The big day finally came, my 10 year old daughter just  got her ears pierced. And now of course, everyone keeps telling me to make sure we get nickel free earrings. I do agree, I think the other metals are safer and will be less prone to reactions and infections. Earrings and other piercings can be especially problematic, but so can all types of jewelry, even cell phones that contain nickel and are held to the ear for long periods of time can cause a reaction.

• Nickel allergy is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis — an itchy rash that appears when your skin touches a normally harmless substance.
• Nickel allergy is commonly associated with earrings and jewelry for other body piercing. But nickel can be found in many everyday items — from coins to necklace clasps, from watchbands to eyeglass frames.
• Once you develop nickel allergy, however, you will always be sensitive to the metal and should avoid contact.
• If you have nickel allergy, an allergic reaction usually begins within 12 to 48 hours after exposure to a nickel-containing item and may persist for two to four weeks. The features of contact dermatitis usually appear only where your skin came into contact with nickel, but they may appear elsewhere on your body.

Signs and symptoms of contact dermatitis caused by a nickel allergy include:
• Rash or bumps on the skin
• Itching, which may be severe
• Redness or changes in skin color
• Dry patches of skin that may resemble a burn
• Blisters and draining fluid in severe cases

If you are getting your ears pierced, make sure you go to a reputable, licensed piercing studio or store. Earrings should b nickel free and hypoallergenic as well as sterile, as should be all of the tools used. Look for jewelry made from such metals as nickel-free stainless steel, surgical-grade stainless steel, titanium, 18-karat yellow gold, nickel-free 14-karat yellow gold or niobium. Avoid jewelry with nickel, as well as cobalt and white gold, which may also trigger allergic reactions.

I’ve heard of people coating their non hypoallergenic jewelry with clear nail polish to prevent reactions. This, I’m not so sure of, especially with earrings. I think you should be on the safe side and if there is an allergic history, stay away from nickel. There are plenty of alternatives, and speaking from experience, an infected or rashy ear is nothing I’d wish on anyone. So I just think we’ll stay nickel free after these first six weeks pass and the earring selection opens up.