Help goopy pierced ears!

[tegdig]

I am so sorry that this is happening, and I understand oh, so well.
I had my ears pierced when I was 18 years old.....many, many, many years ago now. Before I had my ears pierced I could wear any kind of jewelry I wanted, and absolutely loved jewelry. This exact same thing happened to my ears. I had to stop trying to wear the earrings and after a long time of just washing my ears with soap and water many times a day, they finally healed over. But, I could no longer wear any type of jewelry that came into contact with my skin. Also, I was so sensitive to metal that if a metal snap from a pair of jeans, or metal hooks on a bra strap, or anything came into contact with my skin, I would break out into a horrible itchy rash at the point of contact. Later, when I had a daugher and she got her ears pierced, I tried again....at this point there were now so many "hypoallergenic" earrings......same thing happened to me all over again with my ears.
After many years of no jewelry, my daughter was grown and on her own, she found a site online called Simply Whispers. She bought me a couple of chains to wear for necklaces because she knew I loved jewelry and had not been able to wear it for years.. I tried them, and NO itching, no rashes! It was wonderful. Although they do carry a lot of earrings, I have not tried them. I have a lot of scar tissue in my ears and just don't want to deal with that anymore. I do buy necklaces anywhere and then put the "bobble", charm, stone, whatever on my own chain. As long as just the chain comes in contact with my skin I am ok. I am so delighted to be able to have some sort of jewelry again. My daughter is my hero!!!!!
If you read the info on the Simply Whispers site, they will explain how even if a product says it is nickle free, it is not regulated well, and it could still have some nickel in it....if you are really sensitive, that means a lot! They also have a cataloge that I get in the mail since ordering from them.
Good luck with the ears, I know how disappointing this is.

 

[flying_babyb]

I would try a differnt brand from a differnt store. To be able to say earings are nickle free they must only contain less than five percent nickle.

 

[Dodielynn]

Simply Whispers is the Best!! This is the only jewelry for me, my daughter, my sister and my mom. In fact, my daughter had her ears pierced twice and became infected badly. Finally, we ordered the self piercing kit from Simply Whispers and she finally has pierced earrings. Our allergy seems to be inherited and I can only wear Simply Whispers of everything - earrings, necklaces and watches. They are very reasonable and have tons of selections. Check out their website simplywhispers.com and you will be pleasantly surprized.

 

[Bibbidi]

Thank you for the Simply Whispers suggestions--I actually came across that site last night, but wasn't sure how reliable their information was--I am a bit of a skeptic-especially now! I may have to give them a try. Thanks again everyone!

 

[Maridw]

My daughter had to go to Niobium earrings. She can wear others for short periods of time, but can't keep them in all the time.

For awhile when I wore posts, they would get sores on the back of my ears. I had to wear wires or hoops all the time. Eventually I got to where I can wear posts. I have 3 holes in one ear, and 2 in the other. Usually just wear one set of earrings, unless it is something special.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wow!

My daughter had this issue the first time her ears were pierced and it got nasty that we had to take the earrings out. We thought we could get away with 10K gold.

This time, after the starter studs we got stirling silver b/c it was cheaper. The only thing we have to be careful with is to make sure the earrings are not too tight.

The key thing though--the ears are still healing after the 6 week period. Some people are prone to greater sensitivity to infections, so I would stick with daily cleaning for a while.

I would also peroxide the ear--and clean the earrings with rubbing alcholol daily.

This time around we did have minor issues and I have at times dipped the stud in Neosporin and put it in just to get some medicine inside the hole.

My dd has inherited my mom's and my ear sensitivity. My other dd's ears seem to be entirely unaffected by the piercings.

I have double piercings and I cannot keep earrings in my second whole for too long and to this day I still cannot figure out what irritates it. I stick with stirling silver and 14K gold or higher. But the second hole--just doesn't like it for too long.

My daughter had to go to Niobium earrings. She can wear others for short periods of time, but can't keep them in all the time.

Can you describe these earrings? I've never heard of them.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Simply Whispers is the Best!! This is the only jewelry for me, my daughter, my sister and my mom. In fact, my daughter had her ears pierced twice and became infected badly. Finally, we ordered the self piercing kit from Simply Whispers and she finally has pierced earrings. Our allergy seems to be inherited and I can only wear Simply Whispers of everything - earrings, necklaces and watches. They are very reasonable and have tons of selections. Check out their website simplywhispers.com and you will be pleasantly surprized.

What is special about their jewelry?

I'm always on the lookout for "safe" earrings that I can wear.


******

Also--someone mentioned hyperallergenic--I have no idea what that means EXCEPT it is codeword that I can't wear those earrings. My ears will get infected.

 

[Maridw]

Wow!

My daughter had this issue the first time her ears were pierced and it got nasty that we had to take the earrings out. We thought we could get away with 10K gold.

This time, after the starter studs we got stirling silver b/c it was cheaper. The only thing we have to be careful with is to make sure the earrings are not too tight.

The key thing though--the ears are still healing after the 6 week period. Some people are prone to greater sensitivity to infections, so I would stick with daily cleaning for a while.

I would also peroxide the ear--and clean the earrings with rubbing alcholol daily.

This time around we did have minor issues and I have at times dipped the stud in Neosporin and put it in just to get some medicine inside the hole.

My dd has inherited my mom's and my ear sensitivity. My other dd's ears seem to be entirely unaffected by the piercings.

I have double piercings and I cannot keep earrings in my second whole for too long and to this day I still cannot figure out what irritates it. I stick with stirling silver and 14K gold or higher. But the second hole--just doesn't like it for too long.

Quote:
My daughter had to go to Niobium earrings. She can wear others for short periods of time, but can't keep them in all the time.


Can you describe these earrings? I've never heard of them.

From Wikipedia - "Niobium has no known biological role. While niobium dust is an eye and skin irritant and a potential fire hazard, elemental niobium on a larger scale is physiologically inert (and thus hypoallergenic) and harmless. It is frequently used in jewelry and has been tested for use in some medical implants"
Here is a picture of what most Niobium earrings look like. (the color of the metal not the style)

Alot of body piercings use Titanium and Niobium is along the same lines, more hypoallergenic than other metals.

To fine earrings made with Niobium or Titanium, just do a google search. Amazon has some earrings made with Niobium.

 

[maelstrom]

I also have a nickel allergy and I'm surprised that the Claire's sensitive solutions earrings didn't work for you. My next suggestion would be to use titanium or palladium. Many ear piercing places (Claire's, The Icing, Piercing Pagoda) have these as a choice when getting your ears pierced originally, but I'm not sure if they sell just regular sets in those materials. My eyebrow bars are titanium (and some of them are surgical steel), but that's a little different than ear piercing earrings; but I've never had trouble with the titanium or surgical steel. The second time I got my ears pierced, I got them pierced with medical plastic; no problems there, because there's no metal in plastic. But I have absolutely no idea where to buy medical plastic earrings. Try doing a Google search. And, as an ending note, if she's allergic to nickel, gold is always going to be a no-go, unfortunately.