What Are The Best Metals for Sensitive Ears?

The best earrings for sensitive ears are made from safe hypoallergenic metals like gold, silver, platinum, palladium and titanium.

These metals are less likely to cause any skin irritation. Although not guaranteed, they are the best for peace of mind.

Always prefer nickel-free jewelry and piercing, as it is the first culprit for metal allergies. Pay attention to buying earrings with high purity, like 14k gold and above, sterling silver or argentium silver.

In this post you will learn why you experience discomfort from earrings and ear piercings, read a list of best metals for sensitive ears and a blacklist which includes risky metals you should avoid.

There is also a bonus tip waiting at the end if you can’t give up that earring!

1. Why do my ears get infected when I wear earrings?

Your ears may react to unclean earrings, or you may have a metal allergy.

If you are sure that your earrings are clean and pose no problem with hygiene, then you probably have skin allergy to metals.

Not all materials play nicely with our skin.

Earrings and piercings which have non-hypoallergenic metals like nickel or lead can trigger skin irritations.

Some symptoms are rashes, color change, swelling, itches, and blisters.

This is called metal sensitivity or hypersensitivity.

It is not limited to jewelry. Undesired reactions after dental and orthopedic implants may also be the consequence of metal allergies.

Hypersensitivity is a fairly common issue which affects about 1/8th of the word.

Studies show that around 10-15% of the population in US has a sensitivity to at least one of nickel, cobalt or chromium.

 

 

2. What are the best earrings for sensitive ears?

The best choices for sensitive ears are earrings and ear piercings made of hypoallergenic materials.

These are safe options for jewelry.

Although it cannot be guaranteed, they are less likely to cause any allergic reaction.

The most common and well known hypoallergenic metals are gold, silver, titanium, palladium, platinum,

Besides these “pure” ones, there are hypoallergenic metal alloys too.

Alloys are made of more than one ingredient, which complicates the issue.

For example, as pure gold and silver are too soft for jewelry, we mix them with other metals to achieve a harder and more durable material.

• 18 karat gold has 18 in 24 parts gold. That is 75 percent gold by weight.
• Sterling silver pieces contain 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% part comes from cheaper base materials like copper to increase hardness.

In both cases, the added parts may contain trace amounts of allergic materials like nickel.

Nickel is infamous for causing all sorts of skin irritations.

Thanks to its bad reputation, it has been named Contact Allergen of the Year for 2008 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society(ACDS).

So, even if the dominant material in the alloy is hypoallergenic, you should make sure that the earring does not include any allergic substance.

There are earrings and jewelry made from pure minerals, alloys and plated metal pieces.

While the first two consist of the same material inside out, the latter is different.

On day one, the hypoallergenic coating protects your ears, but with time it may wear off.

And then, the inner -and probably cheaper-base will come into sunlight.

If this core is allergenic, it may cause undesired responses.

For example, think of rhodium plated white gold earrings. When the thin rhodium layer diminishes the inner gold core will contact your ears. And if it contains even trace amounts of nickel, it may initiate allergy.

 

3. What are hypoallergenic earrings?

Hypoallergenic earrings are made of hypoallergenic materials.

Hypoallergenic metals for jewelry are gold, silver, sterling silver, argentium silver, platinum, palladium, titanium, rhodium, aluminum, surgical stainless steel, tungsten carbide and niobium.

There are precious and more affordable metals that can save your ears from allergic skin reactions.

Gold

Gold is the king of precious metals.

It has been used as money and store of wealth for centuries.

Gold has also found a place in dentistry for teeth as it is highly inert.

However, pure gold’s performance does not pass over directly to all its alloys.

As fine gold, which is 100% yellow gold is too soft for jewelry, we use harder alloys.

Stronger metals are added to the mix to increase hardness and durability.

Many are much cheaper alternatives like copper, zinc and nickel.

In these addition, there might not be directly nickel, yet, traces of it.

These small amounts may cause irritation on sensitive ears.

If you prefer gold jewelry and have sensitive skin, you may choose higher purity gold pieces.

Gold purity is measured in karats.

1 karat represents one in 24 parts gold.

Thus, 24 karat or 24k gold is 100% pure gold.

12-karat gold is 50% gold.

