Split earlobes are mostly caused by wearing heavy earrings for several years but the split can also be the result of general trauma. People with thin earlobes are particularly prone to this problem.
You don’t even need to have your ears pierced for your earlobes to split. Clip-on earrings also have the ability to restrict blood flow, which can permanently damage the earlobes. In some cases, necrosis can even occur.
Widened piercing holes can also eventually cause the earlobe to split, resulting in the earlobe needing to be repaired.