All those who experience discomfort while putting their earring on can definitely avoid it by choosing from the best types of earrings for sensitive ears. And of course, we have got it all for you.
No doubt, most of us have to deal with irritation and red ears while wearing those specific pair of fancy earrings. Well, it might be the case that you are allergic to them! Want to get rid of it, then keep on reading as we are going to share our ultimate sensitive ears earrings solutions guide with you.
Are your ears sensitive? – The main reason behind:
Like other allergies such as dust, pollens, it might be possible that you are allergic to metals. The culprits to your sensitive ears are nickel and lead. Certainly, these allergic metals elements are found in many forms of alloys that are used for creating accessories – specifically earrings.
According to jewelry experts, repeated exposure to those metals might also trigger the risk of developing metal allergy at any age. Although, it varies from person to person depending on the level of sensitivity. Some people with metal allergies are able to bear nickel earrings for a short amount of time, while to other’s sensitive skin, such metals can cause instant reactions.
Most people think gold and silver earrings are the reason for irritation, but in reality, they are only allergic to nickel. The rise for such methodology occurs precious metal alloys like silver and gold are often mixed up with nickel and other similar metals to define earrings shape.
You might experience redness, crustiness, swelling, itchiness, bleeding, pain, and oozing, if you have sensitive ears. To prevent this issue try allergen-free earrings, or you can check out our list of 10 best types of earrings for sensitive ears.
Want to be sure that your selection of earrings doesn’t hurt your ears? So, be sure you are choosing the right metals – hypoallergenic earrings – for your ear piercing. Below are listed the best types of earrings for sensitive ears:
- High-Karat Gold Earrings
- Surgical Stainless Steel (SSS) Earrings
- Platinum Earrings
- Wood Earrings
- Sterling / Fine Silver Earrings
- Nobium Earrings
- Titanium Earrings
- Palladium Earrings
- Plastic Earrings
- Cobalt Earrings
What Are Hypoallergenic Earrings?
Well, it’s true that sensitivity indeed demands to care! So with sensitive ears, you ought to be extra attentive about the type of metal in your pair of earrings. It is always better not to wear a costume and cheap jewelry as it’s made with allergen-inducing metals.
Check out for labels stating it is hypoallergenic earrings or nickel-free. Hypoallergenic means it reduces the chances of getting allergies but doesn’t it from the core. They are not guaranteed to be 100 percent allergen-free and made with materials that are less likely to cause reactions.
The reason is simply that there is no manufacturing standard for applying the ‘hypoallergenic earrings’. Any jeweler can just slap that label on their product using different quantities of multiple metals and say that it is hypoallergenic.
Such as a hypoallergenic earringmight not expose allergen triggering metals – cobalt and nickel – on its top surface. Yet, these metals might secretly be hidden beneath a coating of metals residing from the category of best types of earrings for sensitive ears. When the earrings are new the coat avoids nickel contact with the skin, but with time the coating wears off, and it’s likely to irritate your ears.
Each state has a different standard for metal jewelry. California states restrictions to use of lead and cadmium in jewelry neglecting nickel against the Metal-Containing Jewelry Law. While in the EU (European Union), you find restrictions on using nickel metal in accessories.
10 Best Types of Earrings for Sensitive Ears:
1. High-Karat Gold Earrings
High-Karat gold definitely lies in the category of best types of earrings for sensitive earsyet an expensive choice too. Getting yourself is pair of earrings made out of solid 14k gold or higher counts as one of the safest methods to avoid allergies. Since, most people are non-allergic to neutral metals like gold, silver, copper.
Unfortunately, there is an issue with gold under 14k gold purity. We recommend staying above the karat age line by choosing 14k, 18k, and 22k gold accessories as it lowers the risk of metal allergies. Gold alloys are often mixed with metals such as zinc and nickel to mold them into shape but not realizing these metals might cause allergies.
For those who find the above ranges out of their pocket budget, they can opt for gold-plated jewelry and then recoat them when they start to cause allergies. Doesn’t it seem like a perfect hand to hand solution? To get total reliability, you can go for 24K gold, but it wouldn’t be that durable as it is quite soft and will cost a pocket full of cash too.
2. Surgical Stainless Steel (SSS) Earrings
Gold, silver, and platinum is a luxurious metal, but for those looking for an affordable option, medical-grade earrings are the right choice. Surgical Stainless Steel (SSS), as a metal, is considered ideal for those who have recently gotten a new piercing or body implant.
Though the market is filled with a variety of stainless steel alloys, we recommend you to opt for either 316LVM or 316L as they contain the least impurities of allergic metals. Surgical Stainless Steel accessories are easier to clean, all you need is soapy and Luke warm water with a piece of cloth.
3. Platinum Earrings
Today, in the market, platinum is the rarest and most expensive type among the best types of earrings for sensitive ears, making them even more costly than pure gold earrings. Most pieces of jewelry go for the alloy mixture of 5% iridium and 95% platinum to make different accessories.
The metal’s strong and durable nature makes it the best earrings for sensitive ears in the UKthat you can pair with your various fashion styles. Platinum earrings are highly valued metals that don’t wear off easily, thus retaining their color, beauty, and shine for long.
Though they resist corrosion and tarnishing of metal, yet over time, the platinum earrings start to develop a darkish surface on the top known as ‘patina’ by minuscule scratches.
4. Wood Earrings
Wood earrings are the organic and natural type among the best types of earrings for sensitive ears. The trend of natural and organic material is increasing, day by day, as the climatic effect is taken seriously by individuals. All you need is to keep them out of liquid surfaces to avoiding getting cracks, or else no worries about erosion or tarnishing as it isn’t a metal.
Those people who have recently gotten their ear pierced can use wood earrings, it doesn’t affect your piercings and protects from any allergies or reactions. Make sure that the post is made of wood before adding these beautiful and unique earrings to your collection.
