Why will piercings close up if you don’t wear them for a while if they are newer, but won’t if they are older?

Question

I’ve had my ears pierced for over 20 years and I went without wearing earrings for around 10 of those. I’ve recently started wearing them again and I can fit earrings through no problem. Wondering why this is the case but someone who had only had them pierced for a couple of years wouldn’t be able to do this?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Skin eventually grows right through the hole, so the body no longer thinks it’s a wound. Sometimes for some people and some piercings the entry and exit wounds will shrink and make it impossible to put jewellery in regardless but you can still feel the tube of skin inside if you squeeze the area