HappyLady Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I've had my ears pierced since I was a little kid. I wore earrings all the time with no problems. In my teen years I didn't wear them as much, but when I did they never bothered me, and they were always the cheap kind of earrings. In my 20s, the only earrings I wore were a pair of expensive gold hoops. Again, no problems. Now, in my 30s, no matter what earrings I wear, withing minutes my earlobes are red and itching and I have to take my earrings out. I've gone about 7 years without wearing earrings and today I tried putting on a pair of sterling silver earrings I just bought and I had to immediately take them out because they bothered me too much. What do I need to do to wear earrings? Is there some sort of solution I should soak my earrings in? Is there any particular metal that doesn't seem to do this to people? I don't really care for yellow gold anymore and would prefer white metals and I don't even know if yellow gold would bother my ears because I lost my hoops. Any ideas, thoughts, or suggestions? **Edited to add I tried the anti-biotic ointment trick first and it worked!!! I've been able to wear my earrings all day with no irritation! Woo hoo! I'm also going to try the other suggestions mentioned to see if they work as well. I'm so excited to wear earrings again! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 You can try coating the earring post and the back of the earring with clear nailpolish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowing Brook Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I have this problem the only way I can wear earrings is if I put rubbing alcohol on both the earrings and my ears first. Not sure why it helps but it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweiss Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I had the same thing happen to me. (I became more and more intolerant to earrings as I got older.) Now, the only earrings I can tolerate are platinum. Unfortunately, they are pricey. I went for several years without wearing earrings at all until DH bought me my first platinum pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I don't really care for yellow gold anymore and would prefer white metals and I don't even know if yellow gold would bother my ears because I lost my hoops. Get white gold or platinum. Since you have not wear earrings for a long time, prep for a few days with wiping alcohol on the "earlobe holes" to desensitize. I am honestly amazed your earlobe holes didn't close up after seven years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I need 24k gold for my ears. I have long let them heal over. I also need at least 10k on all other jewelry. I try not to buy clothing with metal unless they are pants, and those can not go over my belly button if they do no amount of clear nail polish will prevent a rash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Jen* Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Mine are like that whenever I wear earring for the first time after an extended time of not wearing them. If they are good Sterling Silver than I coat them in antibiotic ointment before I put them in. If they are cheaper earring then I do the clear coat of nail polish and the ointment. After a week or so I can have them in without the ointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Mine are like that exactly. Irritated within minutes. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Mine are like that. I can wear really expensive gold earrings for a couple of hours before I am in too much pain, so I wear earrings infrequently. My expensive silver earrings cause a rash within minutes. I can wear gold necklaces without problem. Just my ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyLady Posted January 29, 2013 Author Share Posted January 29, 2013 Get white gold or platinum. Since you have not wear earrings for a long time, prep for a few days with wiping alcohol on the "earlobe holes" to desensitize. I am honestly amazed your earlobe holes didn't close up after seven years. My mom had one of her friends pierce my ears with this REALLY big needle when I was little so my holes are huge and absolutely refuse to close. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 One time dh bought me a silver ring (before we got married) not realizing the extent of my allergy. I put it on and he was able to watch the rash develop around my finger and watch my finger swell in a matter of two minutes. He now asks before he gets anything for me that might have metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waa510 Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 It sounds like you may have developed a nickel allergy. I can't use earrings that are cheap either. A company I found that sells nickel-free earrings is Simply Whispers. Their earrings are really nice, fairly cheap and leave my ears happy. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Just becareful though. Just because it says hypoallergenic doesn't mean it is. Yeah I am allergic to hypoallergenic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grovegirl Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 My dd10 can only wear Surgical Steel or Titanium (like the metal they put in Joint replacement) earrings or her ears get so irritated they bleed. I have to get them online or at craft fairs. Also, we have to use the plastic backs. Here are two links: http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Surgical-Steel-Earrings-Hypoallergenic/dp/B001W3QV0C http://www.amazon.com/Titanium-Birthstone-Earrings-SWAROVSKI-ELEMENTS/dp/B0041HENMY/ref=pd_sim_bt_4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Nothing worked for me, and I tried most of the solutions listed here. I stopped fighting it and let the holes close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Same thing happened to me. I had 4 piercings in each ear (5 in one) and never had a problem growing up. Now, I had to let all but one hole close up. I actually re-pierced the second hole in each ear, but the only earrings I can wear are my real diamonds, which I believe are set in 24K gold. ETA: I always use rubbing alcohol on them, too, as they still tend to act up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mermo Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 I buy the earrings used for piercing, some really cute reasonable ones at Sally's beauty supply store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 I buy the earrings used for piercing, some really cute reasonable ones at Sally's beauty supply store. I can't even use those. I react to just about everything put in my ears. Even clip-on earrings bother me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 I have a couple daughters who can only wear 24K gold. Someone else mentioned titanium though, and now I'm curious about that. That is supposed to be quite allergy free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 It may have become allergic to nickel. I became allergic during my 4th pregnancy. I try to get nickel free earrings, also I take an allergy medicine for my other allergies, but it helps that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Jen* Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Glad that it worked for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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