How To Take Off Earrings | Our Guide in Simple Steps for Normal and Sensitive Ears

Ear piercings are a popular trend, regardless of age or gender. We almost have someone with pierced ears in every family. Earrings represent style and sophistication, adding confidence to those who use them daily.

However, you may not know how to take off and put on earrings safely. Especially when they are stuck, you have sensitive ears, or recently pierced ears. Removing them wrongly may lead to bruising and more infection in the affected ear. 

If you find yourself in this situation, do not worry, we will give you easy steps and tips to follow to remove your earrings safely.

Woman making a grimace while taking out her earrings

Steps in Taking off Your Earrings for the First Time

Starter earrings and screw-in stud earrings may be challenging to remove because of the new ear piercing. So, taking earrings out for the first time is quite easy all you need to do first, is ensure that your ears have completely healed before removing the piercing jewelry

Depending on your skin, healing may take approximately 6 to 8 weeks. Removing your earrings too early may lead to infections, or the earring hole may not heal and close.

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly. Use soap and running water to clean your hands before doing anything. Afterward, you can rub disinfectant on your hands and wait until they dry.
  2. Clean the ear lobes. Using a cleansing solution or rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball, clean your ear around the piercing with the cotton ball dipped in a disinfectant to prevent infections.
  3. Position your index finger and thumb on one end of the earring and another hand on the lower end of the earring. If you have long hair, you should tie it backward to give it an easy grasp.
  4. Wiggle your earring back and forth. Avoid spinning or twisting your earring when removing them. It may bruise the parts that had started healing. Instead, push it up and down to loosen the studs bond.
  5. Carefully pull the earring. Do not pull the two pieces simultaneously. You can easily remove your earring after removing the back stopper.
  6. Put on your new earrings. But, before putting on your earrings in newly pierced ears, disinfect the ear and the stud with hydrogen peroxide.
Woman in a bathroom mirror taking out her earrings

If there is bleeding afterward, your ears have not completely healed. Use gauze or a cotton ball to put pressure on your ear and stop bleeding. 

 A buildup of bacteria cells and oils can make your earrings smell, too. If you notice that it is smelling, clean your earrings by wiping them with glycerin soap and warm water to remove any buildup.

After removing the starter earring, you may notice a red swelling or discharge. It means that your ears have an infection. Apply antibiotic cream, and if it persists, see a doctor. 

Pain during earring removal means that the ear has not fully healed. Therefore, leave it for a few more weeks while cleaning the earring with disinfectant and warm water to avoid skin buildup.

Rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide is the most effective way for disinfection, but to sterilize earrings you can use natural products such as vinegar, tea tree oil, and lemon juice, as well. However, it is important to note that these methods may not be as successful and may also damage certain types of earrings.

How To Take off Earrings When Your Ears Are Sensitive

Earrings are a great way to personalize your look and make you feel more beautiful and if you have sensitive skin, or you are allergic to certain metals like nickel, you should always look to buy earrings for sensitive ears.

Because once you develop a sensitivity to nickel, you’ll develop a rash whenever you come into contact with it. The reaction may cause a full-blown physical reaction which is why there are earrings for nickel allergy in various designs, styles, and materials.

Simple Tips To Avoid Allergic Reactions to Earrings

If you have favorite earrings to sleep in, and you barely ever take them off, remove them before bed or any other time you feel discomfort.

Woman cleaning earrings on a little girl

Other tips include:

  •  Avoid earrings that have nickel. People with Nickel allergy may notice symptoms such as a rash breakout after a few minutes of wearing nickel earrings, and constant exposure may increase this allergic reaction.
  • Avoid wearing fake gold earrings. Many people may not afford original gold earrings. Therefore, they tend to buy cheaper ones. However, these earrings may react to their sensitive skin, causing a rash reaction. Test your new jewelry if it is original.
  • Buy medical-grade plastic earrings. This type of earring will not cause any allergic reaction. They are even suitable for kids.
  •  Invest in titanium earrings. Titanium does not react with the body and is even used in hospitals to make implants. Therefore, a pure titanium earring will not react with your skin.
  • Buy jewelry shields or jewelry coatings. These coatings have a clear nail polish look. They help in protecting the ear from direct contact with the earring.
  • Invest in Hypoallergenic Earrings. Platinum, sterling silver, high karat gold, stainless steel, and titanium are some jewelry suitable for people with sensitive skin. 
  • Hypoallergic earrings are less likely to cause ear irritation when you wear them.

Always clean and disinfect your earrings when they have buildups and are dirty.

Steps To Remove Earrings From a Sensitive Ear

After learning tips on ensuring that we have the right earrings, we now need to know how to take off earrings from a sensitive ear.

