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How do I Stop my Earrings from Hurting? | Debunking Earring Hacks

3/23/2021 — By Jill Burke

Today we're going to talk about some of the "earring hacks" that tend to pop up as a solution to painful, irritating earrings. You've probably heard of the old clear nail polish trick, but as it turns out there are several, let's say creative solutions that people have drummed up to avoid the irritation caused by their earrings.

First, let's address what is going on when earrings irritate your ears. The number one culprit in the majority of these cases is a metal allergy. Metal allergies are contact allergies, meaning that the more your body is in contact with the offending substance, the more likely you are to develop an allergy. In the instance of earrings, your piercing may spend a TON of time in contact with a highly allergenic metal (nickel, for example) and so it's likely that at some point you will develop a metal allergy in that spot. Metal allergies manifest in redness, itching, irritation, or pain, and can make wearing earrings that are not hypoallergenic unbearable.

So, without further ado, here are some of the "best" earring hacks the internet has to offer.

1. Coating Earrings in Vaseline

I love Vaseline and am usually a fan of slathering it all over everything (still haven't tried it on my teeth like Vanessa Williams... yet) but the idea of coating my earring posts with it immediately throws me off. This is because I have a penchant for losing the backs of my earrings. They get snagged or I absent-mindedly pull on them and suddenly they're nowhere to be found. Luckily Tini Lux has super cheap titanium earring back replacements!

But the point of this, of course, is to create a barrier between the allergenic metal and your skin, which Vaseline will do... for a while. Eventually it will wear off though, especially against the heat of the human body which makes it more liquid. And then you'll be left where you started.

2. Coating Earrings in Clear Nail Polish or Jewelry Shield

I included these two together because they are essentially the same thing, but with different ingredients. Jewelry shield is a better alternative to clear nail polish because there aren't as many toxic ingredients in it, but it will also wear off over time. There are mixed reviews as to whether the nail polish hack actually works or not.

3. Opt for Clip-Ons

Clip-on earrings are not to be slept on. They can be great for statement studs, and often vintage earrings are clip-on. There is still a chance these will irritate your ears, but it may not be as intense since they sit outside the earring hole. Still, they're just not the same as regular earrings.

4. Only Wear the Good Stuff

Gold and silver jewelry do have a reputation for being better for your ears than cheaper metals. This can be true in some cases, but if the gold or silver is alloyed with, say, nickel, it's still going to irritate your ears. In other words, 24 karat gold probably won't irritate your ears, but you should look into the alloyed metals in lower karats to see if nickel is included before you drop cash on it.

What all these earring hacks come down to is metal. Either trying to build a barrier between your skin and an irritating metal or switching a metal for something that won't be as irritating. At Tini Lux we know the true solution.

Solved: Truly Hypoallergenic Titanium Earrings

Some earrings may bear the label "hypoallergenic," but as the term is not regulated you have to do your research before trusting that this is the case. Truly hypoallergenic earrings are made using Titanium or Niobium, two metals that are proven to be biocompatible. These are metals commonly used in medical and dental implants and they are able to coexist peacefully with the human body. That is why titanium and niobium earrings are also used for starter studs at most piercing shops.

So, if you're ready to make the switch from questionable earring hacks to earrings that truly work for your sensitive ears, you're in the right place.

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