A good pair of earrings can make an excellent accessory to add some stylish charm, simple or otherwise, to your daily look, whether for work, leisure, or even a mix of both. What is not to love about a fancy pair of earrings, anyway? After all, the right pair of earrings can make all the difference in how you appear to others. An understated pair can give off an air of grace and beauty, while dazzling earrings adorned with small gemstones can make for a glamorous look.
For some women, however, earrings can be a prickly subject, especially if they have sensitive skin issues that make it hard to pick the right pair that will not cause an unpleasant allergic reaction. When even the slightest bit of exposure can eventually lead to an irritating rash, investing in any jewellery may not seem worthwhile. Fret not; let our article help you find the right pair of earrings that will not give you any grief while contributing to a confident, stylish look.
Sensitive Skin and You
Our skin is unique to us, and everyone has specific needs for their skin: you can see that in how different people use a wide variety of skin care products and even jewellery. Some will swear by a specific set of products, while others will say it causes them plenty of problems instead. When faced with such a division, who should you believe?
The correct answer is whichever one works for you. Sensitive skin affects every person very differently, even if they may have the same triggers that cause rashes and redness to break out. In most cases of sensitive skin, you will typically experience a growing red rash accompanied by flaking skin, itchiness, blisters, and even fluid drainage in more severe instances. You might also hear that some women develop rashes much more quickly than others; everyone has different challenges to overcome.
Your earlobe is particularly sensitive since it has a thinner layer of skin, making it more susceptible to allergic reactions. Even if you do not have sensitive skin, a person is still likely to develop heightened sensitivity in their ears if they have prolonged contact with the allergen. Even something as simple as putting on and removing your earrings can cause more irritation in the affected area, so you should exercise caution in even the smallest things.
In a worst-case scenario, an allergy can potentially lead to an infection, which can cause even more discomfort or pain. When you have an infection, your earlobe may feel warm and tender, and there may be pus around the affected area; if that happens to you, seek prompt medical attention before it worsens.
How Do Earrings Cause Sensitive Skin Issues?
It is not so much that the earrings cause an allergic reaction when you put them on, but what goes inside your earrings that really matters. When someone says they might be allergic to precious metals they wear as jewellery, they are more likely referring to the alloy content that goes into their choice of jewellery and not the primary metal used for the jewellery itself. In fact, many experts say that prolonged exposure to these metals can increase the risk of developing an allergy towards said metals. The good news is that you have the perfect excuse to go earring shopping and find the ideal pair of perfectly safe earrings for your everyday use.
On the other hand, the not-so-good news is that you will need to know which metals you are allergic to, and that means knowing what goes into making your earrings. One of the most common culprits of metal allergies is nickel, a metal added as an alloy to increase a jewellery piece’s durability. While more research is still needed, studies indicate that women are more susceptible to a nickel allergy due to the fact they typically wear more jewellery and have more body piercings compared to men.
It is believed that sweat can leach trace amounts of nickel from the jewellery itself, which can then be absorbed by the skin and cause a rash. Any time you come into contact with anything with nickel, your immune system produces an allergic reaction in response to that contact as it deems nickel a harmful substance to your body. Still, nickel is not the only metal you may want to look out for: cobalt is also a known metal allergen that can cause similar sensitive skin symptoms.
Choosing Hypoallergenic Metals for Your Earrings
Thankfully, you still have a decent selection of precious metals that are safe to use, even if you have sensitive skin. Pure metals like gold are known as hypoallergenic metals, meaning they are skin-safe and do not cause allergic reactions. The ones listed here are some of the more common types people will choose for an excellent and allergy-free pair of earrings.
Surgical Stainless Steel
This metal, usually called surgical steel, is often confused with regular stainless steel due to their similar names and appearance; the difference comes from the fact that surgical steel is made primarily for biomedical purposes and contains a higher chromium content, which grants it substantially higher corrosion resistance than regular stainless steel. It also helps that surgical steel is incredibly strong and can weather nearly any wear and tear you put it through, from exercise to swimming and more.
While surgical steel is gaining popularity in jewellery use, you should note that some surgical steel earrings may still contain some traces of nickel in their composition, reducing their hypoallergenic properties to some extent. As even an 8 per cent nickel content can still cause an allergic reaction, we recommend looking for surgical steel earrings marked as nickel-free, as those will have another metal (like palladium) to substitute nickel.
Platinum
Platinum is a well-known, naturally occurring rare metal with a high density and very low reactivity that affords substantial corrosion resistance; its unique qualities and rarity also make it one of the more expensive options for any type of jewellery. Nonetheless, it remains a solid choice for use in everyday earrings, as they will not fade, discolour, or corrode easily, even if you regularly wear them.
You will generally find platinum sold only at very high purities (from 90 to 95 per cent) with little to no alloy additives included; that easily makes it ideal for anyone with sensitive skin concerns.
Gold
A classic choice, gold is well-known for not only its physical charms but also its hypoallergenic properties at higher karat weights. Those with sensitive skin are typically recommended 14-karat gold and higher, with 22-karat (or 916) gold being one of the better options, thanks to its higher gold content and lower alloy percentage.
