Your earlobes, which are made of skin and fatty tissue, are quite strong and flexible but not as hardy as the rest of your cartilage-based ear structure.

Even after the piercing has healed, though, putting too much force on that skin can cause it to stretch or even split completely. Earlobe tears can occur through accidental trauma.

The good news is that a doctor can repair these tears, but treatment depends on your preferences and how severe the tear is.