a little extra TLC!