One of the side effects of ear spacers is that they can make a piercing less noticeable. This is one of the main reasons a spacer is worn.
Heavy spacers made of materials such as glass or organic materials like bone or stone can stretch a piercing. This is due to the weight of the material pulling on the piercing.
Spacers are often made of materials that are not designed for long-term use. These spacers can cause redness and swelling in even a healed piercing.
If a spacer made of an inappropriate material, such as acrylic or plastic, is worn for a long period of time, this can cause an infection. This is due to sebum and lymph being trapped in the piercing due to the porous nature of the jewelry.
In some cases, a spacer may draw more attention to the piercing than ordinary jewelry. This can be alleviated by purchasing small jewelry, in flesh toned or non-reflective materials such as Teflon.