Earrings for sensitive ears?

[bailadora]

Ever since my eldest got her ears pierced 5 years back, we've had trouble finding earrings she can wear that don't result in infected piercings. We've tried stainless steel posts, to no avail. My sister had similar issues when she was younger and I seem to recall her earrings being labeled "surgical steel."

I googled the difference between the two, to see if that might be an option for us, but according to most articles I could find, surgical steel is stainless steel. So now I'm even more confused.

Gold is not an option for us at this point because she's not yet responsible enough to hold on to a pair from more than a few months.

Suggestions? Thoughts? Avenues of pursuit?

 

[Saxon Stonedyke]

I had the same problem when I was younger and wore earrings. Strange as it may sound I used to coat earring posts with clear fingernail polish and it stopped the problem.

It wears off after a few days and you have to clean them and reapply but it worked. It's the only way I was able to wear silver at all and most gold ones bothered me too. Surgical steel is the only thing I could wear without coating them so gold may not help anyway.

 

[njlauren]

From what I know of earrings, it is usually nickel in the metal that causes problems. Gold plated posts might help (since they aren't as expensive as 14k gold is). There are whole lines of earrings that are supposed to be for sensitive ears, I see them at Drug stores and at places like the whole foods near me, that may be a starting point. Surgical steel is a grade of stainless steel, I believe it is a higher grade that is less reactive then standard stainless steel and has less impurities, so it may thus be less problematic for sensitive ears.

Someone I know also said she had sensitive ears and used to use clear nail polish on the posts and said that helped. I can't guarantee that will work, but it sounds to me like something that would.

You also may want to talk to a dermatologist or doctor about this, not so much about the earrings, but rather in case there are allergies involved above sensitivity to metal.

The other thing I wonder about is if this could be a lingering problem from the way the ears were pierced. If her ears were pierced using one of the piercing guns it could leave lingering issues that may be involved, it could be the holes never healed right or she has had a lingering infection that flares up. Friend of mine got her upper ear cartilege pierced by someone using a gun and it ended up an infected mess (was really pissed at her, I had even given her a gift card to a friend's shop who is a pro body piercer and knows how to do those safely.........but she went to one of those mall places). Again, you may want to get her checked by a doctor to make sure it isn't something lingering like that.

 

[Eilan]

Have you tried Simply Whispers? They worked well for me when I was younger.

 

[bailadora]

I had the same problem when I was younger and wore earrings. Strange as it may sound I used to coat earring posts with clear fingernail polish and it stopped the problem.

It wears off after a few days and you have to clean them and reapply but it worked. It's the only way I was able to wear silver at all and most gold ones bothered me too. Surgical steel is the only thing I could wear without coating them so gold may not help anyway.

Thanks for the tip! We'll give it a whirl as soon as the infection clears up.

From what I know of earrings, it is usually nickel in the metal that causes problems. Gold plated posts might help (since they aren't as expensive as 14k gold is). There are whole lines of earrings that are supposed to be for sensitive ears, I see them at Drug stores and at places like the whole foods near me, that may be a starting point. Surgical steel is a grade of stainless steel, I believe it is a higher grade that is less reactive then standard stainless steel and has less impurities, so it may thus be less problematic for sensitive ears.

Someone I know also said she had sensitive ears and used to use clear nail polish on the posts and said that helped. I can't guarantee that will work, but it sounds to me like something that would.

You also may want to talk to a dermatologist or doctor about this, not so much about the earrings, but rather in case there are allergies involved above sensitivity to metal.

The other thing I wonder about is if this could be a lingering problem from the way the ears were pierced. If her ears were pierced using one of the piercing guns it could leave lingering issues that may be involved, it could be the holes never healed right or she has had a lingering infection that flares up. Friend of mine got her upper ear cartilege pierced by someone using a gun and it ended up an infected mess (was really pissed at her, I had even given her a gift card to a friend's shop who is a pro body piercer and knows how to do those safely.........but she went to one of those mall places). Again, you may want to get her checked by a doctor to make sure it isn't something lingering like that.

Yeah - we've tried those sensitive ears earrings (from most of the chain stores), but we've not had much luck. It makes me wonder if they just slapped a different label on them and put them out on the floor.