The remaining part comes from cheaper metals, like copper, to increase durability and give the desired color.

The higher is gold purity, the  smaller is the allergy risk.

 

Choosing 18k or higher karat gold earrings will reduce the chance for allergic reactions.

This is especially true for yellow gold and rose gold because these varieties of gold are in direct contact with the skin.

With the other popular member of the gold family,  white gold, things may be different.

White gold is often coated with rhodium.

This coating protects the inner gold alloy and gives it a more uniform sheen.

Rhodium is a hypoallergenic metal which is very unlikely to cause any skin reaction.

This makes rhodium plated white gold earrings is a good pick for sensitive ears.

Nevertheless, one must never forget that rhodium is brittle, and the coating may wear off with daily wear and tear.

When this happens, the inner alloy will reach the skin.

This opens the door to allergic reactions.

When this occurs with a rhodium plated earring, a visit to the local jewelry store should be scheduled.

A short re-plating session will suffice to restore the coating. It will bring back the luster, and comfort.

Are gold-plated earrings safe?

As gold is an expensive precious metal, the jewelry industry has produced gold-plated items for more affordable jewelry.

These earrings are made of a cheaper metal base.

Then, this is covered by a thin layer of gold.

By this way, the overall price of the piece becomes much affordable than a solid gold one.

The downside is that if the gold layer wears off with time, the inner part will come in contact with the ear.

And, if it contains any potentially non-hypoallergenic metals, you might experience unease.

Many people prefer these pieces because of their attractive price, but they should be aware of the risks.

They should pay attention to the condition of the plating and avoid wearing damaged gold-plated earrings.

Silver

Just like gold, pure silver, which is 99.9% fine silver, is too soft for jewelry.

Jewelry needs durability thus stronger silver alloys are used.

The first alloy we should look into is sterling silver.

Sterling silver is made of 92.5% silver.

The remaining 7.5% is usually copper. This latter part may contain nickel or trace amounts of nickel, which may cause metal allergies.

If you prefer sterling silver earrings, make sure they are nickel-free.

If you experienced irritation when wearing sterling silver jewelry, but still prefer silver, you may consider argentium silver.

Argentium silver is a nickel-free silver alloy.

It also has a higher purity than 925 sterling.

Depending on its type, it has 93.5% or 96% silver in its composition.

Thus, argentium silver is a excellent choice for hypoallergenic metal earrings.

There are seldom seen silver alloys like 835 and 850 silver.

These have 83.5% and 85% silver in their composition, respectively.

835 and 850 silver are not immune from nickel and other allergenic inclusions.

Make sure your earrings do not include any allergic metals, starting from nickel.

If you are a hardcore silver fan, pick argentium silver or high quality sterling pieces.

Platinum

Platinum is a rare and precious metal.

As it is hypoallergenic, it is an excellent metal for earrings and body piercings.

Platinum does not corrode, and it has strong tarnish resistance.

The downside is that it might be a little expensive for most budgets.

Palladium

Palladium belongs to the Platinum Group with rhodium, ruthenium, osmium and platinum.

Palladium earrings have a very low risk of allergies as they are hypoallergenic.

It has strong corrosion resistance, and it is safe for sensitive skin.

It is an inert metal like platinum and gold. It shows extreme resistance to interact chemically.

If you are looking for a safe earring with white metal color, you may consider white gold, platinum, sterling silver, argentium silver and palladium.

 

Titanium

Titanium is a hypoallergenic mineral, which is considered safe for jewelry.

It is even used to produce surgery equipment, dental and orthopedic implants.

Implant grade quality titanium can endure high levels of tension and stress without causing any negative response from the human body.

This makes it an excellent choice for critical bone replacements and medical implants, such as leg or shoulder implants.

So, if it is safe enough to replace bones inside our body, it is good enough for sensitive ears!

You may want to check this post which compares titanium and surgical level stainless steel for piercings.

Rhodium

Rhodium is another member of the Titanium Group.

It is widely used in jewelry in white gold pieces.

White gold jewelry is often coated with a thin layer of this noble metal.

By this way, the inner gold alloy is protected for a longer life with a more homogenuous shine.

This thin hypoallergenic layer may diminish with time, causing the skin to touch the gold core.

