Everything You Should Know about Hypoallergenic Earrings

Have you ever shopped for the perfect pair of earrings only for them to later cause your earlobes to itch, redden, and break into a rash? Or perhaps you bought jewelry labeled “hypoallergenic”, yet you still had an allergic reaction. We have all been there. Such a bummer, right?

Different earrings are crafted from different metals implying that some are better for sensitive skin than others. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation swirling around when it comes to hypoallergenic jewelry making it quite difficult to find the best earrings for sensitive skin.

Luckily, today we clear the air to ensure you know precisely what to look for and what to steer clear when buying hypoallergenic earrings. But first, here is how you can tell you are having an allergic reaction to your jewelry in the first place.

Signs and Symptoms You are having an Earring Allergy

Typically, the skin of the earlobe is a delicate area making it prone to irritation or allergic reactions. These allergic symptoms only occur when you are wearing the earrings and disappear relatively soon after you have taken the earrings out. Here are some common surefire signs to look out for.

• Redness and itching.
• Soreness and swelling of earlobes.
• Puss that may cause crustiness from inside the ear hole.
• Bleeding and blistering of the skin in rather severe circumstances.

What Causes these hypoallergenic earrrings?

Now that you know that your precious earlobes could be allergic to certain types of metals. Let’s explore all the metals that can potentially trigger allergic reactions, so you know which ones to avoid. After all, it is better safe than sorry.

• Nickel

Nickel is without a doubt the biggest culprit associated with ear allergy. Problematically, this metal is mostly used in most jewelry alloys because of its strengthening properties. For people with sensitive skin, this is a significant issue. To curb this, we advise wearing nickel free hypoallergenic jewelry.

• Brass

Brass is a low-grade base metal and an alloy of zinc and copper metal. You might think the lack of renowned nickel may mean you are free from any allergic reaction, right? As it turns out the earlobes are highly sensitive, and some people may be allergic to brass or any brass plated jewelry as well.

• Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a mixture of iron, at least 10.5% of chromium, and varying amounts of other elements like nickel and molybdenum. Both nickel and chromium are potential triggers for metal allergy. While the components of nickel are considerably not as high in stainless steel, it may also cause irritation especially for people with a nickel allergy.

• Copper

Primarily, copper is pure on its own. However, small amounts of metal alloys like nickel are added to it when making accessories like earrings. These elements can react with the skin around the earlobes and cause itching or redness of the skin.

Copper also forms a green discoloration after wearing it for a while due to oxidation. As much as this does not necessarily cause any allergic reaction to the skin, it has a bad aesthetic appeal. And who would want to wear discolored jewelry in the first place? No one.

• Gold

Gold earrings are also known to be hypoallergenic. If you have to use gold earring, the purer it is the better.

 

The Best Hypoallergenic Earrings for Sensitive Ears

Why not say goodbye to red itchy skin and say hello to a radiance? Instead of getting confusing labels that could be potential triggers to metal allergy, let us get acquainted with safe hypoallergenic jewelry that blends with and compliments sensitive skin.

• Platinum Earrings

Platinum is less reactive with delicate skin making it ideal for hypoallergenic jewelry. However, platinum jewelry is expensive, and most people cannot afford it.

• Titanium Earrings

Titanium being an alloy of aluminum and vanadium is purely nickel free. Not only does it make the perfect hypoallergenic jewelry, but it is also resistant to corrosion meaning you can wear it to the ocean or pool without tarnishing it. How utterly amazing, right?

• Sterling Silver Earrings

Sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metal alloys. When these metal alloys are nickel free, then you are guaranteed that your earrings are hypoallergenic. Unlike most alternative hypoallergenic jewelry, sterling silver is without a doubt the most affordable of them all. So let nothing hold you back from saving your ears from the agony of metal allergies.

Easy Remedies for Dealing with an Earring Allergy

While it may not be the ultimate solution to an ear allergy, here are some home remedies that can help you care for your sensitive skin.

• Clean your jewelry regularly to be free of any tarnish that may cause an allergic reaction. Alternatively, when you know your jewelry can tarnish easily, try wearing it for shorter periods of time.
• For extra protection, reach out to your jeweler to add another film of layer of metal to protect sensitive skin. But if you are looking for a quick solution, some people found that adding a coat of nail polish prevents skin irritation.
• If you are getting a new piercing, ensure you go to a reputable piercing studio with top notch up to standard equipment. Ask your piercer for hypoallergenic jewelry made of sterling silver or any allergy free metal you might like. This way, you are assured no allergy complications later.
• Lastly, your best shot is removing the earrings responsible for the allergy and switching them out hypoallergenic earrings.

Final Thoughts

It is not all doom and gloom with people with metal allergies. The good news is, not all metals are reactive with sensitive skin. Picture this, you finally bought a pair of earrings that does not cause any irritation and sits comfortably on your ears. Sounds refreshing, right? What are you waiting for? Say goodbye to painful itchy earlobes and invest in safe but stylish hypoallergenic earrings today.