Can't wear earrings any more

[almahart]

I stopped wearing earrings at the beginning of the pandemic and just got out of the habit of it. When I put any on now they hurt my ears. I'm quite gutted as I've got a lovely collection built up over the years. Is there anything I can do?

Start off wearing the lightest weight for a while perhaps

I think the only thing to do is to keep wearing them through the pain until it doesn't hurt anymore 😕
I've learned this lesson the hard way!

Only wear gold or silver. Tiny ones.

I didn’t wear mine for nearly a year in 2020, despite earrings being my guilty pleasure (I too have quite a collection). I found the holes had sealed up! I had to force some small studs in there and put up with being uncomfortable for about 10 days. All was well after that. Just put some small silver or gold studs in. Keep them there until there is no discomfort and it will be fine.

Just start wearing them again for short periods and clean the area when you remove them

I can only buy mine from m and s - their range is called skin kind and they are completely hypoallergenic.

Don't take them out. Your ears need time to adjust abs stretch again. I know coz I've just opened up holes that had nothing in them for 20 years!

My mum bought me some lovely silver earrings for my birthday one year and I just can't wear them for more than an hour or so. I painted the stem bit with clear nail varnish and it seems to have worked. Not sure I would suggest it as a permanent solution but it didn't cause me any problems.

Are they sore because you're now sensitive to the metals? What metals are you wearing?

I had this and recently bought some huggy hoops that gave me a days worth of feeling a bit warm and uncomfortable and are now fine to wear. One of my second holes has closed up though :(

My kids had to repierce my ears. Now I just keep some smallish gold hoops in permanently.

If it's a reaction to the metal you can coat the stems in vaseline before putting them on.

I would start over like they were fresh piercings - wear either sterling silver or proper gold small studs, keep them in but rotate them in the hole regularly, and wash with antiseptic. Give it a good few weeks before changing, and then try to stick to pure metals, especially if being left in for any length of time. You'll get used to them again, but might find you can only tolerate plated metals for short periods. I have 3 love piercing each side and have left some earrings out for months, even years, in the past, and have successfully gone back to wearing earrings. I keep sterling silver in 95% of the time, and wear my wider collection for special events.

@Wallywobbles

My kids had to repierce my ears. Now I just keep some smallish gold hoops in permanently.

What in the world??

@RedCarsGoFaster

Are they sore because you're now sensitive to the metals? What metals are you wearing?

I think that's it - one particular pair are bothering me more than others. I think I'll try the clear nail varnish trick

You can re sensitise them by wearing very slim silver or gold earrings for a while then you can build up size and weight.

I find I can only wear proper gold ones now. Even gold plated irritate after 20 mins of wear.

I find dipping the post into a bit of Savlon cream before pushing it through helps too.

I am annoyed because I finally got into longer earrings and now they are a massive pita because of masks