Do you ever wear earrings and find that your ears are itchy and uncomfortable a few minutes later? Or worse, do you find that your ears get swollen and painful for days if you try to keep your earrings in anyways?
If you’ve mentioned this issue to other people, chances are they’ve recommended that you buy hypoallergenic earrings.
But what exactly does this term mean? And how do you know which earrings to choose so that they’ll have the lowest chance of irritating your sensitive ears?
While there are many hypoallergenic materials to choose from, following a hypoallergenic earrings buying guide will greatly simplify your shopping process so you can focus on buying the styles that you like best.
So if you’re eager to have hypoallergenic earrings explained to you, keep reading. Below are hypoallergenic earrings explained so you can put the joy back into your jewelry shopping.
What Does Hypoallergenic Mean?
Before we dive into our hypoallergenic earrings guide, let’s clarify what the term “hypoallergenic” actually means. You may have heard this term used for all sorts of things, from cosmetics to skincare to even dog breeds!
The prefix “hypo” means “under” or “beneath.” So, a hypoallergenic item is one that is meant to cause fewer allergies. This is because the item is supposed to contain fewer allergens.
In the case of earrings, this means that the earrings are made of metal that doesn’t cause allergies.
Nickel Allergies
The main metal that makes people allergic to their earrings is nickel. Nickel is a white metal that is used as an alloy to add strength to other metals.
Many earrings on the market are either labeled as “nickel-free” or hypoallergenic. These two terms are often used interchangeably.
But keep in mind that earrings marked as hypoallergenic may still have trace amounts of nickel. While these are so small that you can’t detect them unless you use a special instrument, this small amount may irritate your ears.
This is why it’s important to know which metals are safe for your ears and which to avoid, as you often won’t know how much even a trace amount of nickel may irritate your ears.
Materials In Hypoallergenic Earrings
The higher purity of a metal, then the less likely it is to cause an allergy. For example, some people may be allergic to 14K gold earrings. This is because the earrings only contain around 58 percent gold.
This means that the earrings are more likely to have higher amounts of nickel or other irritating metals.
But when people switch to 18K gold earrings, which have 75 percent gold, they find that these earrings won’t cause them any problems.
The metals least likely to cause you allergies include:
- Niobium
- Platinum
- Titanium
- Surgical steel
- 18K gold and above
Surgical steel is a great option as it doesn’t corrode and is very strong. This material is used for many implants that go into the body, such as dental implants and orthopedic devices.
Another great option is titanium. This metal is very strong and durable, making for long-lasting jewelry. It’s also lightweight and inexpensive, which makes it a great choice for budget-conscious shoppers.
Niobium is also a fantastic choice for people with allergies as it doesn’t have any nickel in it. This metal can be softer than others, so be sure to treat your earrings with care and make sure to store them properly so they don’t bend.
On the other hand, niobium’s malleability makes it perfect for intricate designs. Niobium can also be anodized, which is a process that helps protect metals from corrosion.
When used on niobium, this process results in beautiful rainbow colors that are sure to stand out.
Metals To Avoid
While going higher in karats for gold is a great option if you have allergies, there are a few metals that are much more likely to give you allergies.
First, you want to avoid costume jewelry. Since this jewelry is inexpensive, it tends to have lots of nickel in it as filler. More expensive costume jewelry coats this nickel-filled interior with a metal like gold or silver.
You also want to avoid white gold, which often has nickel added to it to make the color whiter and to make it more durable.
Finally, avoid German silver. This isn’t silver at all but is another name for nickel silver that only looks like sterling silver.
Hypoallergenic Earrings Tips
The easiest way to buy hypoallergenic earrings is to learn which metals you react to and which are the safest for you to buy. This way, you can look only at specific materials when you buy jewelry and can focus on the designs you like instead of worrying.
If you’ve never shopped for hypoallergenic earrings before, then niobium and titanium are good bets as they are naturally nickel-free. Surgical steel is also a good pick, as long as you check that it’s nickel-free.
If you tend to react to a lot of materials, then you can also shop at a hypoallergenic earrings store for peace of mind.
If your child has earrings, then it’s a good idea to get them hypoallergenic kids earrings. Not only is children’s skin more sensitive, but they may not be able to communicate to you that they’re feeling an allergic response.
When caring for your earrings, you can clean them with mild soap and water or a gentle saltwater solution.
Get The Perfect Pair Of Hypoallergenic Earrings Today
Once you know what materials to look for in hypoallergenic earrings, you won’t feel so overwhelmed when you’re looking to buy them.
Don’t worry if you have to experiment a few times until you find the metal that works best for you and your allergies.
And when you know which metals to look for, you’ll be better able to focus on complementing your closet and personal style.
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