If earrings make your ears itch, swell, or weep, you're not imagining it and you're not unusual. Nickel allergy affects a large share of people who wear earrings, and it's the most common contact allergy there is. Here's what actually causes it and what to look for.
Why it happens
Most inexpensive earrings are made from a base metal alloy that contains nickel. When the post sits in a warm, slightly moist piercing, tiny amounts of nickel dissolve and reach your skin. For people who've become sensitised, that's enough to trigger a reaction — usually redness and itching within a day, sometimes crusting or swelling.
Once you're sensitised to nickel, it doesn't go away. The only real answer is avoiding contact.
What the labels actually mean
This is where most shopping goes wrong, so it's worth being precise.
- "Hypoallergenic" is not a regulated term in most markets. Anyone can print it. It suggests lower risk, but it's not a guarantee and it doesn't tell you what the metal is.
- "Nickel-free" means the maker says no nickel was added. Trace amounts can still be present depending on the alloy and the plating process.
- "Gold plated" means a thin layer of gold over a base metal. The base metal underneath is what matters, and plating wears down over time.
- "Sterling silver" is 92.5% silver, usually alloyed with copper. Generally well tolerated, though a small number of people react to the copper.
- Surgical steel often does contain nickel — it's bound tightly in the alloy so it releases very little, which is why it's tolerated by many people but not everyone.
What to look for instead
Focus on the post — the part that goes through the piercing. That's where prolonged skin contact happens. A gold plated hoop with a sterling silver post is a very different thing from one with an unspecified base metal post, even if the two look identical.
The safest options, roughly in order: implant-grade titanium, then niobium, then solid 14K gold or higher, then sterling silver. Plated pieces sit below these, because you're relying on the plating staying intact.
Practical things that help
- Take earrings out before showering, swimming, and exercising — moisture speeds up metal release
- Don't sleep in plated earrings
- Keep perfume and lotion off them
- If a pair has worked for you before, note exactly what it's made from and buy on that spec rather than on looks
Being straight with you about ours
Our earrings are gold plated over a base metal, with sterling silver posts on the styles where the supplier specifies it. That's a reasonable choice for most people with mild sensitivity, and it's why we list the materials on every product page rather than just writing "hypoallergenic" and leaving it there.
But we won't tell you they're nickel-free, because we can't verify the base alloy. If you have a diagnosed nickel allergy and react to plated jewelry, buy solid titanium or solid gold instead — from us or from anyone. It matters more than the price difference.
If you're not sure, email us at GreinerbuisnessAS@outlook.com and we'll tell you exactly what a piece is made from.
See our earrings with sterling silver posts →
This is general information, not medical advice. If you have a persistent skin reaction, see a doctor or dermatologist — patch testing can tell you exactly what you're reacting to.