Why Do Sterling Silver Earrings Irritate My Ears?

Sterling silver, a shiny and generally affordable metal, may seem like a good solution if you have sensitive ears that react to earrings. However, you may find that even sterling silver earrings cause irritation, pain, or discomfort. There are three things to assess when figuring out why your earrings are giving you grief.

 

Silver is a beautiful metal, but by itself it is delicate and prone to tarnishing. That is why Sterling Silver is mixed with other metals to make it stronger and more suitable for jewelry. The trouble is alloyed metals is that they commonly contain nickel, a noteworthy irritant. Nickel allergies are widespread, affecting an estimated twenty percent of the population. When nickel is in contact with your skin an allergy can develop over time. When your body eventually recognizes nickel as an offending substance, your ears will react to earrings containing nickel.

 

If you are comfortable wearing studs or other lightweight earrings, wearing a heavier pair may tug on your earlobe and cause pain or discomfort. Keep this in mind when looking for big hoops or statement earrings, because there are lighter options out there!

 

If your earring posts or the part of your earrings that touch your ears is plated with silver or gold, you can bet that the plating will eventually wear off until there is nothing remaining but a cheap underlying metal that will irritate your ears. The only true solution here is to choose earrings that are made with hypoallergenic metals such as titanium or niobium which can exist in harmony with your body and will not cause an allergic reaction.

 

If you have found that your Sterling Silver earrings are irritating your ears, consider these three underlying reasons. And if you are ready to say goodbye to earring irritation, choose hypoallergenic titanium earrings for your sensitive ears.