Are you tired of allergic reactions or infections caused by your jewelry? Discover the perfect earrings for sensitive ears with this comprehensive guide.
Keyword(s): primary: earrings for sensitive ears secondary: best hypoallergenic earrings, best metal for sensitive ears, sensitive earrings
It’s a Saturday night. Date Night. Your hair is styled, makeup is flawless, and your little black dress is ready, but something still feels incomplete…
You dig into your jewelry box and pull out a pair of dangly earrings to perfect your look. The high neckline of your dress practically begs for this sparkling pair.
However, the last time you wore them, your ears became crusty, itchy, and infected for nearly a week.
Is beauty really pain?
Actually, it doesn’t have to be!
Here’s your go-to guide for finding the best earrings for sensitive ears.
Get Your Ears Pierced by a Professional
While this might seem like common sense, it’s crucial. A roommate or friend with a needle, an apple, and ice does not qualify as a “professional ear piercer,” regardless of how many ears they’ve pierced.
If your ears weren’t professionally pierced, this could be why they’re sensitive and prone to infection. Consult a doctor about an ointment that might help heal the infection.
Understand Your Earring Materials
Before purchasing earrings, always check the material they’re made from. Nickel, often the cheapest option, frequently causes “nickel itch.” In contrast, gold, platinum, and silver, though more expensive, rarely cause issues, as infections from these noble metals are very uncommon.
Titanium and plastic offer cheaper alternatives that rarely cause allergic reactions. However, keep in mind that titanium options are limited, and plastic can break easily and appear cheap.
Surgical steel is another good option, being durable and unlikely to cause allergic reactions, though these earrings tend to be thicker and less delicate in style.
If your favorite pair of earrings contains nickel, like your go-to pair for date night, there’s no need to discard them. Simply coat the backing with clear nail polish, and that should suffice. If they continue to cause infections despite this trick, it’s time to retire them.
Use Vaseline and Hydrogen Peroxide
For those who still prefer wearing nickel earrings, another trick to prevent infections and protect your skin is using vaseline and hydrogen peroxide. First, clean your earrings with hydrogen peroxide, then coat the backing with vaseline.
Bear in mind that you need to reapply the vaseline every few hours, which is why many prefer the nail polish method.
Keep Everything Clean
Sometimes, short-term sensitivity is due to a bacterial infection. This can occur after a new piercing if you touch your ear with dirty fingers. Signs of a bacterial infection include swelling, redness, throbbing pain, and sometimes pus.
Prevent and treat bacterial infections by keeping your piercings clean and regularly swabbing the area with antiseptic. This should heal the infection in a few days. If it doesn’t, seek medical attention as you may need antibiotics.
To prevent infections with new piercings, cleanse the area twice a day with saline solution.
Avoid Earrings with Nickel Backs
Just like a bad song on a jukebox, nickel back is never a good option. In earrings, nickel backs are often the root cause of allergies and infections. Hence, for sensitive ears, steer clear of nickel-based earrings.
Are Hypoallergenic Earrings Suitable for Sensitive Ears?
“Hypoallergenic” earrings are less likely to cause allergic reactions. However, it’s important to note that there’s no standard a jewelry maker has to meet to use this label. Just because earrings are labeled “hypoallergenic” doesn’t guarantee they won’t cause infections.
Hypoallergenic may mean there’s no nickel on the surface, but the earring itself might still be made from coated nickel. This might be acceptable if you don’t wear earrings frequently.
If you love wearing earrings daily, invest in high-quality pairs made of sterling silver, gold, or platinum—materials that rarely cause infections and can be considered hypoallergenic.
When shopping for earrings, instead of focusing on the hypoallergenic label, pay attention to the actual materials used.
Choose Earrings That Complement Your Skin Tone
Now that you know what materials to look for, how do you pick a pair that looks best on you?
First, identify your skin tone. In good natural lighting, examine your wrists.
If your veins appear purple, you have a cool skin tone. If they look more green, you have a warm skin tone. If your veins look blue in certain areas and green in others, you have a neutral skin tone.
People with cool skin tones look best in light or white metals like white gold, platinum, or silver, and gemstones in bright colors like red, blue, purple, and green.
Those with warm skin tones should opt for yellow or rose gold, copper, and brass, along with gemstones in shades of orange, brown, yellow, and turquoise.
Neutral skin tones are fortunate enough to suit both white and yellow metals and any gemstone color.
Conclusion
By now, you should be equipped to find the perfect earrings for sensitive ears. Start with a professional piercing and maintain cleanliness. Rather than merely relying on the “hypoallergenic” label, know the materials your earrings are made of.
Remember, avoid nickel-based earrings at all costs. If your favorite pair contains nickel, treat them with nail polish, hydrogen peroxide, or vaseline.
When selecting the perfect pair of earrings, ensure they suit your skin tone, and be prepared for the compliments to roll in.
For more insights on earrings and jewelry, check out our blog. Also, don’t forget to browse our earrings collection to find the ideal option for you.
←
