How often should earrings be changed? 

It depends on many factors - the type of earrings, how long you've had the piercing, and your skin. 

New Piercings 

For new earlobe piercings, a general guideline is to leave the original earrings in for at least 8 weeks before changing them, provided the piercing has healed well.  

Cartilage piercings can take much longer to heal, and the general recommendation is to wait around at least 3 months, although some cartilage piercings may require even longer. 

After changing to your first new pair of earrings, avoid changing them too frequently over the next few months. Although the piercing may look healed on the outside, the tissue inside is still strengthening. Leaving the earrings in place helps minimise irritation and reduces the risk of infection. 

Fully Healed Piercings 

Once your piercings are fully healed, you can change your earrings as often as you like. There is no medical recommendation for how frequently earrings should be changed. 

Daily: Fine if you enjoy matching your earrings to your outfit. Many people change earrings every day without any issues.  

Weekly to monthly: Also perfectly fine if you have a favourite pair you wear regularly.  

Long-term wear (months): Safe for many people, provided the earrings are made from high-quality materials (such as 18K or 22K gold), fit comfortably, and are removed for regular cleaning. 

Regardless of how often you change your earrings, remember to clean both your earrings and your earlobes regularly to keep them hygienic and comfortable to wear. 

Additional Tips 

If you wear the same pair of earrings every day, remove and clean them every 1–2 weeks using warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. Dry them thoroughly before wearing them again. 

Also, choosing high-quality materials can make a difference in both comfort and durability. Solid gold earrings, such as 18K (750) or 22K (916) gold, are suitable for long-term wear and are less likely to irritate lower-quality or plated jewellery.