by Elizabeth Kelly

Created on: March 31, 2008

The 80s and 90s wreaked havoc on a lot of women's ears. Giant-sized globes pulled on ear holes, quickie piercing jobs at the mall caused infections, and cheap plastic costume jewelry irritated the skin. If you've been scared away from wearing jewelry in your sore, throbbing lobes, then all I can say is...welcome back! Today there are options - all kinds of them - for even the most sensitive of wearers.

Mild Sensitivity

If you don't have much reaction to earrings, but you find that they simply bother you or cause some discomfort, there are some steps you can take to make wearing more comfortable. Cleaning the ear between wearings, with alcohol and a cotton swab will ensure that mild infections don't start. Also clean the posts of the earrings themselves after every wearing. Keeping clean means you can wear any style you choose!

If large earrings are causing you discomfort, choose earrings by weight. Heavy dangling pieces and massive hoops can stretch your piercing to the limit and even tear through. You don't have to be stuck with boring teeny tiny styles, though. Look for big bold jewelry made from lightweight materials. There are even some beautiful origami earrings made from paper on the market! A tip I've learned: stick a piece of surgical tape on the back of your ear, and it will help support the weight for a much more comfortable wear.

Medium Sensitivity

If you have more than just mild discomfort, hypoallergenic earrings are made for you. Most jewelry stores now carry them in an array of styles, so you don't have to be stuck with a small selection. If you find that hypoallergenic earrings solve your irritation problems, you can buy just the posts and findings from suppliers, and transform the pieces you already have into wearable ones.

Try upgrading your jewelry selection. Earrings made from better metals are less likely to bother you. It may cost a bit more to buy gold and silver, but the investment is worth it if it saves you from wanting to pull off your own throbbing ears. Look for metals that are nickel-free, as some gold and silver is alloyed and may still cause irritation. If better metals still hurt, you need to skip to the tips for extreme sensitivity.

Magnetic earrings are an innovative newer product that can be a blessing for sensitive skin. With no itchy posts or metal coming into contact with your ear, they make for a comfortable wear with no skin problems. They work surprisingly well, as if by magic, but may take some getting used to. Even though

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