The point about a lingering infection is a good one and something that never even crossed my mind. We did indeed go to one of those mall places, because I knew the store had enough staff on hand to "double gun" her and get both ears at the same time. Otherwise, she'd be walking around with a single piercing.

Someone else also suggested checking with a pro piercer, saying that such locations often have lots of surgical steel jewellery due to the extremely sensitive location of some of those piercings. I never thought about them for earrings, but it makes sense.

Have you tried Simply Whispers? They worked well for me when I was younger.

Nope, but many thanks for the lead. I was also looking at another site called sensitively-yours.com, but the prices were SO low that it made me a bit hesitant about ordering. I love a bargain as much as the next person, but when the prices seem too good to be true, it gives me pause. Thankfully, someone said they've heard good things about the site, so that may be another option for us.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I knew I could count on ya'll to have some good info.

 

[imemkay]

have you tried

gold earring that have a threaded post? It's harder to lose a pair where the back screws on instead of just pushes on.

I agree with your comment about the sensitive ear type. I think they are the same kind of posts as any other. My daughter was wearing those when she got an infection. After we cleaned the ear and tried to put another pair of earrings in she got so nervous she threw up on me! Ah the joys of motherhood. We ended up letting them close up and got them pierced around a year later. So far no problems, but I'm scared to let her wear anything other than the pair she got pierced with!

 

[SweetErika]

Is she leaving her earrings in, or taking them out as soon as she gets home? Does she have other allergy or autoimmune issues?

I'm sorry to say I have the same problem as your daughter. I can only wear gold or sterling silver in the first place, but even if I leave those earrings in too long (overnight to maybe 2 days, max), my ears will start to "reject" them, getting red, puffy, crusty around the posts, and even infected. I've never asked a doctor, but I figure it's an autoimmune issue given I'm prone to those and my lower piercings were OK when I was a kid (I've had them for 25 years).

So, gold or sterling might be worth a try down the road, but I'd say start looking at her ears and/or the actual piercings for answers. See if she can wear surgical stainless or something for a matter of hours/a school day without any issues.

 

[bailadora]

gold earring that have a threaded post? It's harder to lose a pair where the back screws on instead of just pushes on.

I agree with your comment about the sensitive ear type. I think they are the same kind of posts as any other. My daughter was wearing those when she got an infection. After we cleaned the ear and tried to put another pair of earrings in she got so nervous she threw up on me! Ah the joys of motherhood. We ended up letting them close up and got them pierced around a year later. So far no problems, but I'm scared to let her wear anything other than the pair she got pierced with!

We lost the pair she got pierced with. They weren't screw backs, but they definitely had this indentation in the post that made it more difficult for the push-on back to come off. But threaded posts are something to consider down the road.

Is she leaving her earrings in, or taking them out as soon as she gets home? Does she have other allergy or autoimmune issues?

I'm sorry to say I have the same problem as your daughter. I can only wear gold or sterling silver in the first place, but even if I leave those earrings in too long (overnight to maybe 2 days, max), my ears will start to "reject" them, getting red, puffy, crusty around the posts, and even infected. I've never asked a doctor, but I figure it's an autoimmune issue given I'm prone to those and my lower piercings were OK when I was a kid (I've had them for 25 years).

So, gold or sterling might be worth a try down the road, but I'd say start looking at her ears and/or the actual piercings for answers. See if she can wear surgical stainless or something for a matter of hours/a school day without any issues.

Yep, that pretty much describes what's happening to her. AFAIK, she doesn't have any allergy/autoimmune issues (outside seasonal hayfever). This last time, she says she only wore them for the day, but I'm not sure if she meant school day, or a full 24 hour day. It's something else for us to consider.

Poor kid. All she wants is a little variety without having all the hassles. Again, thanks for the suggestions. As soon as we get her cleared up from this latest infection, we'll start with clear polish on surgical steel posts. Doesn't hurt to be proactive, does it?

 

[Mephistophelily]

I'm incredibly allergic to most metals.
Try talking to a local reputable piercing shop. (Not somewhere like Claire's, but an actual piercing shop.) They use pieces in all parts of the body, places that a person would certainly NOT want an infection, so they can provide solutions for better options- there's earrings available made of bone, wood, glass, etc, that they could get a hold of for you. The prices are a bit more than what you'd pay at Claire's or so, but to be sure you're not going to have a reaction, it's worth it!

