Usually because the two ears haven't been treated the same. They may have been pierced at slightly different angles or sizes, she may sleep on one side, or one ear may carry more weight and tugging from heavier earrings, hair brushing or headphones. Ear holes different sizes is common and rarely a problem in itself. It's worth a closer look if the bigger hole is stretching into a slit, or the skin below it is thinning. Our safety FAQ covers the everyday wear questions we're asked most.
Start with the shape of the hole
Round, just larger. A round hole that's a little bigger than the other is usually down to how it was pierced or how it healed. Nothing needs to change.
Round, but tighter on one side. Sometimes the smaller hole is the one that's changed. A hole tightens when earrings are left out, or when the lobe is slightly irritated.
Oval or slit-shaped. A hole that's stretched downward has been pulled over time by weight or tugging. This is the pattern to act on.
A thin strip of skin below the hole. If the bridge of skin between the hole and the edge of the lobe looks thin, the hole is close to tearing. Stop wearing anything heavy in that ear.
Work out the likely cause
If she was pierced with each ear done separately, a small difference in angle, pressure or position is common. The holes can start different and stay that way.
If she sleeps on one side, that ear spends hours pressed into a pillow with an earring in it. Over months, that pressure can widen the hole slightly.
If one ear gets more tugging, from hair brushing, pulling clothes over her head, a phone or over-ear headphones, the pull adds up. Children also fiddle with one earring more than the other, often without noticing.
If she wears heavier or dangling earrings, especially in one ear more often, the weight drags the hole downward.
If one ear was sore or swollen at some point, the tissue can heal slightly looser afterwards.
If her lobes are different to begin with, that's normal too. Most people's ears aren't perfectly symmetrical, and a small difference in lobe thickness can make the same hole look a different size from the front.
When to see a doctor
If the lobe has torn, partly or fully, see her pediatrician. A torn earlobe usually needs a doctor to repair it, and it can often be re-pierced once it has healed.
If the hole is red, hot, swollen or painful, take the earring out and speak to her pediatrician.
If there's a lump near the hole that's growing, have her pediatrician look at it.
What helps the bigger hole
Switch to light studs. A small, light stud puts almost no weight on the lobe. Save dangling and heavier earrings for occasions, not every day.
Check the back isn't dragging. A butterfly back that sits too loosely lets the stud tilt and hang forward, which pulls on the hole. The back should sit snugly against the lobe without pinching.
Take earrings out for sleep if she presses on that side. For a piercing she's had for years, a night without earrings won't close the hole.
Take them out for contact sports. A pulled earring is one of the most common ways a lobe tears.
Give it time. A hole that has stretched a little may tighten slightly once the weight comes off, although a hole that has become a slit usually won't return to round.
What doesn't help
Wearing a bigger stud to fill the gap. It adds weight and can stretch the hole further.
Taping or gluing the back of the lobe. It irritates the skin and does nothing for the hole.
Waiting until the skin below thins further. If the hole is stretching, change what she wears now.
What we do
Our studs are 4mm or 5mm. I chose those sizes so they suit a child's ear while still being wearable by an adult, and they're very light. A pair weighs about the same as a paperclip, so they don't drag on a lobe that's already been stretched.
Every pair uses a butterfly back on a double-notch post, so the back sits on the lobe at the right tension, not too tight and not too loose. That's the part that stops a stud from tilting forward and pulling on the hole. It's also easy for her to take off at night or before sport.
We use two materials. S316L Surgical Steel, and 24K Pure Gold, which is pure 24 karat gold applied onto a S316L Surgical Steel core with Aunix™ 24K, our engineered gold finish. It's a gold-plating process, and we say so. Independently tested by SGS, with nickel release not detected under EN 1811.
For everyday wear that asks the least of her ears, the 5mm Star Stud Earrings in 24K Pure Gold have a flat profile and weigh almost nothing. The full range is on the 24K Pure Gold collection.
Questions parents ask next
Can a stretched ear hole shrink back? A slightly enlarged hole may tighten a little once heavy earrings stop. A hole that has stretched into a slit usually doesn't return to its original shape.
Why does one earring keep falling out? A bigger hole lets the stud tilt, and a loose back slides off more easily. Check the back is snug, and try a lighter stud in that ear.
Is it normal for ear holes to get bigger with age? Some change over years is common, especially with heavier earrings. In children, a noticeable change usually has a cause worth finding.
Can she still wear earrings in the bigger hole? Yes, as long as the skin isn't thin or torn. Keep to light studs.
Should we re-pierce the bigger side? Not unless the lobe has torn or the hole is too large to hold a stud. That's a question for her pediatrician or a professional piercer.
Related reading
- Why do her earrings keep falling out?
- Why do earrings hurt when she sleeps in them?
- How long can she keep the same earrings in?
- Are butterfly back earrings bad?
About the author. Matt Westmore is the founder of purepixxi. He came to children's jewelry from manufacturing and sourcing rather than marketing, which means he has walked the factory floors and knows what is actually inside a product rather than what a label says about it. purepixxi uses two materials only, names them exactly, and has them independently tested.
