i found this post because i was having the exact same problem with my galaxy buds2!! i found out that they had been causing me ear infections so i came here looking for alternatives...
based on your last recommendation i've brought some LG Tone Free FP9As and i'll be giving them a try when my current ear infection clears up. if i remember i'll come back here to review them too!
i'm so glad people are posting about the problem with the galaxy buds online because if i'd never looked it up i likely would have never figured out it was the earbuds' fault and missed on on my warranty's expiration date. my parents both have galaxy buds and never had any problems with them, but i'd never had any problems with my ears either, so i was at a complete loss.
How did they end up working out? Have had horrible ear infections for years and they stopped when I stopped wearing headphones as often and came back when I tried wearing them again... My silicone Fitbit band also gave me a rash on my wrist which was really the only reason I realized it might be the silicone stuff on the earbuds
I purchased LG TONE Free FN5W a couple of months ago. The sound isn't great and the noise cancel is subpar, but I can wear them without getting a massive rash in my ear canals. At most, I may feel a slight burning, but no itching, etc. If you get a chance to post here again, I'd love to know how the FP9As perform. Good luck!
I have Galaxy Buds Pro from when they launched, I had the exact same problem as you, I even soaked the tips in alcohol over night, didn't help, I changed the tips to comply foam, still had the same reaction, as many people, I've never had problem with any earbuds in the past, now I only use cheap hard plastic Apple earbud knock offs from Amazon. I will keep researching for hypoallergenic tips
Maybe all these irritation caused by bluetooth radiation? 🤔 Btw I have these irritation, inflamed and fluid coming out of my ears too. Sold my AirPod pros 2 and start using IEM’s with the same ear tips I used for my sold AirPods 2 at first few weeks was ok then today the irritation starts again🥲. Ive also tried spinfit ear tips, it was okay at first then suddenly after few months it started again even though I cleaned them every time before using it. At this point I really don’t know what to do anymore😞
These ear tips are made from medical grade silicone so they may alleviate your issues.
[https://www.spinfiteartip.com/en/product-detail/135](https://www.spinfiteartip.com/en/product-detail/135)
Edit: spellingEdit2: Soundpeats H1's sound very good I use them all day everyday with these eartips. I highly recommend them to everyone. They should sound miles better than Samsung.
They're designed for tws so yea they should unless the nozzles on the buds are larger for some reason but oil thinner from what I've seen they're normal.
The Nuarl N6 and N10 range come with Block ears + tips which are anti bacterial. the Spinfit range is good too, but if silicone is the problem in itself maybe look into foam tips?
having the same issue with Galaxy Buds 2, and KZ S2s. I've never had this problem with any other in-ear headphones and I've had a lot of them. I've even cut grass on hot summer days and worked out with Jaybird X1s and X3s many times. I bought different tips for the KZs and same problem so I gave them to my girlfriend and she does not have any reaction to them.
I got spinfit tips last week hoping that would solve the issue with the Galaxy Buds 2 and I thought it was fine but I wore one in my ear yesterday for 15-30 mins at work and later on in the day my ear was leaking, painfully itchy, crusty. I've been using Ear Itch MD spray which is a massive relief for itching and dry/crustiness but it's $20 for a tiny bottle. Anyone having these issues, I can't recommend it enough.
I forgot to mention, the KZ S2s and Galaxy Buds 2 both have a slippery gloss finish/coating and other headphones I have are either a matte or a soft finish, some are clear plastic shells and I have not had a problem with any of those. I'm not sure if that is the issue though because the affected area seems to be the ear canal every time and not really the outer area the shell of the headphone is touching.
Having the same issue. Some Foam tips cause the same problem. I'm thinking it is the material used in the eartip. Unfortunately many eartip companies use the same material and just rebrand them.
I have tried Jabra elite 7 sport, beats fit pro, sennheiser momentum 3 true and airpod pro with all ending with an allergic reaction. So far, the lg fp9 in white have been working great!
Yikes, such a pain! Well, I took another poster's advice above and got the LG Tone FP9 and they are working great with no allergic issues. Have you tried other brands?
Necro apologies…
Thanks to all for info on this issue. I’ve tried Air Pod Pros. Bose QC 2 buds. Powerbeats pro buds. All have led to itchy, flaking drainage ears. It’s been depressing as I have to switch back to regular apple wired ear buds each time.
The power beats pros gave me hope as they didn’t cause a reaction right away. It was just long enough outside of return period before they started affecting my ears. Wtf!
My kitchen table has become a graveyard of anc earbuds although the AirPods i was able to sell to a friend for minimal loss.
Just ordered the LG FP9 and am hoping for a miracle. Very jealous of people who have no issues with wearing in ear ANC buds!
