Earrings; best metal for sensitive ears?

[leebee]

Can anyone explain the difference between gold, sterling, and gold-over-sterling regarding wearability? (I get that the metals are different, lol). DD's most recent ear piercings aren't healing up well, even after 6 months- sometimes they are fine, but sometimes they are sore and have that stinky-cheese smell. She is keeping the ears clean, soaking earrings and backings in alcohol, putting antibiotic ointment on the posts before inserting, etc., but things aren't going very well. She thinks it's time to go back to gold or silver posts for awhile. However, I don't know if gold versus gold-over-sterling will make a difference or not. Does the gold overlay wear off quickly/easily? Is it just as good as regular gold? Not trying to be cheap, there are just a LOT more choices available with gold-over-silver.

 

[pumba]

our daughter was allergic to EVERYTHING..
so they recommended Surgical Stainless steel....this worked well..

She finally outgrew this part later in life and can wear gold

 

[momto2girls]

The only thing I can wear is platinum. Probably not what you want to hear. It isn't cheap, that's for sure!

 

[Kae]

My DD wears the simply sensitive earings from Claries. Also I think I was told not to use alcohol, we used the stuff we bought when we got her ears pierced or Hydrogen Peroxide.

Kae

 

[Christine]

The only thing that really works for me is going without posts. I do much better if I wear a European clasp earring. However, I understand these are not comfortable for bedtime. There is something about not having the backing on my ear that really helps. I can wear almost any metal if I use the clasps.

I used to order a lot of stuff from this place:

http://www.simplywhispers.com/

 

[Wishing on a star]

The only thing I can wear is platinum. Probably not what you want to hear. It isn't cheap, that's for sure!

Yep, I have found that I can be sensitive... And, really, I don't know if there is any way to know for sure if any earring may have a metal that somebody like us could be sensitive to.

I think I could probably do the surgical stainless steel. I think the tiny piercing studs that they used to pierce my ears were surgical steel.
Those tiny things were the one pair that I could always wear!
Since I just do not wear earrings because of this, I am wanting a pair of Platinum CZ studs for Christmas. (but not counting on them, as we are financially tight right now)

Yes, Platinum is EXPENSIVE!!!!

I have found a pair of Platinum CZ stud earrings on one web-site for about $300.00. And, compared to every other price I have seen, that is the lowest by FAR.

Does anyone know how to find good earrings that have surgical steel post???? I would love to know!

 

[sissy_ib]

Do NOT use alcohol! That will dry out her skin and make the healing process last forever. Please go to an ear piercing place and buy the solution they sell for her to use twice a day like when she first had them pierced. It will be so much gentler on her ears. I would recommend picking one good pair of earnings and leaving them in until her ears look better. I would try solid gold to start. With the cleaning them every day the gold will start to wear off of plated jewelry. Mot plated jewelry is a waste of money IMO. If her ears are not healed changing earrings will do nothing but upset the wound, which is what a fresh piercing is.

 

[beavismom]

You might want to see if your daughter has a nickel allergy. I can't answer the original question, but you should consider surgical stainless steel, titanium, and niobium. There is an Etsy shop called Pretty Sensitive that we have had good luck with.\

Edited to add - Also, not all 14k yellow gold is nickel free so be careful there too or go for 18-24k.

 

[dgthree]

She thinks it's time to go back to gold or silver posts for awhile. However, I don't know if gold versus gold-over-sterling will make a difference or not. .

Try titanium or niobium, which are non-reactive metals, and are much less expensive than platinum. =)

 

[ronandannette]

As I understand it, the metal that most often messes people up is nickel, which is alloyed with a lot of precious metals to make them harder. Find something that specifies "nickel-free", and even if it is not expensive, the pieces will likely work for your DD.

 

[LindaG4458]

I stopped wearing earrings for everyday because of similar problems. I can only wear very good quality (14K or higher) gold (never tried platinum) anywhere, including wrists, fingers, ankles, etc. Otherwise there is itching, rashes, and oozing (sp?) on the skin. Unfortunately, many of the "latest" styles of jewelry are usually made from cheaper alloys.

 

[Meriweather]

The last couple of years, everything bothers my ears.
Nothing has helped and I have had pierced ears for 40 years.....very frustrating.
I just wear them occasionally for special things and then suffer for a few days as they hurt and dry out and peel.
Good luck finding something.

 

[bas71873]

As I understand it, the metal that most often messes people up is nickel, which is alloyed with a lot of precious metals to make them harder. Find something that specifies "nickel-free", and even if it is not expensive, the pieces will likely work for your DD.

Both DD and I avoid any earring with nickel and we've both been fine. Claire's has a HUGE variety of nickel free earrings. When I was shopping around after DD got her ears pierced last spring, she said that you will know within a few hours if the earring will bother you or not. The itchy begins fairly quickly. We've been happy with the nickle free line at Claire's.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Try titanium or niobium, which are non-reactive metals, and are much less expensive than platinum. =)

I only wear titanium 95% of the time. If I want to wear some cheaper cute earrings, I use a coating of vaseline on the posts and only wear them for a few hours. Titanium I can leave in indefinitely with no issues.

 

[ilovepcot]

You might want to see if your daughter has a nickel allergy. I can't answer the original question, but you should consider surgical stainless steel, titanium, and niobium. There is an Etsy shop called Pretty Sensitive that we have had good luck with.\

Edited to add - Also, not all 14k yellow gold is nickel free so be careful there too or go for 18-24k.

My DD and I both have a *severe* allergy to nickel and TITANIUM has been the only metal that's allowed our ears to heal after piercing. When well healed, we can both wear 10kt. or 14kt. YELLOW gold.

 

[KimR]

I am very sensitive to metals and this works very well for me:

http://www.affordableelegancebridal.com/ljesh.html

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Surgical steel posts can work very well too. Or posts covered in 24 carat gold. I think it's the nickel that gets in the metals that bothers a lot of people.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

DD 11 can not wear anything except gold, silver, or platinum. Not even the earring that say they are for sensitive ears. Her ears will swell and bleed. It is really awful for her because she always wants the cutesy Christmas earrings etc and they are very hard to find in something she can wear & when I can find them they are expensive.