If you have ever experienced itching, redness, pain, or other irritation around your ears and earrings, you may be wondering why this part of your body is so sensitive.
The truth is, the skin around your ears is not special, but the materials the are in contact with your ear are.
Think about it. Most of your body is in contact with fabric throughout the day, whether that is cotton, flannel, silk, or wool. Your ears, however, are in close contact with whatever metals you put into them. And the reality is that not all metals are kind to your skin.
Nickel, for example is a common ingredient in metal alloys used in jewelry. Nickel is also a metal known to cause allergic reactions in and estimated 10-20% of the population. Likely, if your ears are becoming painful or irritated, nickel is to blame.
Remember that even metals like gold or platinum may be alloyed to contain nickel, which means they also pose a risk of causing an allergic reaction.
Metal allergies are contact allergies. This means that they develop over time as your body is in contact with the offending substance. So, while you notice the reaction around your earrings, what you may not know is that other parts of your body could over time react to the metal as well. Buttons, zippers, buckles, necklaces, or bracelets that touch skin in other areas could over time also cause a reaction.
The best way to avoid metals that irritate your ears is to choose metals that are considered hypoallergenic. Titanium earrings and niobium earrings are safe choices because they use non-reactive metals and are also durable and attractive. You may want to choose hypoallergenic metals for your necklaces and bracelets as well.
Next time you are wondering why your ears are so sensitive, try a pair of hypoallergenic earrings and see if that solves your problems.