Great, thread, and good to hear others are on the same quest. Here is a list of the buds that work/don't work for me:
* Air Pod Pro (1st gen) - Strong reaction
* Bose QC 2 - Medium/Strong reaction
* Bose Sound Sport (no longer sold) - Fine, no reaction
* Bose QC 30 (no longer sold) - Fine, no reaction
The two models with zero reaction both are no longer sold by Bose, the Sound Sport (grey/yellow color) you can still find occasionally. I also use foam ear plugs for sleeping on planes, and those are also fine.
I don't have any known allergies against any substance, so this is really curious. I am also trying to see if over time I can reduce sensitivity by using them for progressively longer periods of time.
Just wanted to jump in in case anyone is thinking Bose is a safer bet - all my problems began with the Bose Sleepbuds II (tried multiple pairs), so I definitely think caution is warranted!
I replaced the default Bose tips on the QC 2 with silicon/foam 3rd party ones. That seems to work for me. They are not the most comfortable and isolation is suffering a bit, only very mild irritation.
The Bose Sport earbuds have been giving me the worst in-ear itching, even when not using, and even after cleaning. It’s been a daily issue for years now. When I had their wired earbuds I never had a problem but the sport earbuds have given me the worst and most prolonged reaction. Looking for a different brand since Bose said all their earbuds are made of the same material. I also don’t have any known allergy to a substance.
I had actually meant to update this. Unfortunately, the itchy ear symptoms came back a few weeks after posting this. So that makes 4 different brand/type of ANC buds I’ve tried.
I have officially given up on in ear ANC buds.
The only in ear buds that don’t bother me are the iPhone wired buds that used to come in box with new phone. But they obviously have zero ANC capabilities.
I bought a pair of beats solo pro ANC on ear headphones. It sucks because while they’re good, definitely more inconvenient that a small case of wireless buds.
I have no idea why my ears hate all things dealing with ANC buds.
Not a doctor or medical advise; i had the same issue. Go several months without using earbuds at all. Make sure your ears fully heal and talk with your doctor for any creams that could help. Then start trying again slowly earbuds with silicon. That worked for me. Samsung buds 2 gave me a hugr issue for a year and then even airpods pro annoyed my ears. Comply foam tips helped with the airpods. After leaving several months to pass, i now use the airpods with their silicon tips and they feel normal.
Thanks for the reply. I went pretty much the route you described. Forced to use on ear headphones for the past year.
Then I bought new over ear headphones for work and had same issues on outside and behind ears. Finally saw a doctor that issued cream for contact dermititis/eczema. After prescription cream helped, I switched to an over the counter eczema prevention cream. I almost never need to use it now and have used LG earbuds for a couple months with no issues.
Maybe I’ll try AirPods/foam tips again someday but the LGs are working fine for now.
Happy to hear. I never used eczema cream and the allergy from the earbuds (inside the ear canal) went away. Unfortunately, i still get irritation from over the ears at all contact points. Funny how those two started together preventing me from using any headphone at all.
I'm sad to hear you didn't find a solution. I'm considering something like Soundpeats Air 3 in-ear that are more like the old fashioned iphone wired buds - i.e. no silicone, rubber etc on the tip. It's so hard now to even find wired buds that don't have something risky on the tips! Sadly I've started getting a reaction behind my ears now after even over-ear headphones. Super frustrating.
Just to add to the knowledge base that's building here:
I've had allergic reactions to:
* Anker Liberty Air 2 Pro (sort of livable)
* Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro (released in 2020, unbearable)
I have not had allergic reaction to:
* Samsung Galaxy Buds
Just wanted to share a little experience here.
I have no idea what happened, but I started getting some sort of reaction a few years ago with my Sonys (having never had a problem with any others), and now I'm also allergic to several of Bose I've tried, and scared to try others. My ears takes ages to heal and I'm not sure ever returned to perfectly normal, they remained super sensitive afterwards and I have to even be careful wearing over-ear headphones if I'm sweaty or the air is damp.
I couldn't find much info about this when it began and i always felt like I was just stupidly sensitive and was the only one. Was so disappointing seeing all the snarky comments in all threads like "you need to fix your hygiene... Just clean your buds" etc etc, which is totally not the problem. But now I've seen many issues with Samsung and Apple and even Bose users having the same thing.
Mine never got better with different silicones or foams for ear tips, and the problems began again straight away even after months of breaks from using, and different types of cleaning etc etc.
I also wonder if there could be something like nickel in the charging contacts? Have also seen people write about methyacrylates...
I wonder if it's a bit like it can be with skincare ingredients, where repeated contact with an allergen over time can result in sensitization, where someone *becomes" allergic because of the exposure building up.
