Is this a metal allergy?
June 22, 2017 1:36 AM Subscribe
I've had several piercings that seemed like they were just non stop infected, but now the same symptoms in holes I know were totally healed is making me wonder if maybe metal allergy has more to do with it than infection after all?
So backstory that is somewhat gross, and will make you question my general decision making, but is necessary for the question. I made the probably silly choice to get 3 cartilage piercings at once (a triple helix in 1 ear). They all got really really very infected, even giving me 2 different outer ear infections, one of which got so bad the side of my face swelled up, and I had completely lost my hearing. It was bad for a while, partially because I was living on the road, and didn't have regular doctor access. A few rounds of antibiotics later, the thing was more or less fine. A couple months later, I got (yeah, I know this was dumb) another cartilage piercing, which again, totally freaked out. Pussy, irritated, painful, and gross. I probably should have just taken them all out and given up, but alas. I did not.
Now at this point the piercings are all still somewhat irritated but not that bad. But a weird thing happened that made me question if maybe part of the problem after all has been not infection but metal allergy. I put a pair of earrings in my regular, all healed up, literally got them when I was ten ,ear hole, and my earlobes freaked out. They are red, swollen, and oozing out pus. I can't consult a doctor for any of this, because I'm abroad and on the road like usual. But anyone with experience in piercing infections or metal allergies, does any of this sound like a metal allergy? Or does it all just sound like out of control infection? I have no idea what metal any of the piercings are. The earring I just put in my lobe piercings are silver, but I'm using a cheap metal backing on them that is not silver. Oh and I also have an old belly piercing which was a mess for quite a while, but now has a 100% gold piece of jewelry and has not caused me any problems since, possibly further backing the idea of metal allergy. What would you recommend trying if metal allergy sounds plausible?
So backstory that is somewhat gross, and will make you question my general decision making, but is necessary for the question. I made the probably silly choice to get 3 cartilage piercings at once (a triple helix in 1 ear). They all got really really very infected, even giving me 2 different outer ear infections, one of which got so bad the side of my face swelled up, and I had completely lost my hearing. It was bad for a while, partially because I was living on the road, and didn't have regular doctor access. A few rounds of antibiotics later, the thing was more or less fine. A couple months later, I got (yeah, I know this was dumb) another cartilage piercing, which again, totally freaked out. Pussy, irritated, painful, and gross. I probably should have just taken them all out and given up, but alas. I did not.
Now at this point the piercings are all still somewhat irritated but not that bad. But a weird thing happened that made me question if maybe part of the problem after all has been not infection but metal allergy. I put a pair of earrings in my regular, all healed up, literally got them when I was ten ,ear hole, and my earlobes freaked out. They are red, swollen, and oozing out pus. I can't consult a doctor for any of this, because I'm abroad and on the road like usual. But anyone with experience in piercing infections or metal allergies, does any of this sound like a metal allergy? Or does it all just sound like out of control infection? I have no idea what metal any of the piercings are. The earring I just put in my lobe piercings are silver, but I'm using a cheap metal backing on them that is not silver. Oh and I also have an old belly piercing which was a mess for quite a while, but now has a 100% gold piece of jewelry and has not caused me any problems since, possibly further backing the idea of metal allergy. What would you recommend trying if metal allergy sounds plausible?
99% it's a nickel allergy. The fact that it gets better when you take them out and then immediately reactivates is the tell. Which sucks for an earring lover, but you can have the backings or inserts that go in your ears replaced with metal you can tolerate, or coat them in something like Jewelry Shield or a similar thing. (I have not personally used this but have heard good things about it from other nickel allergy haverers) Or just get new earrings, but finding non-dorky allergy safe ones can be hard.
A good rule of thumb is if you don't know what the metal is, more likely than not it's not a great metal to have in your sensitive ears. I have also learned this the hard way.
posted by colorblock sock at 2:17 AM on June 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
A good rule of thumb is if you don't know what the metal is, more likely than not it's not a great metal to have in your sensitive ears. I have also learned this the hard way.
posted by colorblock sock at 2:17 AM on June 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
I had a similar problem, particularly with a cartilage piercing (also some irritation from some types of earrings in my regular had-them-since-I-was-ten lobe holes), and switching to higher-quality jewellery has stopped the problem.
In my case, a silver-plated stud rather than whatever the cheapest thing in the store was has been fine for 10+ years in a cartilage piercing that initially took a difficult & painful six months to heal.
