Tiny studs, big trouble?
Parents itching to pierce their kids’ ears might want to put down the needle — a growing body of research suggests the popular practice could cost more than just a few tears.
“Delay ear piercings in young girls,” Dr. Niha Qamar (@doctor._.q), a board-certified allergist and immunologist, said in a recent TikTok, warning it could increase the risk of a serious, lifelong allergy.
Nationwide, nickel is the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis — a red, itchy rash that flares up when the skin touches a normally harmless material.
Roughly 1.1 million American children are affected by a nickel sensitivity, and studies show that number has quadrupled over the past 30 years. Researchers say early ear piercings are a major factor.
In a Swedish study of 960 schoolgirls aged 8 to 15, researchers found that “the ones who had ear piercings had 13% nickel allergy, versus 1% of the girls who didn’t have ear piercings,” Qamar said.
Another study out of Finland showed that 31% of pierced kids had a reaction to nickel — compared to just 2% of those without.
And in the US, a study found that just 4% of men with no piercings were sensitive to nickel, while 11.1% and 14% of those with one or multiple piercings, respectively, were affected.
“Europe actually passed legislation to decrease the amount of nickel in jewelry (for this reason),” Qamar said.
That regulation, the Nickel Directive, was introduced by the European Union in 1994 to limit how much nickel can leach from items like earrings. In the years since, countries like Denmark have reported major drops in sensitization, along with an estimated $2 billion in related health care savings.
Nickel allergy isn’t deadly, but it can make life miserable. Reactions may include hives, cracked skin, burning, itching and discoloration.
More severe symptoms can strike when someone eats nickel-rich foods or has a metal device implanted. Blisters, diarrhea, fatigue, headaches and full-body swelling are all on the table.
With no cure, managing symptoms becomes a lifelong battle — and avoiding nickel isn’t easy, since it lurks in everything from jewelry and belt buckles to bra hooks and braces. Some people require treatment, which can include medication and even light therapy.
With nickel sensitization on the rise in the US, major medical groups are calling for tighter regulations like those already in place in Europe.
In 2020, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged the federal government to crack down on nickel in clothing and jewelry.
“The burden of symptoms and cost is high,” the policy statement notes. “The United States can act on EU data revealing that legislation to limit exposures in childhood, especially with earrings, can impact the prevalence and potentially the severity of disease.”
Until then, Qamar says parents should play it safe and hold off on piercing their kids’ ears.
“If your child is getting pieced ears, get jewelry that is nickel free,” she recommended. “That will reduce the risk of nickel sensitization.”