5. Sterling / Fine Silver Earrings
Pure silver features hypoallergenic characteristics, making it one of the best types of earrings for sensitive ears. Likewise, 24k gold, fine with 99.9% purity, is too soft to be molded into any shape. That’s why most jewelers don’t prefer using fine silver as it isn’t durable, so not lasts for longer!
Those looking for some precious metal in the budget than sterling silver is a perfect choice. Sterling silver consists of 92.5% silver purity with 7.5% other alloy mixtures – nickel or copper. Those having extreme metal allergies might find nickel alloys to react with their skin.
Therefore, it is better to ask your jeweler beforehand about the sterling silver configuration, like what compounds it holds. Also, some jewelers use the label ‘pure sterling silver’ as a marketing strategy, which in reality means that the earrings contains 92.5% pure silver contents only. How about getting silver cartilage earrings for your sensitive ears to slay in our outfit?
6. Niobium Earrings
Niobium Earrings are one of those chemical elements naturally that are reliable enough to be considered as the best types of earrings for sensitive ears. Niobium metal is usually extracted from minerals Pyrochlore and Columbite.
This grey and soft metal are widely used in the medical industry, which includes prosthetics and implants. While, its recent popularity in the jewelry industry increased due to its hypoallergenic properties. The metal is just as durable and affordable as titanium and surgical stainless steel but not as common as them. Jewelers bring a wide variety to its in iridescent colors b exposing it to heat and anodization.
7. Titanium Earrings
Titanium metal is popular in its strong and durable nature. The variety in different titanium medical-grade earrings depends according to the price range for each. Mostly, titanium grades 5 and 23 are used for accessories, on which grade 5 being the most common around the world.
Titanium metal is more durable and strong than stainless steel earrings, making it comfortable day-to-day wear without any allergic reactions. Moreover, a perfect alternative for platinum jewelry at a relatively lower cost as it does not corrode or tarnish easily.
Piercers usually recommend their clients use titanium jewelry for fresh wounds. Add some titanium earrings to your everyday collection as they work pretty effectively for sleeper earrings too! How about getting titanium cartilage earrings for your sensitive ears for special occasions?
8. Palladium Earrings
Are you low on an accessory budget and want something more affordable yet charming? Palladium is something new in the current market and seems like the best option after platinum and gold jewelry. Belonging to the platinum family, palladium metal inherits charm and purity from its family group.
Moreover, it’s lighter, durable, and of course, budget-friendly. The metal is rare among its kind and more durable than platinum accessories. Mohs scale rates palladium as 4.8 while platinum has a 3.5 rating. Professional jewelers will always guide you to get pure or palladium950 rather than palladium500 because of the quantity of other metal combined for alloy mixture.
Palladium950 consists of 95% pure palladium and 5% impure alloy, while palladium500 is 50% pure and 50% alloy mixture including nickel, cobalt, and lead metal, which you can never know before the laboratory test.
9. Plastic Earrings
Another affordable option, yet a complete opposite of wood earrings, plastic earrings works as a perfect solution to your sensitive ears as it protects against all metal allergies. Although, it is not a much-preferred choice among fashionistas, as plastic earrings look cheap with a limited variety of designs.
Make sure the post is made of plastic if you are going with this choice, as this part of the earrings gets directly in contact with your skin.
10. Cobalt
Mostly you will find cobalt metal in medical and aerospace industries, but nowadays cobalt being a hypoallergenic metal is gaining popularity in making luxurious bridal jewelry. Cobalt serves as another ideal option for people with sensitive skin with its biocompatible, anti-allergic, and long-lasting features.
Talking about its durability, it’s more four times more resistant to scratch and corrosion compared to platinum but weighs more than other metals like titanium.
Metals to Avoid for Sensitive Ears
1. Nickel / Lead / Cadmium:
Most people find themselves to nickel-metal accessories, so you should always try to stay away from them. Since nickel is the common metal used for alloy mixture, it gets difficult to figure out its presence within your pair of earrings.
Since nickel is cheap, strong, and versatile you find it almost everywhere, from zippers to keys and coins. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “10% to 20% of people are allergic to nickel, commonly known as the “nickel itch.””
This highly durable white metal is used in sterling silver and gold alloy mixture to make pieces of jewelry last longer! But if you have extreme allergies, you can always confirm with your jeweler about anti-nickel alloy mixtures.
2. Plated Metals:
Plated metals, such as rolled-gold and vermeil, are often responsible for causing allergies as they wear off after some use. So the below zinc or nickel base comes in contact with your ears, thus causing skin reaction – pain, allergies, redness, itching, etc. To avoid all this, check our amazing list of the best types of earrings for sensitive ears in the above article!
Alternate D.I.Y solutions for previously bought anti-allergenic earrings:
Not ready to lose your favorite costume earrings yet? Well, we have got some ideas that might help you to bear those allergy-causing earrings for some time more!
Use clear nail polish coating:
Pretty simple, all you need is to coat your earring’s post with multiple layers – two to three – of clear nail polish. By doing that your earrings will look as beautiful as before and will just act as a barrier between the metal and your earrings.
Note: Don’t forget to recoat with nail polish or jewelry sealant every week, or else it will wear off, thus causing allergic reactions again!
Apply petroleum jelly or Vaseline to the earrings:
Petroleum jelly works like another magic trick that easy and efficient for most people. All you need is to apply some Vaseline against those sections of the earring that comes in contact with your ears. Just like the nail polish, petroleum jelly acts as a barrier between the both.
Note: Vaseline needs reapplication after every few hours, which can be quite annoying for some!
And when you’re finally ready to get a new earring for yourself, don’t forget to opt from the best types of earrings for sensitive ears.