help for earring allergy or other earring issue?

[Anonymous]

I wore earrings with no problems as a teenager and in my early 20s then stopped wearing them for several years. I'd like to wear them again, but have found that wearing earrings now is a problem--my earlobes turn red and hot, swell, and hurt after just a few minutes (and continue that way for 20 or so minutes after I take the earrings out). Is it normal to *develop* a metal allergy (i.e. I clearly wasn't allergic before)? And I've tried many of the solutions I found online about this--hypoallergenic stainless steel/silver earrings, using "Jeweler's Skin Guard" to coat the earring, etc.--with no luck! Anyone out there have any suggestions??

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear this has happened to you! I think that as we age our immune systems change so exposures that weren't a problem in the past may become one. The only thing that works for me is posts that are 14 or 18 karat gold. I also can't wear the surgical steel or supposedly hypoallergenic earrings. Bummer, it really does limit the choices of earrings! (My allergy also causes the nodes in my neck to swell and itch...)

[Anonymous]

Sterling silver works for me. I have the same problem with the back of the snaps on jeans and sometimes the bezel of watches. For that I coat with clear nail polish periodically and that works.

[Anonymous]

I had this allergy when I got my ears pierced in grade school, but then outgrew it. Maybe it will lessen for you too (it took mine years). While I had it, I could only wear 14k or higher gold earrings, as a pp mentions. That hypoallergenic stuff in other metals just didn't work.

[Anonymous]

I have a terrible nickel allergy that developed in my 20's! Make sure that isn't it!

[Anonymous]

When I was a child, I had a severe nickel allergy. Like some allergies it was something I outgrew. Finally in my 30's and can only wear 14k and plantinum. Nice problem,huh? lol good luck!

[Anonymous]

I have the same prob. I wish I had never pierced them so I had no holes. I might look into sealing them up, but I guess it isn't a big deal to see the holes, and I do wear the diamond earrings my father gave me for my wedding to fancy events...

[Anonymous]

I thought I was the only one with this problem. Even 14k and 18k gold suddenly gave me a red, itchy, pus-filled rash. Platinum is somewhat better--so I've been wearing nothing but my diamond studs for years now!