Help goopy pierced ears!

[Bibbidi]

My dd8 got her ears pierced in March with no problems. She kept her starter studs in for 10 weeks before we changed them--again, no issues. Now out of the blue she has goopy yellow ears all the time--we've never used anything but 14k gold (solid) earrings. What the heck is going on? She's on an antibiotic too for an infection that took hold in one ear. I tried Sensitive Solutions from Claire's--but those didn't help either. This is getting expensive--what else can we try? She wants to keep the pierced ears, but I'm beginning to wonder if we'll be able to.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Have her soak her earlobe in warm salt water. Sea salt works best, but table salt will do in a pinch. I think the ratio was about 1/4 tsp per cup of water. It's always done the trick for me, and I've had lots of piercings. That should help, just keep doing it for about a week or so, or until the goopiness goes away.

ETA: if you have a medicine dosage cup, that works best, since it's easy to just hold up to her ear. I suppose a shot glass or dixie cup would work too!

 

[Kae]

DD had a problem with one of ears because she would put the backing on too tight.

Kae

 

[MommaSue]

We use Bactine when my DD8 or I get an infection in our ears. It clears it up within a couple of days - you just have to be diligent and clean them 2-3 times/day.

 

[mykidsrqts]

When my DD's ears weren't looking so good after a piercing (they were fine for several months - then yuck), I put antibiotic cream on her ears and earrings after cleaning it with peroxide. This cleared it up in a few days and no problems since.

 

[hmcfall711]

I must wear nickel-free earrings or my ears get like that. Even if they are gold sometime nickel is used to make them stronger. Even hint of nickel make them get swollen, hot, red, and gooey. Once you get them cleaned up this time I would suggest nickel free.

 

[vsimeone]

I must wear nickel-free earrings or my ears get like that. Even if they are gold sometime nickel is used to make them stronger. Even hint of nickel make them get swollen, hot, red, and gooey. Once you get them cleaned up this time I would suggest nickel free.

Yep I'd be willing to bet it's a nickel allergy - REALLY common with pierced ears.

In addition to 14 karat gold, try the nylon post earrings. They are cheap and really comfortable to wear.

Definately look around for nickel free though - best of luck!

 

[Twins]

I agree that it could be a nickle allergy. I am allergic to nickle and get reactions quickly when wearing most earrings. Information I received from my dermatologist suggested only wearing 24 kt gold and sterling silver jewelry. My husband just found out from our jeweler that white gold settings often have nickle in them, so they suggested that I only wear yellow gold or platinum.

 

[flying_babyb]

I too am a nickle allergy person. I get the goopy yellow ears any time I put it nickel earings. I also get randomly goopy ears, with no real cause. I just take out the earings, soak overnight> I then clean my ears with hydrogen proxide in a shot glass. It seems to work well. Ive been infection free for quite awile now (then again I havent changed earings). Also I cant wear gold earings, my ear lobes swell and crack. I would try diffent earings.

 

[Chelley00]

DD7 also can't do earrings with nickel. She gets a hard knot, sometimes it will get goopy.

 

[SandrA9810]

Epson salt works best for putting on open sores like that. Although peroxide is pretty good too without the burn. Eventually she'll get to the point of not having to have earings in constantly to keep the holes open.

14k gold isn't pure gold, 24k is. So there could be something in the 14k causing the reaction as well.

Have you tried putting the starter earings back in to see if it goes away?? And aren't you still supposed to take them out every night for cleanings?

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My ears get like that if I sleep in my earrings, I have to take them out every night.

 

[hrslvr142]

I can't sleep in any earrings either, my ears immediately get sore and runny. Surprisingly the best earrings I have found is the White Stag brand at Walmart which for the most part are under $5. Maybe they don't have nickel in them, I am not sure but I only wear those and a few pairs of my "good" earrings. Good luck to your daughter, I certainly sympathize with her.

 

[kpadalik]

Definitely make sure that you have nickel free earrings. My DD6 had yucky ears a couple times. We left her earrings out for a couple of days and I made sure she had the nickel free earrings in. This did the trick!

 

[3boymthr]

Another can't wear nickel person. I get goopy itchy (very very itchy) ears whenever I wear anything but sterling silver or 18 or 24 kt or Hypoallergenic 14kt. Since Gold is so expensive give sterling a try first. Also, I second pps to make sure to remove the earrings and back each night and to clean the earrings/backs and her ears each night.

 

[mdetloff]

I am another one with a nickel allergy. I had to have my wedding ring rhodium plated inside so I wouldn't break out. My DH always thought he got out easy because he couldn't buy me jewelry even gold would make me break out. I discovered a couple of years ago that Swarovski Crystal makes some beautiful jewelry that I can actually wear because it is all made out of rhodium. They do have some very beautiful jewelry and some of the pieces are very affordable. I have not bought any earrings yet because I haven't been brave enough to redo my ears after having very bad infections when I was young. The necklaces and rings I have gotten have all been under $100. I think the earrings run around $30 or so for something simple.

 

[flying_babyb]

I wear the Just kidz earings from walmart (nickle free) without issue, which is good since there cheap (under $5 for a card of 4 pairs, which is great cause im multi holded)

 

[bumbershoot]

Information I received from my dermatologist suggested only wearing 24 kt gold and sterling silver jewelry...... so they suggested that I only wear yellow gold or platinum.

think you could get health insurance to cover the difference between normal and platinum posts?


I swear by peroxide for so much, and itchy red ears (mine never get gross, just itchy) are at the top. I have to soak the part that goes in the ears (I'd just say "post" but that word doesn't work for me with dangly earrings) in peroxide for 5 minutes before putting them in, while cleaning my earlobes, with a q-tip, with peroxide. (note: be very very careful doing this with pearl earrings...pearl seems to be so sensitive!)

 

[brekin67]

I would try nickel free earrings.

 

[Bibbidi]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I agree it could be a nickel allergy--if there is nickel in 14K yellow gold (which is all she has ever had in her ears). The Claire's earrings are supposed to be nickel free though, and they made her ears worse. I just feel frustrated because unless the Claire's earrings aren't truly nickel free, I'm not sure what else to try. We are cleaning her ears (and earrings) at least twice a day and they're still not better (and she's on an antibiotic!).