ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO SILVER EARRINGS?

Have you had a reaction to silver earrings in the past? Don't worry, I've got your back.

True silver allergies are extremely rare, but plenty of people report having had a reaction to silver earrings in the past which, unfortunately, has put many of them off wearing silver altogether.

But you’re in luck, not only have I got all the information you need about metal allergies in jewellery, but I’ve also got a couple of solutions that have allowed my customers to wear silver earrings again with absolutely no discomfort.

SYMPTOMS OF A SILVER ALLERGY (OR GENERAL METAL ALLERGY)

If you’re allergic to a pair of earrings, you’ll likely experience symptoms directly around the piercing site. Initial symptoms include:

-          A hot or burning sensation
-          A red, itchy rash

Prolonged contact can cause:

-          Dry, thickened, scaly or cracked skin
-          Swelling, pain or tenderness in severe reactions
-          Little bumps or blisters, draining fluid
-          Skin discoloration

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M ALLERGIC TO SILVER?

Fortunately, an allergy to pure silver is incredibly rare. But, because pure silver is a soft metal, it is usually alloyed with other metals to make jewellery more durable. The most common alloy of silver is sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, mostly copper. While some people are allergic to copper, this is also a very rare allergy to have.

So, if you’ve had a reaction to silver earrings in the past, it’ll be that pesky 7.5% to blame, or your earrings weren’t even silver to begin with, but a plated or silver-toned base metal. The main offender when it comes to metal allergies is nickel, affecting around 10 to 15% of us. Thankfully, nickel use in jewellery has been regulated in the UK since 2007 by Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, also known as the REACH Regulation, which stipulates a maximum amount of nickel permitted in certain products, including jewellery and jewellery components. All of the sterling silver used in MALT Jewellery is REACH-compliant, meaning the chances of a resulting reaction caused by nickel are extremely unlikely. However, I’ve found an even better way of guaranteeing absolutely NO nickel gets into my earrings (read on or scroll to the bottom to find out).

If you’ve bought earrings from a reputable maker (like MALT Jewellery) that are confirmed to be silver and made after 2007 and you still have a reaction, there are two possibilities:

1. You’re one of the very few people who have an allergy to pure silver or copper. In that case, you might decide to stop wearing silver earrings altogether and opt for alternatives such as stainless steel, titanium or a high-carat gold (e.g. 18ct). I make all my jewellery in solid gold, but I also offer 18ct gold posts and backs on all my silver earrings for around £60 for people with a true silver allergy.

2. If you don’t wear earrings very often or getting your earrings in was a bit of a struggle, you may have injured the piercing site when inserting your earrings, which can lead to irritation and potentially an infection (since standard earrings not used for piercings are not sterile).

WHAT TO DO IF MY (PREVIOUSLY HEALED) PIERCING IS INFECTED AFTER INSERTING NEW EARRINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE?

The best thing to do in this case is to 1. take your earrings out, 2. clean the piercings with warm water (make sure to clean your hands first), 3. dry the site well with a paper towel or sterile gauze, and 4. spray with a salt water solution specially formulated for piercings (as someone with over 30 piercings, trust me, the sprays work miracles!). You can also apply an over-the-counter antibacterial cream.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY PIERCING IS INFECTED?

Symptoms of an infected piercing include a hot or burning sensation, pain, swelling and pus. If the infection persists or you begin feeling unwell (e.g. fever and/or tiredness), please see a doctor. (Please note I’m not a medical professional. If in doubt, it’s always better to consult a doctor to be safe)

Once the infection is gone, you can clean your earrings in very hot water with a little washing up liquid. Rinse well and dry on a paper towel. With clean hands, insert them very carefully into your ears, so you don’t cause any damage. You can also apply a little antibacterial or antiseptic cream to be on the safe side. You can prevent this kind of issue by regularly wearing earrings so your piercings don’t start to close.

HOW BEST TO AVOID AN ALLERGIC REACTION FROM EARRINGS

To minimise your chances of having an allergic reaction to my earrings, I use a relatively new alloy of silver called Argentium, which is considered hypoallergenic precisely because it contains no nickel. I also contains less copper than traditional sterling silver, instead carrying a higher percentage of pure silver (94-96%) and uses a different alloying metal called germanium. I haven’t yet had any customers have a reaction to my Argentium earrings, but if this does happen, it would be because of a true silver, copper or germanium allergy – all of which are extremely rare.

I’ve suggested Argentium earrings to a number of customers who experienced a previous reaction to silver earrings and I’m delighted to say they’ve all reported happy, healthy ears!

As I mentioned above, if you are affected by one of these rare allergies which mean you can’t even wear Argentium earrings, I can fit any pair of earrings with 18ct posts and backs. Gold is considered to be a biocompatible metal (because it is chemically inert, i.e. does not react with bodily fluids and tissue) and is therefore a good choice for people with metal allergies and general sensitivities.

WANT TO TRY?

All of my earrings posts and backs are made from Argentium as standard. If you try them but still have an allergic reaction, you can return your earrings and receive a full refund. Alternatively, I can fit your earrings with gold posts and earring backs. We’ll find a way for you to wear the earring designs you love!

N.B. A small number of my earrings on my market stall still have the old sterling backs, because I didn’t want to waste any materials. If you have any metal sensitivities, let me know and I’ll make sure you get an Argentium pair.
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If you have any questions or would like to enquire about my hypoallergenic earrings, feel free to email me at hello@maltjewellery.co.uk, open the chat in the bottom right-hand corner or go to my contact page here.

Please note all the sources I used for this article are from reputable medical websites (please enquire for the full list). No AI was used in the writing of this blog post.