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Original poster

Earring allergy

17 replies

fairgame84 · 20/04/2021 17:06

I've just tried on my sterling silver earrings that I'm supposed to be wearing for my wedding next month and my ear lobes have gone hot, red and itchy.
I don't know if it's because I haven't worn earrings for a few months or if I'm allergic to them. I've not had a reaction to silver before but I have had reactions to other metals so tend to stick with gold or sterling silver.
Can you be allergic to sterling silver? If so what are my options, is it just gold i can use now?

OP posts:
HirplesWithHaggis · 20/04/2021 17:15

I used to be able to wear any metal, but these days it's 24k gold, titanium, or, more prosaically, surgical steel. Anything else isn't pretty.

You could try coating your silver with clear nail varnish, some folk have found that helpful. (I haven't tried.)

Original poster
fairgame84 · 20/04/2021 17:27

Oh that might be an option, I'll just do it on the stick.
I can't find the same earrings in gold and I've got my heart set on them Sad

OP posts:
Wagsandclaws · 20/04/2021 17:45

I've had a metal allergy since I was 15, I'm 49 now and m and s jewellery has changed everything for me. They have some really nice necklaces too. All of their jewellery is 'skinkind' and I've had no reactions at all.

didldidi · 20/04/2021 17:52

Probably nickel, I have that problem.

Original poster
fairgame84 · 20/04/2021 18:10

@didldidi
Can you wear 9ct gold ok?

@Wagsandclaws I've just looked but they don't have the style I need

OP posts:
Procrastatron · 20/04/2021 18:26

I was looking into this the other day as my favourite hoops (not silver or gold, I like overpriced cheaply made earrings) irritate my ears. I saw the nail polish tip, I also saw you can buy a specific product called something like Jewellery Guard...
Then I saw that you can rub Vaseline on the posts so I tried that first (i actually used 8 hour cream but same barrier idea) and it’s amazing, no sore ears.

Original poster
fairgame84 · 20/04/2021 18:55

Thankyou so much @procrastatron. I can't find what I need in gold and the wedding is 4weeks today. I'll have a look at jewellery guard or just do the nail polish thing on a cheap pair to check it works for me before doing the wedding earrings.
I've taken a benadryl and left them in, in the desperate hope my ears will get used to them!

OP posts:
didldidi · 24/05/2021 13:57

sorry to come back to this late - no I can't Sad I learnt that the hard way more than once!

ChicChaos · 24/05/2021 14:00

I used to be able to wear anything in my ears, nowadays everything sets them off and they even weep a bit when I haven't worn earrings for ages! There was a place that sold earrings for sensitive skin, they had plastic ones and surgical steel (tried those, ears didn't like them). I miss wearing earrings, my mum was allergic to anything but gold but even her earrings set me off! Hope you find a lovely pair for your wedding OP Flowers

ChicChaos · 24/05/2021 14:01

Or if the wedding was last weekend not next weekend (quick calculation) I hope it went well!

Bells3032 · 24/05/2021 14:04

I can wear gold, silver or stainless steel but anything with nickle in it brings me out in a rash (earring or other jewellery(. I've used the varnish trick and it does work but you need to ensure you cover every mm in contact with your ears.

FreeButtonBee · 24/05/2021 20:22

I have some titanium studs which I use to retrain my second piercing when they get fussy. I leave them in day and night for 2-3 weeks and that resets them. Then I can wear gold for a good while and even some gold plated Jewellery for a few days. They were cheap as chips and have made all the difference. So if do that for 2 weeks min, then try the ones you want for a half day then put the studs back in again. Fingers crossed they will okay for the bug day

NavigatingAdolescence · 25/05/2021 19:08

@Bells3032

I can wear gold, silver or stainless steel but anything with nickle in it brings me out in a rash (earring or other jewellery(. I've used the varnish trick and it does work but you need to ensure you cover every mm in contact with your ears.
Gold will almost certainly contain gold (only 24k wouldn’t and 22k would be a tiny amount).

I am extremely allergic to nickel, to the point that I can spot 875 sterling silver as opposed to 925 within 30 seconds of it being on my skin.

I’m fine with platinum and titanium. 925 silver has a milder effect than 875. Can’t wear any type of gold.

NavigatingAdolescence · 25/05/2021 19:09

@FreeButtonBee

I have some titanium studs which I use to retrain my second piercing when they get fussy. I leave them in day and night for 2-3 weeks and that resets them. Then I can wear gold for a good while and even some gold plated Jewellery for a few days. They were cheap as chips and have made all the difference. So if do that for 2 weeks min, then try the ones you want for a half day then put the studs back in again. Fingers crossed they will okay for the bug day
This makes no sense. In what way would an anti allergenic metal like titanium “train” a piercing for an allergenic one??
NavigatingAdolescence · 25/05/2021 19:11

*Gold will almost certainly contain nickel (only 24k wouldn’t and 22k would be a tiny amount).

wonderstuff · 25/05/2021 19:18

I seem to be sensitive to everything. I could wear Stella and Dot, but they're not selling in Europe anymore.

myfuckingfreezer · 25/05/2021 19:33

I have this and nail varnish did nothing.

What did help was swapping the backs for plastic ones. It was a tip on here. Can't remember the logic but it worked for me.

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