Hypoallergenic Earrings: The Best Solution For Common Nickel Allergy

If you’ve suffered from itchy, red earlobes, then you’ve probably got a nickel allergy. It’s a frustrating condition and one that only worsens in the hot days of summer, because sweat draws out metal from the nickel present in most jewelry. So, if you’re longing to wear some fab chandeliers again, pick up a pair of hypoallergenic earrings.

According to Dr. Pamela Scheinman, a dermatologist with the New England Medical Center, these allergies are a rapidly growing problem. “Nickel allergies have increased 40% during the past five years.”

Most women assume their swollen, red, itchy lobes are ‘infected,’ but Hollywood Dermatologist Jessica Wu tells the Daily Glow that it’s more likely the nickel culprit, which is even present in expensive 14k gold and 18k gold jewelry.

“If you have these symptoms, take the earrings out, gently remove the crust with hydrogen peroxide, and apply a thin layer of over-the-counter cortisone cream, such as Cortaid or Cortizone-10. If the symptoms don’t improve after a week, see your doctor, who can test you for allergies and make sure it’s not an infection. If you do have a nickel allergy, look for earrings that don’t contain nickel.”

The US Department of Health and Human Service’s Public Health Service Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has cautioned Americans about nickel allergies. “People can become sensitive to nickel when jewelry or other items containing it are in direct contact with the skin. Once a person is sensitized to nickel, further contact with it will produce a reaction. The most common reaction is a skin rash at the site of contact.”

It’s interesting to note, that women and girls are more apt to develop nickel sensitivity due to more ear/body piercings. The Mayo Clinic staff at MayoClinic.com states that,” because nickel is common in jewelry, nickel allergy is most often associated with earrings and other body-piercing jewelry containing nickel. If the first jewelry you wear after a piercing contains nickel, your body is constantly exposed to the metal during the healing time. And people who have piercings often wear jewelry every day. The more piercings you have, the greater your risk of developing a nickel allergy.”

The best solution is just saying NO to nickel and wearing jewelry made of surgical stainless steel and nickel-free alloys. That way, you can comfortably wear earrings without feeling irrritated or miserable all day. In addition, the entire earring is made nickel-free, including ear wire/hook, or clasp, post, and all jewelry components.

Hypoallergenic earrings have a come a long way, and these days, you can find many online stores and boutiques selling these earrings with surgical stainless steel and nickel-free alloys that are lightweight and comfortable. And talk about stylish. Not only are these earrings trendy and reasonable in price, but also come in a variety of styles, including chandeliers. You would’t be able to distinguish between nickel alloys and non-nickel alloys.

Too many times, women suffer for the sake of beauty and fashion, like continuing to wear sky-high stilettos while taking each step in pain. The same goes for the lady with the aggravating nickel sensitivity. Why torture yourself day in and day out wearing earrings that continue the itching, redness, and discomfort cycle.

‘Go nickel-free!’ Your earlobes will thank you.