(I also started using the little plastic tube things you get to hold dangly earrings in place on the packaging instead of a butterfly back for my cartilage piercing, and I went from losing a butterfly at least once a month to never having lost the same piece of plastic in about ten years; it's a much more snug fit and means I've only had to buy one silver-plated stud in that whole time - though I don't tend to switch up my jewellery much so ymmv).
posted by terretu at 2:44 AM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
In my case, a silver-plated stud rather than whatever the cheapest thing in the store was has been fine for 10+ years in a cartilage piercing that initially took a difficult & painful six months to heal.
(I also started using the little plastic tube things you get to hold dangly earrings in place on the packaging instead of a butterfly back for my cartilage piercing, and I went from losing a butterfly at least once a month to never having lost the same piece of plastic in about ten years; it's a much more snug fit and means I've only had to buy one silver-plated stud in that whole time - though I don't tend to switch up my jewellery much so ymmv).
posted by terretu at 2:44 AM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is exactly how my nickel allergy has manifested. I switched my cartilage piercings to titanium curved barbells and they healed well.
I did actually eventually give up those piercings because they were the first thing to flare up any time my immune system was under stress, though - there's always a bit of movement in a cartilage piercing, between the cartilage and the shape of the jewellery, and it just wasn't worth it for me any more.
I second the comments above above gun piercings (I can't imagine a decent piercer giving you anything with butterfly backs) and less irritating jewellery types too - if you really want a stud type earring, you might check short labret studs or a very similar flat-backed comfort earring styles like these ones).
posted by carbide at 3:07 AM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I did actually eventually give up those piercings because they were the first thing to flare up any time my immune system was under stress, though - there's always a bit of movement in a cartilage piercing, between the cartilage and the shape of the jewellery, and it just wasn't worth it for me any more.
I second the comments above above gun piercings (I can't imagine a decent piercer giving you anything with butterfly backs) and less irritating jewellery types too - if you really want a stud type earring, you might check short labret studs or a very similar flat-backed comfort earring styles like these ones).
posted by carbide at 3:07 AM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah, my 15-year-old earlobe piercings recently started to do this when I put cheap, bought-it-at-H&M studs in them. I'm assuming nickel allergy, as I have several cousins who have one diagnosed, but I haven't confirmed it with an allergy test. I bought a bunch of cute stainless steel studs from this Etsy shop and haven't had any problems since.
posted by coppermoss at 4:51 AM on June 22, 2017
posted by coppermoss at 4:51 AM on June 22, 2017
Best answer: 100% sounds like nickel allergy. Sterling silver, surgical steel, or 14kt gold only. You can paint cheaper pieces with clear nail polish short term to make a barrier. Also you can put neosporin on the earring posts when you insert them to help with healing.
posted by Medieval Maven at 5:11 AM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Medieval Maven at 5:11 AM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nthing metal allergy. Be aware that even 14/18kt gold can still contain small amounts of nickel-- stainless steel and sterling silver are generally safe, though, and there does exist goldtone jewelry that's nickel free (generally will be specified as such).
If you'd like to keep some of your existing jewelry, then it's trivially easy to DIY the transfer of dangling parts of earrings to new hypoallergenic hardware that you buy yourself-- you just need a $10 pair of jewelry pliers and some stainless-steel, sterling or goldtone French hooks or posts+ loops, available in most craft stores. Studs might be a bit more difficult.
posted by Bardolph at 5:49 AM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you'd like to keep some of your existing jewelry, then it's trivially easy to DIY the transfer of dangling parts of earrings to new hypoallergenic hardware that you buy yourself-- you just need a $10 pair of jewelry pliers and some stainless-steel, sterling or goldtone French hooks or posts+ loops, available in most craft stores. Studs might be a bit more difficult.
posted by Bardolph at 5:49 AM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've had a lot of luck with nylon post earrings - I can wear them 24/7 with zero issues.
posted by Lucinda at 7:45 AM on June 22, 2017
posted by Lucinda at 7:45 AM on June 22, 2017
I have no idea what metal any of the piercings are.
Even after having an infection bad enough that your face swelled up and your hearing was affected? And then you went and got another piercing while your immune system is still beat up from a prior infection? I honestly cannot fathom what you're thinking. Yes, this sounds like a nickel allergy AND infections.
