Many of us are unsure if we should remove earrings before bed. Some people don’t remove their earrings at bedtime, while others would never wear jewelry to bed. Is there a right or wrong approach?
If you have new earrings, they should be left in at bedtime, or else the piercing will heal.
Leaving in earrings saves time and reduces the risk of bacterial infection, but prolonged sleeping in earrings can lead to sagging skin and cause damage to jewelry, bedding, and pillows.
If you’ve worn earrings for years or have delicate skin, remove the earrings at bedtime. If you wear earrings to bed, ensure they won’t disrupt your sleep.
Are You Supposed To Sleep with Earrings In?
Sleeping with or without earrings often comes down to personal preference.
Newly pierced ears must contain earrings, including while sleeping, as removing the jewelry could allow the hole to close. Ears that have been pierced for some time can be left alone overnight.
You can decide for yourself if sleeping with earrings is right for you. Before making this choice, ensure that you fully understand the implications of your decision.
Pros and Cons of Sleeping with Earrings In
Sleeping with earrings has some minor advantages, but there are risks.
Let’s review the main pros and cons of wearing earrings to bed:
Reasons to Sleep with Earrings In
If removing your earrings before bed is unappealing, there are reasons it could be considered advantageous to sleep while wearing earrings. This includes:
Easier Bedtime Routine
Many of us already have a lengthy bedtime routine.
Before entering the bedroom, we need to shower, possibly remove any make-up, clear our minds of the day’s events, and change into pajamas (or remove clothing altogether), which is a lot to consider.
For some, removing jewelry is another step in an already-exhaustive list of pre-bed rituals.
If you can get away with wearing earrings in bed, you may prefer to do so, especially if removing the earrings is time-consuming, frustrating, and awkward.
Reduced Risk of Bacterial Infection
We shouldn’t lose sight of what piercing our ears involves: punching a hole into the flesh.
According to Médecine et Maladies Infectieuses, post-piercing complications, including bacterial infection and inflammation, are commonplace.
You can reduce this hazard by cleaning the wound regularly until it heals.
Sleeping with earrings also offers some protection. If you keep studs in your ear(s), there’s no open hole for bacteria to enter while you sleep.
Security of Treasured Possessions
Earrings are often more than mere decorations.
Jewelry may have been presented as a gift, bringing priceless sentimentality to the earrings. In such cases, you may prefer to wear earrings while you sleep.
We’re rarely more vulnerable than while we sleep, and it’s impossible to guard our valuables. If you don’t live alone, you may feel uncomfortable leaving earrings on a bedside table in clear view of others.
If you have pets, earrings may be knocked or even accidentally swallowed while removed.
It’s easy to drop and lose a small, delicate earring. If worn, you’ll know where the earrings are located.
Reasons To Take Out Earrings To Sleep
Before committing to sleeping while wearing earrings, consider these disadvantages:
Less Discomfort
Earrings will apply pressure to your face when you lean upon it. If you’re a side sleeper, this can quickly become uncomfortable.
Consider that we sweat while we sleep, increasing the risk of an allergic reaction. The American Academy of Dermatology stated that many lower-cost earrings contain nickel, a common allergen.
An allergic reaction, especially one that unfolds overnight, can lead to significant discomfort.
If you experience headaches, swelling, pain, or a build-up of pus around the ears after sleeping with earrings in, you must cease doing so.
Reduced Risk of Loss or Damage To Earrings
Earrings can fall out while we sleep, especially if we toss and turn due to worries or hot temperatures. If this goes unnoticed, an expensive earring can be lost permanently.
Imagine if you don’t notice the earring has fallen out until mid-morning the following day.
By this point, you’ll have made your bed – possibly even stripped and laundered the sheets – and changed your clothes. The earring could be anywhere by now.
Taking out your earrings the night before and placing them somewhere secure takes time, but less than searching for a lost earring.
Removing the jewelry overnight can spare you hours searching the house for a small, delicate trinket.
Less Wear and Tear to Pillows and Bedsheets
If you’ve spent money on luxurious pillowcases and bedsheets, you’ll want to protect them.
You can remove sunscreen and make-up to avoid stains, but earrings can catch material, leading to snags and rips. Over time, this can grow increasingly frustrating.