While rhodium is highly inert, the inner alloy may include trace amounts of allergenic materials, which may cause irritations.

In this case, you should apply to your local jeweler for a rhodium re-plating session.

This is a short and easy task which will restore the initial appearance of your rings, earrings and other pieces.

 

Aluminum

If you are looking for a lightweight metal earring with hypoallergenic properties, aluminum should be high on the list.

It has no nickel, which is the first suspect for initiating skin sensitivity.

This means your ears are very unlikely to have any undesired skin reaction to aluminum earrings.

Aluminum does not tarnish, and it does not rust.

Generally speaking, aluminum jewelry has lower price tags compared to other options.

It is also very light, which translates into comfort for daily wear.

Thus, aluminum is a lightweight, trendy and safe choice for earrings.

Tungsten Carbide

Tungsten is one of the hardest minerals on the planet.

It is often alloyed with carbon, making it into tungsten carbide.

While tungsten is a hypoallergenic material and safe in its pure state, its alloys can differ.

Make sure your tungsten carbide earrings are free of nickel and all other allergenic substances, which hypersensitive skin may react negatively to.

Niobium

Niobium earrings are another hypoallergenic material for sensitive ears.

Niobium can be anodized and given many colors, yet it is not the most widely available choice in jewelry stores.

 

Stainless Steel

Another good choice for people with sensitive ears is 316L stainless steel earrings.

Steel is an iron alloy. It is used everywhere, from construction to kitchen appliances.

While there are many alloy types, not every one is a good fit for your ears.

316L type is an ideal choice as it is even safe for medical grade equipment.

Surgical level stainless steel is an affordable option which is not likely to cause any irritation to sensitive ears.

 

4. What types of metal to avoid for sensitive ears?

The short answer is that people with sensitive ears and skin should avoid any material that causes irritation and other allergic reactions.

You can determine the minerals you are allergic to with a hypersensitivity test.

Assuming that a very small percentage of jewelry lovers will take the road of an allergy test, let’s give the easy, general answer.

The top three metals causing irritation are nickel, cobalt and chromium.

Make sure your earrings are free from these three.

Yet, if you know that you have no sensitivity, you’re probably good to go.

 

5. How to keep wearing your best earring without the rashes

You have a pair of earrings, which causes redness, itching or blisters, but you cannot let them go.

Check this solution: cover the post part of the earrings with clear nail polish.

This layer will prevent contact with your ear and end allergies!

Related Questions

1. Is sterling silver OK for sensitive ears?

Silver is hypoallergenic. It is safe for jewelry.

Sterling silver is an alloy with 92.5% purity.

The remaining 7.5% may include trace amounts of nickel and other unsafe minerals.

Make sure your sterling silver earrings are nickel-free.

2. Is surgical steel good for sensitive ears?

Surgical level steel like 316L is a safe choice for sensitive ears.

This type of stainless steel is used in production of surgery equipment.

Other lower quality steel alloys may irritate your ears.

Make sure you pick 316L stainless steel for enjoying wearing earrings pain-free .

3. Is Sterling Silver safe for nickel allergy?

Sterling silver is a silver alloy with 92.5% purity.

The second 7.5% part comes from cheaper materials, which is often a base metal like copper.

However, this latter part may include nickel, even at trace amounts.

And when nickel gets into contact with the ears, it may cause symptoms like redness, itches etc.

So, if you want silver earrings, make sure you validate that they are nickel-free or choose a higher-quality silver alloy like argentium silver.

Argentium silver is nickel-free and has a much higher tarnish resistance than sterling silver.

4. Does 14k gold have nickel?

14k gold is a alloy with 58.3% gold purity.

The remaining 41.7% comes from cheaper metals like copper in order to increase hardness and durability.

This second part may include nickel, which may cause allergies.

However, this is not certain. There are many 14k gold earrings, which are nickel-free.

 

Check other posts on similar topics:

• What Jewelry Metals Don’t Tarnish?
• Argentium Silver vs Rhodium Plated White Gold: Pros & Cons
• What Does 925 Italy Mean on a Silver Necklace?
• Black Zirconium Rings Pros and Cons
• Cobalt Rings Pros and Cons