Get your piercings done by a reputable body piercing shop using autoclaved equipment and steel or titanium jewelry.
posted by desuetude at 9:49 AM on June 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Even after having an infection bad enough that your face swelled up and your hearing was affected? And then you went and got another piercing while your immune system is still beat up from a prior infection? I honestly cannot fathom what you're thinking. Yes, this sounds like a nickel allergy AND infections.
Get your piercings done by a reputable body piercing shop using autoclaved equipment and steel or titanium jewelry.
posted by desuetude at 9:49 AM on June 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Warning: some sterling silver jewelry can contain small amounts of nickel, too. As can surgical or stainless steel. It's hard to tell how sensitive you are, because you've probably been irritating your piercings with tons of nickel; if you're very sensitive, you should ONLY wear jewelry that has been sold as nickel-free and/or made entirely of a different metal. Pure gold and pure silver are too soft for earring components, so you'll want to look for titanium and niobium. Or plastic or nylon, if you're willing to give up the metal look.
posted by serelliya at 10:16 AM on June 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by serelliya at 10:16 AM on June 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
There are reputable piercing parlors in many countries. See if there is one near you. If so, go in and have them sell you proper jewelry and see what happens. They will also review best ear care with you.
(And for what it's worth, I had to use proper healing care practices on my cartilage piercing for 2 years. It can be a challenging piercing, for sure.)
posted by Vaike at 10:23 AM on June 22, 2017
(And for what it's worth, I had to use proper healing care practices on my cartilage piercing for 2 years. It can be a challenging piercing, for sure.)
posted by Vaike at 10:23 AM on June 22, 2017
Metal allergy here - despite all the recs for various other metals that will not cause allergies to flair ... they are bullshit.
I'm allergic to anything under 14k gold (NOT plated) and plastic. 10k if I'm lucky and having a good day.
The allergies manifest in very very strange ways. I can wear a silver necklace, but not earrings or belly rings. They go to red and inflamed immediately. Sometimes my belly can take titanium, sometimes it can't (I only wear gold and platinum earrings). Sometimes I can only wear plastic/nylon belly rings for weeks at a time.
I actually have five ear piercings - but cannot wear even platinum or 14k gold in the "other" three holes anymore. Surgical steel, nonallergenic - my holes laugh at you.
If my mom wears anything but gold or platinum, one of her fingers breaks out in a rash - no matter where the other jewelry is located (necklace, for instance).
Get plastic/nylon if you want to keep the piercings. You can try titanium, but even that isn't a guarantee. It's a pain in the ass, but I save so much money on impulse earrings ...
posted by crankyrogalsky at 12:56 PM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm allergic to anything under 14k gold (NOT plated) and plastic. 10k if I'm lucky and having a good day.
The allergies manifest in very very strange ways. I can wear a silver necklace, but not earrings or belly rings. They go to red and inflamed immediately. Sometimes my belly can take titanium, sometimes it can't (I only wear gold and platinum earrings). Sometimes I can only wear plastic/nylon belly rings for weeks at a time.
I actually have five ear piercings - but cannot wear even platinum or 14k gold in the "other" three holes anymore. Surgical steel, nonallergenic - my holes laugh at you.
If my mom wears anything but gold or platinum, one of her fingers breaks out in a rash - no matter where the other jewelry is located (necklace, for instance).
Get plastic/nylon if you want to keep the piercings. You can try titanium, but even that isn't a guarantee. It's a pain in the ass, but I save so much money on impulse earrings ...
posted by crankyrogalsky at 12:56 PM on June 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm another person who is really sensitive to nickle in earrings - I can't even wear earrings for an hour before my ears are all swollen and are oozing pus. I also haven't had good luck with other metals unless they are fairly high quality. Even a very small amount of nickle, and I have reactions.
posted by Aranquis at 2:28 PM on June 22, 2017
posted by Aranquis at 2:28 PM on June 22, 2017
Yep, metal allergy. I have the same problem and at this point titanium is the only thing I can be sure will not cause problems.
posted by thejanna at 9:30 AM on June 23, 2017
posted by thejanna at 9:30 AM on June 23, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
Where did you get them pierced? If it turns out to be a metal/nickel allergy, and you decide to get another piercing down the line, I sincerely suggest going to a tattoo parlor or piercing salon; they use needles and not piercing guns, which cuts down risk of infection and makes healing faster. (Assuming you did the piercing gun route, which I've done before on my earlobes but wouldn't do again now that I know that good piercers exist.)
posted by lesser weasel at 1:58 AM on June 22, 2017 [2 favorites]