I have not been able to wear earrings for the past 15 years, at least. I don’t know what happened but one day my ears just started getting really itchy and red almost immediately upon putting earrings on. This surprised me because I have had pierced ears since about sixth grade. It happened shortly after I got a piercing in my upper ear, the second one, with the first one being fine. This was in the days when you’d get your ears pierced in a kiosk at the mall.
Once in a while I’d try wearing a pair. I tried every hypoallergenic, niobium, gold and other type of post that people would recommend. No luck. I finally gave up. While at a show this past August someone across the aisle heard me once again bemoan the fact that I can’t wear earrings. We got to talking and told me that my ears were probably infected.
What? After 15 years? Still infected? They’re fine without earrings in them. Yep. She suggested I try putting bacitracin on my ears and my earring posts. That was four months ago and I kept forgetting. I was used to not wearing earrings.
This past weekend, while sitting at my studio show making earrings I was really longing to wear a pair. They’re cute and funky! I didn’t have bacitracin but I did have Neosporin. So I gave it a try. I coated my ear lobes and lathered up the ear hooks before putting them in too. Don’t worry…these don’t go on resale!
I was amazed that the itching didn’t start immediately. I patiently waited and it never came. I thought, this is too good to be true. I did that for the next couple days and I was able to wear the earrings the whole time. I sit here now, as I type, without using the Neosporin with earrings in my ears and no itching.
Am I cured? I hope so!
I had the same problem, but I realized years ago that I needed to sterilize my ears and earring wires before putting on earrings. I use rubbing alcohol.Once in a while the itching still happened, then I realized that the earring wires on some earrings is of a much heavier gauge than others causing the holes to try to stretch and that was irritating.
Love your blogs, Lori!
Great post…gonna try this.
I have the same problem sporadically and neosporin does the trick. I also switched to fine silver wire for my earwires, and they are non-irritating (no copper or nickel) I just tumble them for a while for strength.
This is fantastic! Same problem for me. Second holes bother me and have for years. I just got a cute pair of studs and put them in. The itching starting almost immediately. Read your post and put some triple antibiotic cream on the posts and I can tell the itching is less. Thanks!
Well, I’m definitely going to give this a try. If I can just find that one thing that will help me I will be ecstatic to be able to wear earrings again! Thanks for the tip!!
I too suffer from this issue and so happy that you wrote about it. I am headed to the store right now to buy neosporin! I am confident that it will work : )
OMG!! I’ve been having the same problem!! I got my ears pierced a few years ago 2 in the bottom lobes and 2 at the top and my earrings were absolutely fine, no infection or irritation… But I took them out for a while and then put a set of earrings on and it was just horrible!!!! Ill definitely have to try this :)))))) haven’t been able to wear them in the past few years and it sucks because my wedding is coming up and I really want to wear some
Cheers for commenting on my blog, Lori.
And thanks for the advice. I will figure out what the UK version of the medication you suggested is and I will give it a go. I do miss earrings.
Much appreciated.
Best wishes
Laura x