Hands removing an aerring from a blonde woman

You can only know that your ears are sensitive to a given metal after wearing it.  The reaction will start with discomfort, itching, and swelling in your ears.

 Removing the earrings will be torture at this time because of the pain that comes with the reaction.

 Here are a few steps that can ease the process:

  • Step 1: Wash your hands with soap and running water. Washing hands will help remove dirt from your hands; you do not want to touch your already reacting ears with dirty hands. If water is unavailable, you can disinfect your hands with any disinfectant.
  • Step 2: Wipe your ears with disinfectant or warm water. Wiping with disinfectant will help reduce the chances of infection. The warm water is excellent in reducing the pain.
  • Step 3: Have a good grip on the studs with the index finger and thumb of one hand and the other with another thumb and index finger.
  • Step 4: Gently unscrew the stopper. Then pull the earring. Do not twist, as this will only increase the contact and reaction on your ears.

Put some lotion on your fingers before trying to remove the earring so that it doesn’t hurt as much when you touch it with your fingers while taking it off.

A woman putting lotion on her hands

Avoid dangle earrings and oversized hoop earrings as they may only worsen the allergic reaction.

Use mild soap and warm water to clean your ear piercing and remove any dirt or ear wax from the jewelry. 

How to Remove Stud Earrings

Taking out stud earrings is a straightforward process that requires a delicate touch. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to take stud earrings out with no pain and easy:

  • Step 1: Hold the Earring Post. Firmly grasp the front part of the earring with one hand and the earring backing with the other hand. You’ll need to pull in opposite directions.
  • Step 2: Gently Pull. Apply gentle pressure while pulling the earring up and back simultaneously. The earring should begin to loosen.
  • Step 3: Wiggle If Necessary. If the earring is still clinging to the earring hole, gently tilt the earring back and forth to encourage it to slide out.
  • Step 4: Remove the Earring. Once the earring is loose, continue pulling gently until it’s completely removed.

Remember, removing stud earrings should not be painful. If you encounter resistance or discomfort, it’s essential to proceed with extra care or seek professional assistance.

What To Do if You Can’t Remove Earrings Off

One of the most painful experiences with ear piercings is removing the earrings safely for the first time. Sometimes all the methods you know of removing your earring may fail you, and you get stuck with a painful ear. 

When you find yourself in this situation, using rubber gloves or a pair of latex gloves may help give enough grip to unscrew the stuck earring.

  1.  Wipe your ear lobes with saline solution.
  2.  Leave it for a few minutes to ensure the jewelry is dry, then wear gloves.
  3.  An extra twist using the rubber gloves can help remove your stuck jewelry.
  4.  Use earring removal tweezers to gently twist the earring and remove it. This should work. However, if it refuses, and the ear is too painful, visit a professional ear piercer to help you remove it.
Saline solution

FAQs – Taking OFF Earrings

Should I Use a Tool To Take Off My Earrings?

Earring removal tools come in handy to unscrew studs when stuck; every effort is not helping. One of the tools is earring removal tweezers. Twist it in a clockwise direction to remove the earring. 

Can I Damage My Ears if I Take Off My Earrings Wrong?

Yes, you can damage your ear lobe skin if you take off your wear earrings wrongly. The damage happens if it is the first time you remove the earrings since piercing or when you have sensitive skin. During this time, the ear may not have completely healed. Therefore, doing it wrong may bruise the healing area and lead to another wound or infection.

Why Are Starter Earrings Hard to Take Out?

It’s completely normal if you find it challenging to remove your starter earrings right away. The jewelry may be hardened by your ear’s natural buildup, making it a bit more difficult to take them out. Don’t panic; with proper care and patience, you’ll be able to remove them comfortably.

How Long Should I Leave My First Earrings In?

After getting your ears pierced, caring for them is crucial. Leave the earrings in your ears for at least six weeks or more, even during the night. This allows sufficient time for the piercing to heal properly and reduces the risk of complications.

Do You Sleep with Earrings on Or Off?

In general, it’s best to avoid sleeping with earrings on, except in one specific situation. If you’ve recently gotten a new piercing, you will need to keep the small studs in place for about six weeks or until the piercing heals. Once the healing period is over, it’s advisable to remove your earrings before sleeping to prevent any potential discomfort.

Final Thought – How To Take Earring OFF

Overall, removing earrings can be a challenging task, but it’s essential to do it safely to avoid any injuries. By following the simple steps outlined above, you can safely remove your earrings without causing any damage to your earlobes. Remember to always keep your hands and earrings clean, and if you encounter any issues, seek professional help. Ear piercings are a beautiful way to express your style and sophistication, so take care of them and wear them with pride.

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