How long can you leave your earrings out before your piercings close up?

According to Dr. Gutti J. Rao of Healthtap, ear lobes with large holes do not completely close. With newly pierced ear lobes, however, a stud should be worn for 3 to 6 months to avoid closure.

A thin membrane at the back of the ear lobe may cause difficulty when reinserting earrings if they are not worn for several months or years. First, moisten the ear lobe with rubbing alcohol and stretch the ear lobe to make the hole appear as large as possible. Insert the earring and tap the post gently against the membrane until it emerges. Minimize pain by applying an antibiotic ointment on the post before inserting, or numb the area with ice.