Earrings are the go-to jewelry choice for most women, and more recently, men as well. They come in a variety of designs and can be worn in so many different ways.
But while they are the easiest to accessorize with, they do have their downsides. Aside from being worried about scarring, allergic reactions, and infections, a common problem is earrings sinking into the ear.
You may be dealing with, or have dealt with this problem at some point or the other. It can be painful and also frightening if you don’t know how or why it is happening.
So, in this article, we will share with you what we mean by sinking earrings, why it happens, and most importantly what you can do about it.
What Does It Mean When Your Earring Sinks Into Your Ear?
If this has never happened to you then you may have a hard time picturing what we mean. It appears as if the earring is being swallowed up. The skin around the earrings lifts over the earring, that is why it is described as it sinking into the ear.
One minute the earring may be visible but gradually, you notice that it is disappearing into the skin. Sometimes it is to a point where it is no longer visible.
The skin around the area may be red and sore and appears to have surrounded the piercing.
Which explains why most people describe the experience as painful. It is especially common for new piercings because the wound is fresh and new.
It also has a lot to do with how you were pierced. That is why you are advised to have the piercing done by experts. Luckily, it is not as bad as it sounds. Various things can be done to stop the earrings from sinking. We’ll get into that later on in the article.
Why does Your Earring Sink Into Ear?
Various reasons may explain why your earrings would sink into your ear. As we mentioned before it is something that is experienced mostly with new piercings.
The whole process can be tricky if not done with care, that is why people are advised to have a professional do your piercings for you. So, what are the reasons?
Well, one of them could be that the earring is too tight. So, it may be pressing hard against the surrounding skin which lifts to look like it’s covering up the earring.
This can happen if you used a piercing gun to pierce your ears or if you tightened the backing of the earring too much. Another reason is that your earring post may be too short, which may contribute to why the earrings are too tight. Again, this is likely to happen if you used a piercing gun.
One last reason could be an allergic reaction or an infection. Newly pierced ears are especially sensitive to this. It could be that the earring is made of metal with nickel or lead traces, or you may have metal sensitivity.
This would lead to the area around the piercing swelling, and appear to swallow the piercing. It could also be an infection, which can be identified especially if the swollen area releases the puss.
How To Keep Earring From Sinking Into Ear?
Sinking earrings can be a pain, but as we said, they are not as bad as it sounds. There are some things you can do about it. The following are some useful things you can do instead of panicking:
1. Loosen the earrings.
Tight earrings are a common problem, that is why loosening them should be the first solution you try.
But ensure that the earring is not too loose that you end up losing it.
Give it time, and if that was the problem then the swelling should reduce after some time.
2. Switch earrings.
If the problem persists even after loosening the earrings, then the issue should be with the earrings.
It could be that the posts are too short, or maybe it is the material used to make the earring.
Take the earrings out and switch them with ones that have a longer post or are made of different materials.
3. Use hypoallergenic earrings.
It is easy to find traces of nickel or lead on many metals, so you have to be careful while picking your earrings.
Not everyone may afford gold or platinum earrings but there are other options like glass or silicone as well.
The latter choice is also perfect in case you are generally sensitive to metal. That way you can be sure of not getting an allergic reaction.
4. Keep the piercing clean.
Hygiene is key, especially for new piercings. The skin at the time is very sensitive and the wound is still fresh and open.
So, as you can imagine, it is very easy for your piercing to get infected.
That is why you must be religious about cleaning your piercings as often as recommended by your piercer.
Not just your piercing, but your earrings too. This will help reduce the chances of any infections. You can use mild soap and water to clean it and a disinfectant, to kill the germs.
5. Seek professional help.
Anything left unattended could be dangerous. That is why you shouldn’t take this lightly.
If you’ve tried all of the above solutions and none worked, then it is time to consult a professional.
You could go back to your piercer and they could help you remove the sunk earing, especially if its suck too far.
They will also give you advice on how to care for the piercing. If you notice a puss around the swollen area then you need to seek medical attention, because that is a sure sign it is infected.
Conclusion
When getting new piercings, professional piercers often give you proper care tips that you need to follow religiously.
At least that way you won’t have to deal with issues like your earrings sinking.
But even for old piercings, you still need to take care. Ensure you clean the piercing and jewelry often, and do not put on the earrings too tightly.
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.