[My Wishlist](/content/blogs/hey-rowan/how-do-you-know-if-your-piercing-has-healed#swym-wishlist/index.html) 0 [Skip to content](/content/blogs/hey-rowan/how-do-you-know-if-your-piercing-has-healed#MainContent "Skip to content"/index.html) Enable Accessibility [Free shipping on all orders over $150](/content/collections/shop-all/index.html) [Free shipping on all orders over $150](/content/collections/shop-all/index.html) [Piercing question? Styling advice? Follow us @heyrowan.](https://www.instagram.com/heyrowan/?hl=en "opens the page in a new window") [Piercing question? Styling advice? Follow us @heyrowan.](https://www.instagram.com/heyrowan/?hl=en "opens the page in a new window") Feb 19, 2025 By The Rowan Nurse Leadership Team SHARE [Share this post on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://heyrowan.com/blogs/hey-rowan/how-do-you-know-if-your-piercing-has-healed&text=How%20Do%20You%20Know%20If%20Your%20Piercing%20Has%20Healed? "Share this post on Facebook") [Share this post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://heyrowan.com/blogs/hey-rowan/how-do-you-know-if-your-piercing-has-healed&title=How%20Do%20You%20Know%20If%20Your%20Piercing%20Has%20Healed?&description=There%20are%20many%20factors%20that%20impact%20whether%20a%20piercing%20has%20healed,%20including... "Share this post on Twitter") [Share this post via E-mail](mailto:?subject=How%20Do%20You%20Know%20If%20Your%20Piercing%20Has%20Healed?&body=There%20are%20many%20factors%20that%20impact%20whether%20a%20piercing%20has%20healed,%20including%20piercing%20placement,%20piercing%20style,%20and%20ear%20anatomy.%C2%A0%C2%A0Here%20are%20some%20tips%20to%20help%20you%20figure%20out%20if%20your%20ear%20piercing%20has%20healed%20enough%20to%20change%20your%20earrings:%C2%A01.%20No%20Pain%20or%20TendernessWhen%20you%20gently%20touch%20your%20piercing,%20it%20should%20feel%20completely%20comfortable%E2%80%94no%20soreness,%20no%20discomfort.%20If%20it%20still%20stings%20or%20hurts%20a%20bit,%20make%20sure%20to%20keep%20it%20clean%20with%20Advanced%20Aftercare%20Solution%20until%20the%20pain%20goes%20away.%C2%A02.%20No%20Redness%20or%20SwellingYour%20piercing%20should%20blend%20in%20with%20the%20rest%20of%20your%20skin,%20no%20angry%20red%20spots%20or%20puffiness.%20A%20little%20inflammation%20during%20healing%20is%20totally%20normal%20(it%E2%80%99s%20just%20part%20of%20the%20process!),%20but%20if%20it%E2%80%99s%20still%20looking%20a%20little%20inflamed%20after%20a%20while,%20make%20sure%20you%E2%80%99re%20keeping%20everything%20you%20put%20in%20or%20around%20your%20ear%20clean%20-%20including%20cell%20phones,%20headphones,%20and%20beanies.%C2%A03.%20No%20Discharge,%20Pus,%20or%20CrustA%20healed%20piercing%20should%20be%20dry,%20aside%20from%20natural%20skin%20oils.%20A%20bit%20of%20dried-up%20gunk%20during%20healing%20is%20normal,%20but%20once%20it%E2%80%99s%20healed,%20there%20should%20be%20no%20more%20crust,%20scabs,%20or%20flaking%20skin.%20If%20you%E2%80%99re%20seeing%20green%20or%20smelly%20goo,%20it%20could%20be%20a%20sign%20of%20infection.%20If%20you%27re%20experiencing%20heat,%20swelling,%20or%20pain,%20that%E2%80%99s%20your%20piercing%20saying,%20%E2%80%9CI%20need%20a%20little%20help!%E2%80%9D%20Don%E2%80%99t%20wait%E2%80%94get%20it%20checked%20out%20at%20your%20local%20Rowan%20studio%20to%20clarify%20if%20you%E2%80%99re%20experiencing%20normal%20symptoms%20or%20not%20before%20it%20turns%20into%20a%20bigger%20issue.%C2%A04.%20Jewelry%20Swap%20is%20SmoothSwapping%20jewelry%20should%20be%20easy-breezy.%20If%20the%20hole%20feels%20tight%20or%20the%20jewelry%20won%E2%80%99t%20budge,%20your%20piercing%20might%20still%20need%20more%20time%20to%20heal.%20Need%20help%20with%20a%20jewelry%20swap?%20We%E2%80%99ve%20got%20you%20covered!%20At%20Rowan,%20we%20offer%20jewelry%20change%20services%20to%20make%20sure%20things%20go%20smoothly.%20Reach%20out%20to%20your%20nearest%20Rowan%20studio%20for%20more%20info.%C2%A0Still%20not%20sure%20if%20your%20piercing%20is%20fully%20healed?%20Come%20in%20for%20a%20consultation%20at%20your%20nearest%20Rowan.%20Our%20piercing%20nurses%20are%20here%20to%20help%20you%20with%20all%20the%20details%20and%20let%20you%20know%20if%20your%20ear%20still%20needs%20a%20little%20extra%20TLC!%C2%A0 "Share this post via E-mail") 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](/content/products/advanced-ear-cleansing-solution/index.html) 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](/content/pages/store-locator/index.html) for more info. ## Still not sure if your piercing is fully healed? Come in for a consultation at your [nearest Rowan.](/content/pages/store-locator/index.html) Our piercing nurses are here to help you with all the details and let you know if your ear still needs a little extra TLC! [Find Your Nearest Rowan](/content/pages/store-locator/index.html) Why Rowan? 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