There is always that pair of earrings that compliments every outfit, is a comfortable or special gift from a special someone.
Either way, we all may have that one earring we love wearing all the time unless of course you do not wear earrings or don’t have an ear-piercing. Or maybe you just hate the task of changing your earrings all the time, especially for men with pierced ears.
In any case, there is one major concern that crops up in such a situation and you may be wondering about the same thing. Is it safe to keep earrings on all the time?
How often should you remove the earrings or how long should you go without them? This article will cover all these concerns and provide you with safety tips should you decide to leave your earring on.
Can You Leave Earrings In All The Time?
Considering that when the ears are first pierced you are advised to leave the earring on until the piercing heals, it seems that it shouldn’t be a problem for you to leave your earring on all the time.
There is no set time limit as to how long you can wear your earrings, so it is possible to leave your earrings on all the time. There are, however, certain factors to consider in such cases.
To start, the type of earring is very important. This has mostly to do with the material used to make the earrings as well as the design.
The earrings should not only be comfortable to wear and sleep in, but they should also be made of good quality material like gold, platinum, surgical steel, or sterling silver.
These are hypoallergenic and less likely to lead to an allergic reaction or irritation. Cheap earrings should be avoided especially if you have sensitive skin and intend to wear them 24/7.
You should also avoid diamond studs, especially when sleeping as they may get caught on something and end up tearing or injuring your ears.
You also need to consider how often you clean the earrings. Over time there will be a build-up of dead skin and germs that may cause an infection or something worse. Of course, there is also the issue of wear and tear.
The longer or more frequently you put on your earrings the faster they will wear out, especially if they aren’t made of good quality material.
Is It Bad To Leave Earrings In All The Time? Why?
Some people have had the same pair of earrings on from the day they got pierced and never reported any issues. From the discussions above, it is clear that there is nothing wrong with wearing your earrings all the time.
But there are two sides to this coin. On one side, it is okay to have them on all the time, if they do not cause you any distress. That means that the earrings should be comfortable, have no reactions to your skin, and be kept clean at all times.
In such a case, then there is nothing to worry about, especially if the earrings are made of hypoallergenic material.
On the other side, however, it would be wrong to keep in earrings 24/7 if they are made of cheap material and likely to have traces of nickel or lead. Prolonged exposure to such toxins would eventually lead to an allergic reaction.
Certain types of earrings can not be worn all the time as well, such as dangling earrings or the diamond studs, or heavy chunky pieces.
These would end up being uncomfortable for you, especially while sleeping. Another concern is that you may forget to clean your earrings and piercings which could lead to an infection.
To add to it, the jewelry will fade or wear out faster if frequently worn. So, you won’t be able to keep them for a long time especially if they are made of poor materials.
How Often Should I Remove My Earrings?
So, how often then, should you remove your earrings? This answer will vary for different people. Some would never go a night without removing their earrings and putting them back on the next morning.
Some have never taken off their earrings since they first put them on, this could have even been five years ago! It’s crazy, but like we said there is no timeline as to how long the earrings should be kept on.
Still, according to dermatologists, it is advisable to take out your earrings at least once a week to clean them and the piercings. This is because your skin naturally releases dead skin cells that may build up over time around the earring.
This may not cause infection but it does leave the piercing looking goopy and gross. Another reason is that over time over time the accumulation of dead skin, oils, and bacteria will lead to a funky smell.
You can easily clean the earrings with warm water and soap from a jewelry cleaner and wait for them to dry. In that time, you could be cleaning the piercings with an alcohol rub and a cotton swab. Once the earrings are dry, you can pop them back on and wait for the next week to repeat the same process.
But it is also nice to change up your style every once in a while. Whether it is swapping your everyday earrings for fancier ones because of a party, or trying a new trend.
We agree that finding the perfect earrings can be difficult, but all we’re saying is that there are too many designs out there to explore for you to be stuck with one style of the earpiece.
How Long Can You Not Wear Earrings?
One of the reasons some people prefer keeping their earrings on is because they are afraid the piercings will close up if they take them out. Some have reported taking a break from earrings only to find that their piercings have closed up in a matter of days.
So how long can one go without wearing earrings? This question too has varying answers depending on the individual. There is no standard ideal time.
Generally, however, for new piercings, you are encouraged to leave the earrings on for at least 2 months for ear lobe piercings and 6 months for cartilage and other ear piercings.
The reason is, that for a fresh piercing, the skin is regenerated faster to heal. So, the piercing will close up very fast if you were to take out the earing soon after being pierced.
This doesn’t mean that old piercings that have healed won’t close up if you take out the earrings. Some people have reported twenty-year-old piercings that closed up in a matter of weeks.
Still, there are people with 6-weeks-old piercings who have stayed open after being left for hours. So, it mostly has to do with the individual. But one thing is for sure, the longer you keep the earrings, the longer the piercing will take to close up when you take the earrings off.
Tips For Leaving Your Earring In For Some Time
Now that you have decided on leaving your earrings on for some time, let us talk about some of the safety tips you should keep in mind. They are as follows:
1. The shape and style of the earring
Like we have emphasized throughout this article, the design, size, and shape of your everyday wear earrings matter. They need to be simple and comfortable.
They should be the kind that snags or poke you when you are trying to sleep.
2. Material of the earrings
Another important thing to keep in mind is the quality of the material used to make the earrings. Remember these are pieces you will have on all day, in the shower and bed.
The material therefore not only has to be hypoallergenic but also durable and able to maintain its sparkle for a long period.
3. The earrings should be secure
There is nothing worse than realizing you lost part of your favorite set of earrings. So, when selecting the earrings, ensure that they can be properly secured in your ears.
That way you won’t have to worry about losing them whether when you are sleeping or up and about your day.
4. The earrings should be appealing
Of course, this is not in the general sense. We mean that you should find the earrings appealing. At least that way you would enjoy wearing them.
For that, you have to consider earrings that are neutral enough to compliment all your outfits.
5. Pick a trendy piece
You don’t want to end up looking outdated, that is why you have to select a timeless piece for your everyday earrings.
That means that no matter the season or time, the earpieces you’ve selected are always in style.
6.Keep the earrings clean
Another important emphasis. You don’t want your piercings to have that gross appearance and give off a funky smell.
So, take time each week to take out the earrings and clean them along with the piercing.
Conclusion
So, as you’ve seen, there is no major harm in leaving your earrings in all the time.
Just be sure that they are of a comfortable design and made with good quality material.
Also, ensure that you clean them at least once a week and you should be good to go.
But while it’s okay to keep the same earrings on for a long time, remember there are a million other earring designs you can explore.
Try it, you never know, you may find another favorite pair you can’s stay without.
Read more piercing tips here or here!
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.