Will a piercing heal if you don't wear earrings for a long time?

Whether a piercing will close after not wearing earrings for a long time depends on how long it has been since the piercing was done.

1. Yes, it may close

If the piercing is new, it has not yet fully epithelialized. Not wearing earrings for several days may cause the wound to close, mainly due to the skin's strong self-healing ability. The healing process usually takes about one week.

2. No, it may not close

If the piercing has been in place for a longer period—typically more than six months—and earrings have been worn regularly, the constant presence of the earring irritates the local skin and mucosa, preventing tissue growth and allowing the piercing tract to become fully epithelialized and healed. In such cases, the piercing typically will not close even if earrings are not worn for an extended period.

After getting pierced, patients should avoid exposing the area to water too early and maintain proper hygiene to prevent bacterial infection. If signs of infection occur, treatment with antibiotics under a doctor’s guidance may be necessary. Commonly used medications include levofloxacin capsules and amoxicillin capsules.