by Marie J Kelley

Created on: March 28, 2008

You've been rubbing at your ear lobes all day wondering why they are so itchy and now as you look in the mirror you realize that not only are they red from your constant scratching, but they are inflamed also! Unfortunately you may have become sensitive to the earrings you are wearing. There are ways you can choose earrings for yourself and still be able to use them without causing yourself additional pain and irritation.

First, stop using standard earrings. I define standard earrings as ones you find in the local dollar store, your Walmart or other local store like these. These earrings are typically not hypoallergenic and contain high amounts of nickel which is the most likely cause of metal sensitivities.

If you don't want to spend too much, but still would like to wear earrings, try visiting a local jewelry boutique like Claire's or Ice. These stores normally have displays set up for sensitive ears only so you'll have a large choice in jewelry for little money. If you don't mind investing your money in more expensive jewelry, visit a higher end jewelry store like Whitehall's or Kay's. You'll pay more for your earrings, but you'll get jewelry that you can use for many years to come and that has 24kt gold backings so you are guaranteed to not have a reaction to them.

When you go shopping for earrings at any store, make sure to ask a sales associate what the backing is made of as this is what will be inside of your ear. Avoid anything stainless steel. Often the quality of the steel isn't good and will rub off after just a few uses. Once the stainless steel coating is gone, you are left with a metal that has a high content of nickel. Make sure your earring backings are 24kt gold, silver, white gold, or platinum.

From experience, you are bound to find associates who tell you that you don't need to worry about what the backing is and you can use stainless steel or just cleaning your ears will fix the problem, but it's not true. The longer you wear earrings you are allergic to, the more damage you will do to your ear lobes. If you encounter an associate you don't feel understands how a sensitivity or allergy works or it's importance, find someone who does...your ears will thank you!

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