Jewellery & Earcare Guide - For All Your Earcare Needs
Articles By John M Brown 
Up until recent times there was little or no restriction on the content of fashion jewellery. In short, manufacturers were free to use almost any base metal for the ear post and clips of your jewellery. The most popular addition to any piece of costume jewellery came within the plating process, and whether the article in question was to be silver or gold plated made little difference; the one common element in all plating of jewellery was - the use of 'Nickel'.
Nickel was added to enhance the shine of the earrings or necklet. Unfortunately it was a well documented fact that in certain cases the addition of nickel could cause an allergic skin reaction. Exact figures were never collated as to how many people this process actually affected, but that didn't stop the Eurocrats from acting with vigour. Soon the 'Boys in Brussels' declared that all earrings, necklets, rings and brooches, in fact - any fashion jewellery or accessory that came in contact with the surface of the skin must be 'Nickel free'.
So to sum up - now, when you buy your fashion earrings or that pretty necklet, by and large they should be nickel free. This however doesn't mean that all ear-care stops there - Oh No !
There is still a basic hygiene code you should adhere to if you want to avoid future problems. This is where BACKS is on hand to help. Our Product range of replacement earring backs, clip pads, sterile studs and anti-allergenic solution has over the past fifteen years helped people manage their jewellery wearing problems. Available widely throughout retail outlets in the U.K. The Backs Earcare Products range is now available direct for your convenience.
PRODUCT GUIDE.
Gold Plate Backs: Suitable for all pierced earrings they are safe comfortable and inexpensive, for best results both the earring post and the backs should be regularly cleansed with Backs Ear Clear Solution.
Silver Plate Backs: Exactly as above only silver plate.
Supabacks: Certainly our best selling item and probably the most versatile of all the replacement backs. The large disc and secure bullet back gives great support to even the largest earring. This earring back is also ideal if in past years you have enlarged the piercings in your lobes.
Polymer Supabacks: As above, only where Supabacks have a gold plated bullet section - these are completely clear.
Bullet Backs: A gold plated bullet shaped earring clutch / butterfly, very secure and discreet - ideal for all earring types.
Hypo Backs: As above - but once again made from high grade polymer making them non- reactive and ultra discreet.
Clip Pads: Designed to ease the pinch caused by certain
clip earrings. If the clip on your earring has a little hole, then these clever little comfort pads will simply push through.
Slip On Pads: A universal comfort pad to ease the ear-pinch felt with some jewellery. Simply slip the polymer sleeve over the arm of the earring clip and you jewellery is ready to wear.
Ear Clear Solution: This little bottle is probably the most important item in your jewel box. The solution is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-septic. Ideal for sensitive earlobes newly pierced ears and the general cleansing of earrings, necklets, bangles, and all forms of body jewellery (see separate section).
PROBLEMS AND SOME SOLUTIONS.
I don't want to worry you but that little hole in your ear lobe never technically heals-up.
Think about it - if it did - you wouldn't be able to wear you earrings! That's not to say that your body's defences won't protect you by closing the opening around the piercing but it does need a little help from you. True, there have always been people who could wear a rusty nail with little reaction, where others only have to scratch themselves to feel genuine pain or irritation. I think it is therefore safe to say that a degree of cleansing and maintenance can do no harm and will probably help avoid some of the more unpleasant reactions that can happen from time to time.
Q I am wearing nickel free earrings but still get irritation after a short while of wearing them.
A Your body cycle changes every seven years or so, just as you could once run a hundred yards in 16 seconds, now that may not be possible. So it is with your body, your PH balance may have altered causing an acidic reaction. Similar symptoms may be due to medication - eg. sulphur based drugs. Try using Ear clear Solution on both, the earring post, earring backs and ear-lobes. If the symptoms persist, change to
clip earrings or try sterile studs for a short while, this way you will keep your piercings open. If your problems persist - consult your G.P.
Q My earrings feel heavy and move about more than they should.
A Somewhere in you jewellery-wearing past you have probably followed a trend for heavy or large earring. Worn over a period of time without the correct support they have literally stretched the holes. Change to an earring back with a built -in disc for support. Supabacks or Polymer Supabacks will help, they won't return your earlobes to their former glory but they should arrest any further stretching
Q I am still getting irritation even if I wear gold jewellery - why?
A The only pure gold is 24ct . Because 'Pure Gold' is too soft it needs to be strengthened with an alloy - the more alloy the jewellery contains the lower the carat rating eg. 9ct is the hardest wearing gold, 22ct is the softest and by definition the most pure. If you are having trouble with gold try wearing a higher carat rating, say 18ct. Once again don't forget to sterilize your earrings, this may be enough for short periods of wear.
Q My ear lobes are sore when I wear
clip earrings.
A This one really is very simple, use a clip pad. This simple action will reduce the ear pinch caused by some of the more aggressive ear-clips.
Q How often should I change my earring backs.
A In an ideal world about every 3 months, a more realistic answer would be look at them closely - do they look past their sell-by date? If so discard them - after all you wouldn't wear an article of clothing for six months without washing it would you? Remember these earring backs are next to your skin, in some cases 24 - 7. Go on Throw Them Away!
Q I can't wear fashion or gold earrings without irritation.
A For reasons previously stated you have a severe allergic reaction try either a sterile stud like Hypo Studs, they are piercing quality and are therefore about as non-reactive as you can get . If this solution doesn't appeal, try sterling silver, ounce for ounce it's purer than 18ct gold.
Remember that regular cleansing of both the earring posts, clips and ear lobes can only help prevent infection and aids comfort.
BODY JEWELLERY
The popularity in the wearing of body jewellery is something nobody could have predicted. Sad to say, the information with regard to care of both the piercings and the jewellery itself has not kept pace.
Body piercing has been carried out on almost every part of the body from the face to, shall we say, more private parts. All these piercings have one thing in common -THEY MUST BE CLEANSED!
There really is no substitute for regular cleansing. Backs Ear Clear solution is ideal for cleansing all types of body jewellery. It's antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties cleanse and coat to avoid infection and irritation. The solution is best used on ear lobes and although it will not harm other pierced body parts, its immediate effects are a little too aggressive for use on sensitive areas.(For External Use Only).
The trend and demand for crystal jewelry is increasing day by day. Whether it is necklace or bracelets, earrings or finger-rings; wearing crystal jewelry has been in fashion for quite some time now.
A beautiful and creative variation of wearing crystal jewelry is in the form of ornamenting one's dress with beautiful sequences of crystals. This not only makes the dress look elegant and expensive, it also gives a lift to the personality of the wearer.
This jewelry can be very expensive or very affordable, depending upon the type of crystals used in the jewelry. The Austrian crystals are considered to be the most expensive ones. Artificial crystals are also prepared in laboratories in different colors. The artificial crystals are more affordable than the natural ones due to obvious reasons.
Crystals are very durable, therefore, your jewelry can be very long-lasting and it may be passed on to the next lot. You can create beautiful patterns of crystals on jewelry or clothes depending upon your taste and style.
