Earring Metal allergies?

Question

One of my ear piercings got an infection; this is the second time this has happened, so I went to see the doctor about it. She said It's possible that i'm allergic to the earring, which is 14k white gold. My mom thinks I should get it repierced with yellow gold next time; what is the difference between yellow and white gold? And also, my other piercing has been completely fine until today (3 months after I got it pierced) I took it out to take a look at the hole, because I wanted to see what it looked like, and when I tried to put it back in it didn't really go in easily. I had to press it in, and it stung a bit which makes me think that it somehow healed over in the thirty seconds or so that I had the earring out, which sounds quite impossible. Is this because of the antibiotics that I'm taking for the other piercing infection?

Forgot to also ask: Allergic reactions to metals would have shown up in both ears, right? Is it possible for one to have a delayed reaction?

Answer 1

You may have contact dermatitis from the nickel in the "white gold". There really is not such thing as white gold, alloys like nickel are mixed to give it that white colour. The two most common metals that people have reaction to are nickel and chromium. Chromium is sometimes used in white gold too. I would avoid anything with nickel or chromium. If you are looking for a really good metal that won't give you reactions, go with titanium. I have a pure titanium ring and it looks awesome.

Answer 2

I think the doc is wrong in this case. Allergies are systemic so you would have it in both ears as you said. However, since the other ear seems to close when you removed the earring I'd say neither ear healed completely and it could be an allergy. It just didn't get as bad in the one ear and only the infected ear seemed affected. It sounds like exactly what I had and I ended up having to let them heal over. One way to check if you have a metal allergy, put on a metal bracelet and get some water on your arm so the metal gets a tiny bit wet. Leave it alone and check it a few hours later to see if it's developed a rash or itches or anything. I even got a rash from soap that had been in a metal soap dish.

Answer 3

My daughter has a very hard time with earrings. She did not start having problems until after about 3 years. First it was 14k gold, then sterling silver, then surgical steel. What we have found that works is the piercing earrings that you can buy at Sally's beauty supply. She can wear them for a few weeks maybe a month and a half and sometimes only a few days, then we have to discard and buy new. I have no idea why this is and most of the time she just goes with out. I had her ears done when she was 3 months old.

Answer 4

I first had my ears pierced when I was 13 and immediately found out that I was allergic to 14k yellow gold. It would even turn my finger green. I had to take my earrings out for a couple of years and allow the inside of the holes in my ears to heal. I am able to wear all earrings now. Whatever you do, don't use peroxide too much. This makes the ear more raw. I used neo-sporin ointment to help heal mine.

Answer 5

yes, there could be a delayed reaction due to proximity to lymphatic nodes and histamine receptors, etc....but really, you should never get a piercing with gold, as the most common metal allergies are to gold, nickel, and silver....really, next time, go out to a tattoo parlor that looks clean, and trust me, almost all of them are, and get a real piercing, with a 16g or bigger using surgical steel...I have all three of the most common metal allergies, and I tried to get my ears pierced with studs, and they both migrated out, which was, and is not pretty, but the four surgical steel piercing that I got at claremont tattoo not only are doing fine 5 months later, but actually healed in two months. Also, never take out an earring before you are certain that it has healed unless you have the intention of stretching it out, in which case you should be using hydrogen peroxide to fill it in with prior to taping, and then gaging, as otherwise, the risk of infection is greatly increased.

Answer 6

I think what you have is an allergy to nickel which is in white gold and not in yellow gold. Nickel is sometimes added for strength in jewelry and causes a lot of problems. You will always be allergic to nickel so be sure to buy 14K yellow gold or nickel free jewelry. I'm allergic to nickel and even the snap closure on a pair of jeans will infect me. I can't wear my wedding ring because it is white gold. That's how I found out about the nickel in white gold. I asked a jeweler why I couldn't wear my ring and I could wear other rings that are 14K yellow gold. One place to look for allergy free jewelry is simplywhispers.com they have a lot of reasonably priced jewelry and watches (I have to buy my watch there).
Good luck with healing your ears. Keep them clean with alcohol and wear good earrings.

Answer 7

I even have that situation. i will’t placed purely any metallic in my ear, it is going to reason my ears to show examine, bumpy and itchy, and then they start up burning. whilst or in case you come to a kind to get your ears pierced, get 14k or 24k gold. I placed on jewelry that have 14k gold posts and if I do come to a kind to placed on the different metallic, I purely keep it in my ear for purely that social amassing. there is likewise the reality that think ofyou've have been given keloid epidermis. that's whilst your epidermis creates a scar around wounds that resolute in an overgrowth of tissue. despite if this occurs on your ears, they are in a position to be surgically bumped off. there is not something incorrect with getting your ears pierced. My mom had mine accomplished whilst i became right into some month previous. yet extraordinarily, I actually have a super kind of pals that don't have pierced ears. They placed on clip on jewelry; they experience that this is greater secure because of the fact in the experience that your earring gets caught on something it snaps suited off and that they don’t would desire to situation approximately keloids, cleansing the hollow for 3 months, approximately infections, and the hollow last. To me I knew i became into in charge to preserve my ears and that’s why I have been given them accomplished returned as quickly as I have been given older. I even have 3 holes on the two aspects. In end, think of properly, there are advantages (greater varieties to come to a decision from) yet there are effects. you purely would desire to be in charge. despite in case you come to a kind to get them accomplished and you do not choose it anymore, purely take the jewelry out and the holes will close.