 

[BeachMomma]

My daughter and I have the same problem; both of us are extremely sensitive to metals. Hers is an allergy to nickel, and I'm assuming that's also my problem. The clear fingernail polish DOES work; her pediatrician advised us to use that when she had allergic reactions to the snaps on her pajamas as a small child.

We both buy slightly more expensive earrings at reputable stores (not Claire's, Walmart or places like that). We do get the earrings specifically labeled nickel-free or for sensitive skin.

Something else you might want to try: Benadryl is available in a cream form over-the-counter if you suspect simple allergy. Neosporin is an option as well if you think it's actually infected. I'd also soak any earrings that she already has and plans to keep wearing in alcohol before she puts them back in. It's possible that her piercings aren't completely healed, and she's reinfecting them when she puts the earrings back in.

 

[glynndah]

You might want to be careful with the clear nail polish. It's frequently a trigger for contact dermatitis. There are products designed specifically for allergic reactions to jewelry. I couldn't find a link online, though, unless you want to buy a dozen bottles.

 

[desertslave]

Look for niobium wires/posts. Niobium contains no nickel and is generally hypoallergenic.

 

[oldschoolguy]

Since metals is my expertise, 25 years working metal, you need to find earrings made out of 316L Stainless Steel. It is the only type of metal (other than gold) that will not cause reactions. Ask for it by name when you shop.

316L is what all medical instruments are made from, also all quality body jewelry is made from this metal.

Most of the hypo allergenic stuff on the market is a poor grade of stainless and will still cause problems with people who are highly sensitive to metals. The cheap jewelry is plated over a pot metal which is a mix of various scraps.

Yes, the nickle content is the most common element for people that have reactions. The clear nail polish trick will work but must be reapplied regularly.

I too have had reactions to earrings in the past and have been wearing a set of hoops made of 316L for the last 15 years without issue, they never leave my ears.

Look to high quality body jewelry stores and you should be able to find some for your little one.

 

[blueberree]

earring wire

Thanks Glyndah and Oldschoolguy for the info. I think the only way to get the 316L for ear wires would be to get the wire and make your own. Bead stores carry the little tool you'd need to make the ear wires. The trick would be shaving down the end to prevent it scraping your ears.

Almost all ear wires you can purchase in a bead store, or in the craft section of places like Michaels are going to be the cheap, nickle infused wire.

I also have issues with almost any ear wire. I dip mine in hydro cortisone cream and it seems to help. The allergy coating is probably the best solution.

 

[temp256]

316L is the standard alloy for surgical stainless steel, but by no means are it and gold the only hypoallergenic metals. My earrings are solid grade 23 titanium. Considering it's been used for medical implants for decades without problems, it's excellent for piercings. I got them from piercebody.com. They were surprisingly cheap: only $5 or so for a pair.

I too was suspicious of the price, but I was able to test them. The magnetic susceptibility matched my known sample of titanium. I've had them in fox six months straight with no effect. I would never get anything less than titanium again, especially since the price difference is minimal.

 

[desertslave]

I'd misplaced this link, or I would have posted it with my previous post.

http://hypoallergenicfindings.com/niea.html

 

[Noira]

Titanium is pretty great and if I change up I'll probably go in that direction. I'm wearing 14k gold captives which were EXPENSIVE and are likely never leaving my ears. Captives aren't actually a bad idea, by the way, since they're difficult to get out. If you can find a pair of captive rings she's not allergic to (gold, titanium...), then, if you want to shake up the look and have a little bit of DIY skills, you can attach dangles to lobster clasps (for necklaces) and have all the dangly earrings made out of whatever cheapo metal you want. It's as easy as picking up wire and beads, or removing the hook from dangly earrings and replacing it with the necklace clip.

Anyway, that's my solution for girls who want variety and have allergies. Me, I'm happy with my gold captives. They cost an absurd amount of money, I can't get them out of my ears on my own, and I like them very much.

 

[BiBunny]

I have a vicious nickel allergy. Titanium and niobium are the ONLY answers. Any kind of steel--even surgical--has nickel in it. Gold and sterling silver have nickel in the alloy. This site has excellent information and some decent-looking earrings for sale. They also sell niobium and titanium hooks for dangly earrings, so you can change the part that goes through the ear on existing drop earrings. (No pins for hoops, though, which makes me sad.)

Titanium and niobium are expensive, but worth every dime.