Best Hypoallergenic Earring Metals for Sensitive Ears
Discovering that you have an allergy to certain metals can be frustrating when shopping for jewelry, especially earrings. Finding hypoallergenic earring metals for those with sensitive ears can be a challenge, but not impossible.
In this article we will explore metal allergies and what causes them, symptoms and how to select the right metal for your ear wires and clasps so you can avoid a skin reaction and look fabulous in your jewelry pain-free!
Why Do Some People Have Allergies to Alloy Metals?
Understanding Metal Allergies
Generally an allergic reaction is an immune response to an irritant. In the case of a metal allergy, this would be in the form of contact dermatitis from the metal touching the skin.
Common reasons for Metal allergies
From sensitization over a period of time - Repeated exposure of the irritant to the skin can cause your immune system to react.
A Genetic predisposition - If other members of your family have a nickel allergy there is more chance of having the same allergy.
The most common metal allergies
Nickel is the most common metal allergy and is commonly used in metal alloys for earrings.
Other less common metal allergies include Cobalt and Zinc. Both are found in metal alloys in earrings and other jewelry.
How Do I know if I am Allergic to Nickel, Cobalt or Zinc From My Earrings?
If you have an allergic reaction from the metal in your earrings, you can experience contact dermatitis. This can be in the form of skin redness, itching, swelling, oozing and sometimes blistering of the skin on the earlobes.
Best Hypoallergenic Earring Metals for Sensitive Ears
The best way to prevent a skin reaction from your earrings is to select metals that don’t contain nickel, and/or cobalt or zinc (if you are allergic to them).
Here’s a list of hypoallergenic earring metals to get you started with finding metals that may work for you when selecting earrings and other jewelry.
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Platinum – A luxury option that’s nickel-free and extremely hypoallergenic
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Titanium – A lesser expensive version to platinum. It's lightweight, nickel-free, and durable.
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Niobium – Non-reactive, corrosion-resistant, and ideal for severe allergies.
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14K+ Gold – Select high-purity yellow gold. Be aware that white gold often contains nickel and should be avoided.
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Gold-Filled – A cost-effective alternative to solid gold with a thick, safe karat gold outer layer over a brass core which should eliminate direct contact from your earlobe to the inner core alloy.
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Sterling Silver (.925 or higher)– Which means it consists of 92.5% Silver and 7.5% copper in most cases, cheaper versions of sterling silver can consist of nickel instead of copper. It's always best to ask questions of the purity and alloy metals of the ear wires before purchasing.
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Surgical Stainless Steel (316L or 316LVM) – Safe for most, but ensure it’s low-nickel.
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Medical-Grade Plastic – A non-metal alternative for extreme sensitivities.
How to Prevent Earring Allergies
What to look for when shopping
While labels are helpful for quickly identifying hypoallergenic earring metals for sensitive ears, they’re not always reliable. The word "hypoallergenic" can be an umbrella term and mean many different things. It’s always best to ask the jewelry designer for accurate information about the metals used in the jewelry you wish to purchase.
Invest in quality metals such as platinum or titanium, if you can, or alternatively opt for gold filled or high quality .925 sterling silver.
If you are super sensitive, avoid plated jewelry. The plated layers are super thin and do wear down over time exposing the nickel alloy that will react with your skin.
Choosing the Right Metals for Healthy, Happy Ears
As you can see there are options for those with sensitive ears. It is possible to find hypoallergenic earring metals that are non-reactive to your skin, it is just important to find the right one that suits you in the style of earrings that you are looking for.
Often if you are working with a small business jeweler they will be able to work with you to find the right metal for you and are able to customize your earrings and switch out ear wires that are not suitable for a better option that will work best for you. I have done this many times for my clients.
At Paula McNulty Designs I regularly offer .925 Sterling silver ear wires (from a reputable silver distributor in the USA) and can customize most earrings for luxury metals in my collections to cater for clients with severe nickel-allergies. If you would like to enquire about finding a suitable non-allergenic earring closure for any of the earrings in my shop please use this custom order request form.
On your quest to find the right metal for your earrings, you may be wondering what types of earring closures are available. If you’d like to learn about the different types of ear wires and clip-on options for earrings, read my blog post: Choosing the Right Earring Closures: What to Know for Style and Comfort
Please feel free to leave any questions you may have, below in the comments, about earring metal allergies, or share your experiences with nickel, cobalt or zinc allergies and which metals worked for you.