Hi! I normally post on another board here but wanted to know if someone could help me.

I am 39 and in Jan. had my ears pierced for the first time (I am female)

I left the starters in for 7 weeks and used the disinfecting solution they gave me and did everything I was supposed to but the problem is that even though it has been almost 5 months, I still constantly get infections in one or both lobes! I have one now! I dont change my earrings very often and when I do, I clean my ear and the earrings before I put them in. the earrings I have in most often are studs with gold posts. Right now my ear lobe is so swollen that I am afraid to take the earring out to clean it for fear that I cant get it back on and I am not supposed to have them out for long until another month or so. In fact, with all these infections, I wonder if that is holding up the healing process... My 10 yr old daughter had hers done at the same time and no problems... what am i doing wrong or what could i do or can I do anything? Maybe my body just doesnt want them! I would appreciate any help! Thanks!

It sounds to me like your allergic to the gold. I think it has something to do with the nickle in the gold, not too sure though. But my niece is like that. She can wear gold jewelry but not gold earrings. She had the same symptoms you have and the doctor said that she is allergic. Try wearing earrings with surgical steel posts and see if that makes a difference. Its made a difference for my niece. I am almost positive that is the problem you have.
Good luck!

Hey thanks! I will try that! I am not allergic to anything it seems, so it seemed inconceivable that that would be the problem! But I will try it. The only other earring i have a the moment are the "cheap" ones which i know arent good to leave in very long as well! Wish me luck! Thanks again!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Let me know how it works out!
Good luck!

Snoopy...

My ears don't respond to cheap earings either! I keep good earings in my ears all the time. Once in a while I will use a cheap pair, but just for an evening or part of the day. Then the good one go right back in.

I have had my ears pierced forever it seems, and they still effect me the same way. I like to think my ears just have expensive tastes! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif)

Here's a pretty good link to tell you how to clear it up and take care of them so it doesn't happen.
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_tnpierce_hhg.htm

Thanks everyone! I bought a pair of ones witht he surgical steel posts today and am going to try those...there didnt seem to be too many of them in the stores but at least they didnt cost very much....
Wish me luck!

This will sound crazy, but it really does work. My ear lobes are small and I have 3 holes in my left ear and two in my right. I had problems with all of them and my grandmother (99 this year) made me do this: get a broom straw - not one of those new plastic kind but one of the originals - and break off a piece about an inch long; burn it on both ends (sterilization?) and put that in the hole. Every day move the straw back and forth several times and rub with alcohol and in about three days no more problems. I never had any problems after that either unless I wear cheap earrings. I swear the first time I did I was 12, the second when I was about 16 and then at 20.

I have the exact same problem except my ears have been pierced for 12 years. The thing is, you are more than likely sensitive to fake gold. Not necessarily to a ring or a necklace you won't notice it, but in your ears you will. Try a more expensive earing. I can't wear fake gold ear rings so I have to have real gold. More expensive but its better than itching and having redness. I would move my ear ring all around in my ear and itch it so much that the whole was huge and red, infected. Just gross. Try real gold.