First of all, what exactly are hypoallergenic earrings?

  

  

If you are seeking out hypoallergenic earrings, it is probably because you have worn other earrings that have caused some kind of irritation. Most likely other earrings have caused either mild symptoms like itching peeling skin, or painful symptoms like soreness, swelling, blistering, and bleeding.

  

You have probably made the assumption that you have sensitive ears. What you may not realize, is that these symptoms are actually allergic reaction symptoms.  You don't just have sensitive ears, your body has actually developed an immuno-response to the materials your earrings are made with, and is therefore rebelling against your earrings by reacting.  Most earrings are made with metal, and most metals are highly reactive with the human body. Most metals are not compatible with the human body over long periods of time.  Because metals are highly reactive, it is very common for your body to develop an allergy to them.

  

So, if wearing earrings hurts your ears, you are most likely allergic to the metal in your earrings. When you understand that context, the phrase hypoallergenic earrings makes more sense. As we said before, hypoallergenic earrings are earrings that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. 

  

Unfortunately, once you have developed an allergy, even trace amounts of an offensive substance can cause a painful reaction.  As people with food allergies know, if you have an allergy you have to avoid the allergen 100%.  You do not want something that is less likely to cause an allergy, you want something that will not cause an allergy. 

   

The term hypoallergenic earrings is intentionally vague. The vagueness means almost anyone can call their products hypoallergenic earrings; however, it also means that it is very hard for people with sensitive ears and metal allergies to actually find earrings that are safe for them.

   

The bottom line is, if you have sensitive ears, you should not wear hypoallergenic earrings.  If you have sensitive ears (or in other words, if earrings hurt your ears), you actually have a metal allergy and therefore should be wearing non-allergenic earrings.

  

Non-allergenic earrings are earrings made with materials that do not react with the human body. Titanium earrings, niobium earrings, gold earrings, and platinum earrings are all good options for people with metal allergies. It is very important to note though that these earrings must be made with pure metals, if the non-allergenic metal is mixed with other reactive metals, the earrings will still cause a reaction.