Jewelry Allergy! Please Help!

[CaptInsano]

I recently stretched my healed pierced ear from a 14g to a 12g using tapers. I put in cheap plugs which I believe I am having a allergic reaction to and they have caused me to get an infection in both ears. I am currently on antibiotics and am going to switch these plugs (gold plated) out with some glass plugs asap. On both ears (front and back) around the piercing it seems like the skin is a tad raised from the earlobe. I was wondering if anybody would know if this might be a blowout, or maybe just from the allergic reaction, or maybe this is normal? I'm skeptical of a blowout because its both ears/both sides and I stretched slowly. I've been doing sea salt soaks and using soft antibacterial soap. Any help is great. Thanks!

[TheGreyEyedMonster]

if it was so bad youre on antibiotics then its almost definitely from the infection. could you post a picture?

[everythingevil2113]

Have you tried polymer clay? I have found they work great in my ears...

[TheGreyEyedMonster]

DONT use polymer clay, that stuff has chemicals in it that are very bad for your ears, especially ones that are so sensitive.

[stashapistachio]

It could be a blowout, or just allergic swelling. But the allergy isn't going to get any better until you get rid of the jewellery.

Allergies have nothing to do with infections though, I think someone somewhere misdiagnosed (Doctors are known to jump to horror conclusions with mods) And antibiotics don't help allergies. Maybe you got some tears (itchy horrors in themselves) and/or blowout, which then got infected; so that wouldn't be anything to do with jewellery...

Change the plugs to glass (maybe downsize)and then see how you go.
And yeah, no polymer.

Cheap gold plated can be an issue, depending what its plated on. The cheap stuff is often high nickel underneath. Nickel allergies are super common and can develop over time. So when the gold rubs off....
There are reputable gold-plated on titanium stuff, but its usually pricey. If in doubt, wear it through eyelets

[miles11we]

DONT use polymer clay, that stuff has chemicals in it that are very bad for your ears, especially ones that are so sensitive.

I agree 100% poly clay is never a good choice, i dont see why people still make/buy/wear them.