Re-piercing ears

[Flyinggeese1234]

I had several years where I didn’t wear earrings. Holes are not closed up at all but if I try to wear earrings now they feel irritated after just a few minutes.

I did wonder if I’ve developed a nickel allergy but surgical steel or plastic posts seem just as problematic.

Could it be that my ears just need to get used to earrings again? Would having them re pierced do anything?

I really want to wear earrings again!

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Thanks

Following as I have the same issue.

I bought some earrings on Etsy and after just a few minutes wear they were itchy, then they were crusty for days. I wondered if I needed to try some more hypoallergenic ones- I think M&S and Accessorise do a range. I also think I might get on better with a hoop style where only one side has a lot of contact. It is a shame as I would love to wear more earrings.

I did exactly the same OP. I had them re-pierced after a few years of not wearing them and then finding the piercings easily irritated after a few minutes wear. I left the piercing studs in much longer than I remember doing originally, I think around 6 months or so, to ensure that they were fully healed. I have no problems now except for seriously cheap earrings. The only issue was that I have very small earlobes and one of the holes is not central to the lobe because of where the original piercing was. I don't think it's noticeable though - at least nobody has ever mentioned it!

I cant wear cheap earrings. I think the only material that works for me is gold. When i wear anything else they get itchy and irritated.

Mylittlepixie I can’t even wear gold! I had bought gold thinking they’d be ok but when they weren’t I thought it was the nickel in the gold ones.

Nope, it seems to be any earrings, cheap or solid gold. So annoying.

EdinaMonsoon do you mind me asking, did you have yours ‘re-pierced’ even though you already had piercing holes that were not healed over? Or were yours healed?

Mine are not healed over but I’m wondering if somehow having them re done would solve the problem.

@Flyinggeese1234 The original holes were/are still there. One was slightly tricky to put an earring through but still do-able. I was advised to have a second set of holes pierced, fairly close to the originals, as they thought that the issue might be that the original piercing had never settled due to only leaving a short healing period. In the 80's we were advised 6 weeks and twisting the post several times a day. The woman at Metal Morphosis recommended at least 3 months but to keep them in really for as long as possible, no twisting/turning of the stud either during the healing period.

I had this problem - stopped wearing earrings as they all made my ears weepy and crusty. Have discovered after many years that I can wear earrings which have silver or silver plated pins - they don't seem to cause any problems. Shame, as I have a nice pair of platinum earrings with small diamond studs that I cannot wear at all

You can get tiny little clear silicone sleeves for earrings, I got some on Etsy a while ago.

Like this
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/729388195/pierced-ear-protector-stud-earring?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_-craft_supplies_and_tools&utm_custom1=k_Cj0KCQiAubmPBhCyARIsAJWNpiMk9rZ5QLDqB4aov4wr7xBoG7oO05zoDYnG2_IGdoeb_pf7cYsgQ0caAuGQEALw_wcB_k&utm_content=go_11073922980_109610251118_462914649514_pla-295462056867_c__729388195engb_488532785&utm_custom2=11073922980&gclid=Cj0KCQiAubmPBhCyARIsAJWNpiMk9rZ5QLDqB4aov4wr7xBoG7oO05zoDYnG2_IGdoeb_pf7cYsgQ0caAuGQEALw_wcB

Thanks EdinaMonsoon I’m exactly the same; ears pierced in the 80s.

Really appreciate all the replies. Thanks so much.

I would put in a pair of titanium earrings and treat as if a new piercing. Salt wash once a day and leave in for about 3 months.

That’s encouraging stringbean.

Though I’ve tried all sorts (except silver come to think of it!) and think my ears are just rejecting earrings full stop.

If it does turn out to be a nickel issue though, those gizmos look perfect TiffanyIceberg thanks!

Coincidence OP - I'm in the same boat as you and was just thinking today about if I was going to re-pierce or not.

FWIW I read this article by Sali Hughes saying that if you do re-pierce, you should go for needle not gun piercing: www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/oct/12/best-problem-free-piercings-sali-hughes

Our local place will do it with needles but charges more (!) - despite that I think it's probably worth a try...?

I inherited some beautiful solid gold diamond studs from a beloved relative and when I wore them for the first time the reaction was so bad that my ears wept sticky clear goo that dripped down my neck [vomit]

Still breastfeeding at the moment but when I stop I think I'm going to try the needle method and see if it helps!

Wish you best of luck :)

Back in the day that I couldn't afford to buy decent earrings I used to paint the posts/hooks on my cheap earrings with clear nail varnish which worked a treat to stop my ears becoming irritated.

Thanks @TiffanyIceberg - I'll have a look at those: had no idea such a thing existed!!

Thanks fir sharing that article WoolyMammoth55 and good luck to you too. Here’s to earrings in 2022.

Harrysutton hmm yes suspect you’re spot on with that approach. I’ve never tried to treat them for that long. Need to stick with it.

@Flyinggeese1234 try the titanium earrings from solace.

I have a nickel allergy, gold is an alloy and often contains nickel.
Sterling silver also is an alloy and can sometimes contain nickel.
Stainless steel contains nickel but the level in surgical steel is so low many people (myself included) with allergy can wear it.
Nickel free silver I can wear fine, other sterling silver makes me itch.

Titanium is the safest possible metal for piercings and you are very unlikely to react badly to it.

I’ve also repierced my old holes that have closed but not all the way through myself many, many times with no issue.
If your earrings are hurting, IMO, chances are it’s the jewellery material that is irritating you.

@Flyinggeese1234
solacejewellery.co.uk/

Oh and re guns vs needles.
Needles are far more sterile than a gun, no doubt about that so yes if you are getting them re pierced by a professional go for a needle but in terms of damage and healing, my first holes were done with a gun with no issue at all and all my subsequent ear piercings were done myself with the small pre sterilised cartridges that would ordinarily go in the gun so technically absolutely sterile unlike the gun but the same apparent issue re tissue damage, blunt trauma etc.
All of my piercings are fine.
No trouble at all.
Guns are unsanitary but I don’t buy the whole guns/cartridges damage the tissue and slow healing thing myself

Thanks WetRainbowRoses I’ve bought lots from Solace (because I suspected a nickel allergy from gold) - tried surgical grade stainless steel, also the plastic posts… still irritated me. So I assumed it was something other than nickel allergy.

I haven’t tried titanium though.

Have you tried the titanium from Solace though?
They used to only do surgical steel but do titanium now too, I’d try that.
Steel does contain small quantities of nickel so if your really sensitive you could still react to it.

By ‘plastic’, do you mean bioplast?
It is very unusual to react to bioplast, was the whole earring including backs bioplast?
Because sometimes the post of an earring can be made from a ‘safe’ material but the backs can be a different material

Oh I’ve seem you haven’t tried titanium.
Definitely try that.
There are some great and very knowledgeable sellers on Etsy too selling titanium jewellery.
All my jewellery comes from them or Solace