You’ll likely need to replace your bedding constantly. Even with less expensive items, the cost will eventually exceed the value of earrings, no matter how lavish.
Can I Sleep with My Earrings Out?
Before removing earrings at bedtime, ensure the ear and jewelry maintenance becomes part of your pre-sleep ritual. Steps include:
- Wash your hands – never touch a piercing with dirty hands.
- Clean the pierced area with a cotton bud. Cold water should be sufficient once the ears have been pierced for a while. If it makes you more comfortable, use a saline solution.
- Dry the ear before getting into bed.
- Place the earrings somewhere safe and secure so they don’t get lost.
Most people put their earrings back after showering in the morning.
When Can I Take My Earrings Out to Sleep?
If your ears are pierced, allow the skin time to heal.
If you remove earrings before this occurs, you risk exposing the piercing site to bacteria. Bacterial inflammation must be treated with prescribed antibiotics.
In most instances, ears will heal up following piercing within 6 weeks.
This is likely the length of time a professional piercer will recommend before taking out earrings for any reason, including sleep. However, it could take as long as 3 months in some cases.
Clean the pierced area with a saline solution each evening to assist with healing.
How Long Can You Leave Earrings Out Before the Hole Closes?
Avoid leaving your earrings out for longer than 24 hours for the first 6 months of ear piercing. Although the skin will theoretically repair itself within 6 weeks, it can reheal if left unpierced for too long.
Beyond the first 6 months, you have more flexibility. How long depends on your skin, but it’s rarely less than a week. You can remove earrings at bedtime if that’s your preference.
How To Sleep with Earrings Comfortably
If you’ve recently bought some jewelry, you need to know how to sleep with new earrings. As discussed, you must keep earrings in for a while to prevent the piercing hole from closing.
New ear piercings must be cleaned before bed. If you miss this vital step, you’re not taking appropriate precautions and risk developing a painful bacterial infection.
Other steps must be taken to sleep comfortably in earrings, especially if you’re new to the jewelry.
Stud Earrings
If you plan to sleep with earrings, wear studs.
Hoop earrings are designed with aesthetics in mind over practicality, especially when oversized. Studs are smaller and sturdier, thus likelier to remain in place while you sleep.
Even within this remit, shop for stud earrings that encourage wear in bed. Screw-back earrings, rather than butterfly backs, are more secure.
If you intend to wear larger earrings in bed, including hoops, shop for silicon stoppers. Wearing stoppers keeps the earrings in place and prevents metal from rubbing on the skin.
Sleeping Positions
Finding the ideal position for sleeping in earrings may take trial and error, especially if your ears are newly pierced. The pressure on the ears will dictate how comfortable you feel in bed.
Sleeping on your back is ideal because it minimizes any impact on the ears. Unfortunately, back sleeping can cause snoring, which is a consideration if you share a bed with someone.
Just be aware that you’ll likely toss and turn, and unexpected pressure on the ears may wake you. Pack the body and head with pillows to reduce the risk of disturbed sleep.
It may initially feel restrictive, especially if you’re unaccustomed to sleeping on your back, but the ends justify the means. You won’t damage your earrings or place undue pressure on the ears.
Hair Control
Long, loose hair and earrings can be a disaster for sleeping. If your hair is left to flow, it could wrap around the earrings. Hair may tug at the jewelry as you naturally move more during sleep.
If this happens enough, you could pull out the earring. This can lead to lost jewelry, ear pain, and even injury if the removal of the earring is forceful.
Cover or braid the hair before bed to avoid mishaps. Don’t use tight elastic hairbands because that’s just exchanging one form of discomfort for another. A silk scarf or loose fabric band works.
Right Pillow
Ensure the pillow is soft enough to accommodate wearing earrings in bed. Solid pillows may feel initially comfortable, but they’ll eventually dig into the jewelry and become uncomfortable.
If you’re serious about sleeping in earrings, get a specialist pillow. For example, a horseshoe pillow encourages back sleeping and takes the pressure off the ears.
Alternatively, get earhole pillows, which contain a hollow segment where jewelry-clad ears can rest. If you get the latter, you may be able to wear hoop earrings in bed.
Sleeping in earrings is a personal choice, so find an approach that maximizes comfort, hygiene, and safety. Remember, new earrings should be worn regularly, even during sleep.