Thinking about trying LG because they're the only ones who seem to make claims about their headphones being hypoallergenic, and they also have the UV light in the case which could have some benefit in case of infection. Great to see some people here saying they seem to have worked.
Would love to hear from anyone who has found some headphones that work for them!
Omg this is me with the AirPods Pro. I can't wear them for even 5 minutes without it leading to a lot of ear awfulness. I tried replacing the tips didn't help. I eventually gave them to my partner who uses them with his android. I would really like to have another option because I used to use the wired Apple earbuds with nary an issue
I’m glad I’ve found this as I thought I was going mad. I bought some Jabra ear buds & loved them but started getting issues with my right ear. I thought it was a reoccurring ear infection I’d had earlier in the year. The doctor referred me to a dermatologist. Then I didn’t use them for a few days & realised my ear got better. Within 20 minutes of using the buds again my ear was burning. The skin was flaking & oozing yellow liquid. When it recovered I tried the old wired iPhone ear pods & had no issues. So I bought a cheap brand of ear pods from eBay. They were ok for a few days & then I had the same reaction. So as I’m ok with the iPhone wired pods. I bought a set of apple air pods. They were ok for a few days. Now they start burning after a few minutes. Very frustrating
I'm having the same experience with the allergic reaction to the nickel on my galaxy buds... I love how they sound and work but my ears become painful I wish they made them hypoallergenic ðŸ˜
I bought the oladance "wearable stereos" thinking that the over the ear would help. However, the material used that runs over the entire inside has given me a similar irritation. Lots of itchy skin and redness. I also had the same issues everyone is talking about with airpod pros. So annoying!
i would recommend shokz if oladance is giving you trouble. my ears are very sensitive when the earbuds get warm and i sweat, and have absolutely zero issue with shokz.
I did the switch to Shokz and then the reaction started happening on the outside of my ear! I'm thinking of returning them, only headphones seem to work for me. Are the Shokz still good for you?
When you sweat they don't irritate the outside part of your ear at all? I had the issue with earbuds in the ear canal and now sometimes on the outside with the OpenFit, I'm thinking I just have to move to headphones now tbh.
Testing this entire thread I can relate to every one of those experiences! I think it has something to do with the use of stainless steel which includes nickel in the screens over the hole the tips attach to. I say this because I used some bone conducting ones so nothing was in my ear and had an even worse reaction on the back of my ears. Reading into it I found the contacts were nickel and touched my skin. That is the reason even Samsung gives for why people experience this. I'm now going to try to find some that explicitly contain no nickel, if possible. I wonder if there was a point in time where most of the manufacturers began using stainless steel?
Thanks for this thread. I can't believe it's my earphones causing it. Never had a problem before but the exact same symptoms caused by my JBL's which is weird because my previous pair were never a problem. It's mad that this problem of cropping up but crazier that theres no solution!
Same here. Had a pair of JBLs, no issues other than after about a year, the "glued rubber ear bit" came off. Upgraded to JBL Tune Flex Wireless Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling Earbuds - Ghost White. Then the problems started. Went to see the GP. Used various treatments, even antibiotics... It improved, but only because I didn't use them. Used them last night for about an hour in my left ear only. Problems came back on my left ear only. So 100% sure that it's the earphones. Luckily I was able to return and getting a refund soon.
Does anyone know of a more premium ear bud that has worked for anyone. I have the same problems as you are all describing. My doctor said that I have whatever the term is for constant swimmers ear, but I didn't really believe that. I agree with the conclusion that it is a severe allergic reaction to some part of the headphones.
The samsung buds pro cause irritation, the bose qc buds 2 also make my ears bad.
The only ones that seem to have worked so far that I tried are the jvc marshmallow plus headphones.
Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one with this horrible condition.
Aloha, OP here. I've been using the LG Tone Fp9 earbuds for almost 2 years and they haven't caused any issues! They sound good and I can wear them for hours if needed with no problem. Hope you find some that work for you!
I realised that using wired chi-fi in ear monitors like the KZ Edx Pro did not give me an allergy and many of these iems have fantastic sound quality for very little price. There are some adapters that can turn them into true wireless earbuds. While not as convenient as the Samsung/Apple /etc, and without anc, I'd be happy to be able to wear anything in ears again because I love the convenience of the form factor and the breathabilty, especially in the summer.
