As a professional in the field of body art and piercing, I've seen a wide range of healing times for ear piercings, which can vary depending on several factors. It's important to note that everyone's body is different, and healing times can differ significantly from person to person. However, I can provide you with a general guideline based on common practices and medical advice.

Step 1: Initial Healing and Care
The first step after getting your ears pierced is to allow the initial wound to heal. This typically takes about 6 to 8 weeks for earlobes. The reason for this extended period is to ensure that the hole is fully formed and that the skin has healed around the initial earring. The starter earring, as mentioned, is often made of a thicker metal to provide stability and to allow the skin to heal around it. This helps to form a solid tunnel for the earring.

Step 2: Monitoring for Infection
During this initial healing period, it's crucial to monitor for any signs of infection, which can delay the healing process. Redness, swelling, and discharge are common signs that something may be amiss. If you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to consult with a professional piercer or a healthcare provider.

**Step 3: Gradual Introduction of New Earrings**
Once the initial healing period has passed without any complications, you can begin to consider changing your earrings. However, it's still important to be cautious. Start with earrings that are similar in size and thickness to the starter earring to avoid causing further trauma to the newly formed hole.

Step 4: Avoiding Irritation
When changing earrings, make sure to choose materials that are less likely to cause irritation. Materials like surgical steel, titanium, or gold are often recommended because they are hypoallergenic and less likely to cause a reaction.

Step 5: Continuing Care
Even after changing earrings, continue to clean the area regularly to prevent any buildup of bacteria. This can be done with a saline solution or a specialized piercing aftercare product.

Step 6: Listening to Your Body
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, listen to your body. If you feel any discomfort or if the area around the piercing becomes red or swollen after changing earrings, it may be a sign that your ear is not fully healed or that you've chosen an earring that is irritating your skin. In such cases, it's best to revert back to the starter earring or a similar, less irritating option and give your ear more time to heal.

Remember, these are general guidelines and individual healing times can vary. It's always best to consult with a professional piercer if you have any concerns or questions about your specific situation.

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"The reason why you cannot change your earring for 6 weeks is because the starter earring is thicker metal so that during the six weeks our skin will re-heal around this thicker earring and when we take our earring out after six weeks our pierced hole will be big enough (width) to accommodate any earring.Apr 7, 2018read more >>