As some gold earrings may still contain minor traces of nickel, you can always opt for white gold, an alloy of gold and other precious metals like palladium, platinum, and silver; there is also rose gold, an alloy of gold and copper. These gold forms also offer a unique colour and lustre that make them appealing, especially rose gold’s warmth and grace.
Our Picks of the Best Earrings for Sensitive Skin
Ear Studs
Stud earrings remain popular today, given their elegant simplicity and versatile application to any style you like. Studs can come in various attractive shapes and sizes, from simple hearts and lightly etched orbs to intricate flower designs and more, and can easily match almost anything you have in your wardrobe. The simple yet elegant beauty of a pair of ear studs can add a soft beauty to your appearance, but you can take things up a notch with solitaire studs that feature a small gemstone set on the stud’s base. The dazzling quality of the gemstone can further enhance your look with a bright, even astounding, glimmer.
Ear studs are a very lightweight accessory that you may sometimes forget is even attached to your ears; that lightweight nature is a plus point for those with sensitive skin, as it means you will not need to worry about potential irritation or if it weighs down on your earlobe. When putting them on, ensure that the earrings are secured so they do not twist or move on their own, which can irritate your ear.
Hoops
Hoops make luxurious statement pieces, and while oversized hoops are making a sizable comeback this year, smaller hoops still have a place in the top spot with their understated yet chic charms. With plenty of designs to choose from, you can always go with petite and cute circular hoops to more modern, minimalist square designs, all of which can add a certain uniqueness to your OOTD.
Ideally, we recommend smaller, lighter hoops that do not tug too much on your earlobe. Avoid those with multiple hoops, which can add to the overall weight of the earrings, as that can stress your earlobes. We also suggest picking smaller diameter hoops so that they stay closer to your ear and will not toss and twist around as you move or do things, which may irritate your earlobe and cause a flare-up.
Huggies
A smaller variant of the hoop earring, a huggie does what its name suggests: it hugs tightly to your earlobe and does not move or twist on its own, even when you are doing things. Huggies are an excellent choice if you like hoop earrings but want something much smaller than what you may find on the market. Moreover, a well-made pair of huggies will last a long time while remaining a stylish add-on to your daily styling.
Clip-Ons
Fancy a nice pair of earrings but are deathly afraid of having your ears pierced? Clip-ons are the perfect choice for you; as their name suggests, you can easily clip them to your earlobe without piercing. They will nicely stay clasped to your earlobe, giving you the earring look you wanted without the pain or discomfort of a piercing. Some clip-on earrings will look like a hoop or huggie, but you can find them in other shapes and sizes, too; you might even have a hybrid hoop and ear stud appearance for something truly unique.
Why Choose 916 Gold Earrings?
It comes as no surprise that the beauty of a well-crafted pair of gold earrings can add to their longevity and charm, especially given gold’s beautiful iridescence and its hypoallergenic nature, which make it a safe choice for anyone with sensitive skin. But there are other perks to owning a pair besides their unmistakable elegance.
Durability
Gold earrings are typically sold between 14 and 22 karats, made with a mixed composition of gold and an alloy of other precious metals such as copper and silver, which help increase the earrings’ durability. While it is tempting to opt for a luxurious 24-karat (or pure gold) option, pure gold happens to be very soft and can easily be damaged if you mishandle it; it is for this reason that jewellers will point you to the more durable 14-karat and 18-karat options instead.
For those who want a higher gold karat weight but are nowhere as soft as pure gold, 916 gold earrings are always a good pick. Because of the higher gold content, they typically have a deeper yellow hue, while the inclusion of alloys (while staying nickel-free) into their construction ensures their longevity. The lower alloy content also contains fewer other precious metals that might cause an allergic reaction if you wear them without compromising the earrings’ durability.
This way, with proper aftercare and storage, you can be assured that your 916 gold earrings can easily last you a lifetime and dazzle for as long as you own them.
Versatility
Gold is a highly versatile precious metal that goes with almost anything: dark or bright colours, muted or extravagant fashion styles; whatever it may be, a matching pair of gold earrings can easily stand out and help you shine among the crowd. Even simple hoops can do a lot to accentuate your physical features or your choice of dress, while gem-studded earrings can add an unmistakable sparkle to your overall appearance. After all, the warm, inviting exuberance of gold earrings can be hard to resist, especially if you deeply appreciate its characteristics.
Cultural Significance
Gold jewellery typically symbolises wealth, prosperity, and prestige across various cultures, and its association with those concepts leads many to view it (even earrings) as a good luck charm. You can easily find many people wearing beautiful gold earrings of varying shapes and sizes on special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries; in some cases, they are even offered as gifts to celebrate the occasion.
Find the Right Gold Earrings with Merlin Goldsmith’s Expertise
Are you looking for a trendy pair of 916 gold earrings to add luxury to your daily look? Do you also need a pair that is safe to use even when you have sensitive skin? Merlin Goldsmith is here to assist you with a wide selection of the latest 916 gold earrings from our jewellery store that will leave you spoiled for choice. With years of experience in the industry, we aspire to be Singapore's No. 1 gold jewellery store. We welcome you to our store to admire our luxurious collection and pick out your favourites for your everyday wear.