if If you have pierced ears (either one or a set), you’re probably familiar with those little, clear silicone earring backs that come with a new set of earrings. They are a super clutch for me when you lose a regular metal flat shoe and need the cleats fixed. However, according to a TikTok public service announcement that recently started going viral, these clear rubber backings actually pose significant risks when worn for extended periods of time.
Thursday, October 10th TikTok founder Amber Guttila shared her latest The back of her clear earrings stuck to her earrings like glue and nearly sent her to the hospital. Gutila told Well+Good in an exclusive interview that “it was a surreal moment” when she realized she needed professional help to remove her earrings. Gutila explained in her TikTok that she had been wearing the silicone earrings for “a month or two” before trying to take them off. “Let me be the first to tell you,” Gutila said in the video, “these are not meant for long-term wear.”
Gutila said she initially thought the difficulty in removing the silicone back was user error, but after she and her fiancé tried multiple times and failed, she told us she went to New Flower Body Piercing Studio in Long Beach, Calif., for professional help.
@amber.guttill PSA for earring wearers! I’ve had my ears pierced for 30 years and never knew this 🫠 #earrings #earringtips #earringscare #publicserviceannouncement #PSA #jewelrycleaning ♬ Original Soundtrack – Amber Rose
Gutila said the piercer told her that silicone earring backs are great It’s porous and tends to absorb a lot of dirt, oil, sweat, and makeup, and then forms a “glue-like” substance that almost “fuses” with the back of the earrings, making them difficult (or impossible) to remove. Gutila’s piercer also told her that the last person who came in with a silicone band had been wearing it for a year and needed to go to the hospital to have it removed.
Related stories
Fortunately, Gutila didn’t need to go to the hospital, but she told Well+Good that the process does require some brute force from the piercer. “He took me to a private space, put on gloves, sterilized my ears with alcohol, then used two clip tools to clamp the sides of the earrings and forcefully pull them apart,” she told us. “It took about six to seven minutes total and was a bit painful because he had to twist my earlobe to pry the earrings and silicone apart.
For Guttila, the pain was worth it, and he could walk out of the store with silicone-free earrings. “I looked at what I had pried open and the silicone was yellow,” she told us. “I didn’t know silicone was porous and I was really blindsided when I learned that shouldn’t wear them often.
Is this just a fluke?
“Because of the chemical properties of the polymer, silicone sticks to the skin, creating an adhesive effect,” says Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She says comparing this reaction to body temperature, When pressure and time are combined, “the bonding effect becomes stronger.”
“We see this a lot with earrings, where wax, oil, or anything can build up in the space on the back of the earring,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. and hardens. “That doesn’t mean it will necessarily set with the silicone, but the buildup can get stuck in the plug on the back of the earring, making it harder to remove.”
as a result of
Gutila’s learning moment It has since sparked discussion on TikTok (her video currently has over 1.5 million views)), About proper earring care to avoid similar situations. “Wait…don’t we all take out our earrings before going to bed?” a commenter asks the video, with another adding: “Sleeping and showering with jewelry, especially earrings, is crazy.
and Guttila’s comments section Dr. Gashik says there’s disagreement over whether you should take off your earrings every day Generally speaking, It’s a good habit to remove them regularly. Nonetheless, some piercings are not always possible (e.g. new cartilage piercings need For example, leave them in for recovery), which is why you should avoid silicone earmuffs entirely if you forget or are unable to take your earrings off every day.
“I “I personally remove my earrings every night, but that doesn’t have to be the case for everyone,” says Dr. Garchik. “Removing them regularly, if not every day, allows you to thoroughly clean around the pierced area and also helps with pain relief.” If you wear earrings or earrings, your ears may feel strained.
If you don’t remove your earrings every day, you can periodically remove the buildup with a clean cotton swab soaked in water (or saline piercing solution), says Dr. Gashik Clean the area gently. “If you feel there is build-up on the back of your earrings, you can also use a petroleum jelly product, such as Vaseline or Aquaphor Then massage the area to relax,” she says.
final thoughts
Ultimately, taking your earrings out every day (or not) is a personal choice and habit, but if your goal is to avoid dirt buildup and irritation, try cleaning your earrings as often as possible. “A lot of times, earrings become part of your everyday look, so it’s easy to forget what’s there — that doesn’t mean you’re dirty or wrong; accumulation is completely normal,” says Dr. Garsik. Just to be on the safe side, why not skip the silicone entirely and go for a titanium or gold flat back?
Our editors independently select these products. Purchases made through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.
