# Reopening old ear piercings

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reopening-old-ear-piercings/216585>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 2, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reopening-old-ear-piercings/216585 "2003-12-02T22:11:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reopening-old-ear-piercings/216585/1 "2003-12-02T22:11:38Z")

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My ears were originally pierced about 20 years ago; I haven’t worn earrings for quite a while and would like to start again. I can get earrings through the piercings without difficulty but my ears turn reddish and I feel some discomfort. I cleaned the earrings and my earlobes with hydrogen peroxide prior to putting the earrings in. I didn’t leave the earrings in very long due to the slight discomfort.

Have any of you reopened old piercings - and if so, did the discomfort end? Any advice/experience is appreciated.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reopening-old-ear-piercings/216585/2 "2003-12-02T22:52:23Z")

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Retired body piercer here. Your ears hurt and are red because you’re stretching your old piercing, which has closed over time. Often, stretching a piercing can be more painful than getting one in the first place. Stretching is something that should be done gradually or the skin will be too stretched out, overly red and inflamed. If the discomfort is too much, you might want to start out with jewelry of a slightly smaller gauge…but not too small, or it will cut you. Remember, cheese cutter wire is round too.

Don’t force your piercing in, go gently and don’t leave it in for too long at one time while you are stretching it back out. Gradually stretching it back out is the key. If you have problems, see a reputable body piercer in your neighborhood.

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**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reopening-old-ear-piercings/216585/3 "2003-12-02T23:12:39Z")

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Great advice. Thank you very much, **pravnik**. I’ll take it slow and possibly buy some “starter” earrings to ease back into it.

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**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reopening-old-ear-piercings/216585/4 "2003-12-02T23:20:31Z")

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or, you might be allergic to that oarticular metal.  
I can’t wear copper earrings, my ears get red and swell up a little, and itch like hell.  
Afterwards, when I’ve taken them out, I get a little scab on the piercing.  
When I wear silver earrings, i don’t suffer any discomfort.

just a thought.

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**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reopening-old-ear-piercings/216585/5 "2003-12-02T23:21:51Z")

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oarticular = particular.

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**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reopening-old-ear-piercings/216585/6 "2003-12-03T00:25:34Z")

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That’s a good point, **elfje**. I’ll buy some hypoallergenic earrings.