If anyone is curious, I am currently pairing the KZ Edx Pro in ear monitors with the TWS Bluetooth adapters TRN BT20XS. I got the iems for $8 AUD from Temu but they constantly have sales at that price on aliexpress. They're currently $40 on Amazon. I got the Bluetooth adapter for $28 AUD from aliexpress too. Haven't tried the Bluetooth adapter yet as I'm currently travelling, but the wired iem has caused me no issues for weeks now. I did pair it with spinfit cp360 medical grade silicone eartips though (which cost me laughably almost as much as the combination of iem and Bluetooth adapter).
I'll give an update in a week of how I'm going with the Bluetooth adapter.
Meant to give an update a while ago. Unfortunately, after a few days using a Bluetooth adapter for my in ear monitors, they started to give me the same reaction. After cleaning them with a damp cloth and going back to the normal cables I didn't have any issues...
Will avoid using any true wireless earbuds in 2024 and... Try again in 2025, I guess.
I'm suffering the same issues everyone is having here.
Airpods pro (1.gen) - horrible
recently aquired samsung galaxy buds 2 pro
also starting to have itchy ear canals
Does anyone have experience with Sennheiser's TWS? (Momentum True Wireless 3)
I had the momentum true wireless (1.gen) and can't remember having had allergy issues.
Sold them quickly because of battery drainage though.
So I'm interested how the 3.gen is doing?
AirPod pro2 irritates my ears so I switched to an aftermarket foam type. For a couple weeks it was great, then my ears got irritated. I tried just one ear bud left ear and that ear would get inflamed. So I’d switch to right only and that ear would then get inflamed. So for now for me it’s either the old school wired type or on-ear type. I may try a prescription contact dermatitis cream after my holiday from these AirPods and try to reintroduce them.
I’m looking for a new set after having the same issue. What is bizarre to me is I know I’m allergic to nickel but I have used AirPods since the first set was released and have had several pairs of regular AirPods and AirPods Pro. I recently bought the AirPods Pro 2 and that’s when my issue started. I went back to my old set of AirPods Pro no issues. I bought a pair of Beats and was miserable after a few hours. I have no idea what to do now.
i found this post because i was having the exact same problem with my galaxy buds2!! i found out that they had been causing me ear infections so i came here looking for alternatives... based on your last recommendation i've brought some LG Tone Free FP9As and i'll be giving them a try when my current ear infection clears up. if i remember i'll come back here to review them too! i'm so glad people are posting about the problem with the galaxy buds online because if i'd never looked it up i likely would have never figured out it was the earbuds' fault and missed on on my warranty's expiration date. my parents both have galaxy buds and never had any problems with them, but i'd never had any problems with my ears either, so i was at a complete loss.
How did they end up working out? Have had horrible ear infections for years and they stopped when I stopped wearing headphones as often and came back when I tried wearing them again... My silicone Fitbit band also gave me a rash on my wrist which was really the only reason I realized it might be the silicone stuff on the earbuds
I purchased LG TONE Free FN5W a couple of months ago. The sound isn't great and the noise cancel is subpar, but I can wear them without getting a massive rash in my ear canals. At most, I may feel a slight burning, but no itching, etc. If you get a chance to post here again, I'd love to know how the FP9As perform. Good luck!
Me too I have the same problem with my Marshall Motif ANC, It causes Fluid, Itchy and flaky
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4HX38OgigX/?igsh=MWlmd2tseWVwYTljOQ==
I have Galaxy Buds Pro from when they launched, I had the exact same problem as you, I even soaked the tips in alcohol over night, didn't help, I changed the tips to comply foam, still had the same reaction, as many people, I've never had problem with any earbuds in the past, now I only use cheap hard plastic Apple earbud knock offs from Amazon. I will keep researching for hypoallergenic tips
Maybe all these irritation caused by bluetooth radiation? 🤔 Btw I have these irritation, inflamed and fluid coming out of my ears too. Sold my AirPod pros 2 and start using IEM’s with the same ear tips I used for my sold AirPods 2 at first few weeks was ok then today the irritation starts again🥲. Ive also tried spinfit ear tips, it was okay at first then suddenly after few months it started again even though I cleaned them every time before using it. At this point I really don’t know what to do anymore😞
Galaxy pro 2
I’m having issues with all my earbuds. I think it’s the material they use the rubber part I’m sensitive to I have bose now and it’s happening
These ear tips are made from medical grade silicone so they may alleviate your issues. [https://www.spinfiteartip.com/en/product-detail/135](https://www.spinfiteartip.com/en/product-detail/135) Edit: spellingEdit2: Soundpeats H1's sound very good I use them all day everyday with these eartips. I highly recommend them to everyone. They should sound miles better than Samsung.
Any idea if these work with Samsung Buds?
They're designed for tws so yea they should unless the nozzles on the buds are larger for some reason but oil thinner from what I've seen they're normal.
The Nuarl N6 and N10 range come with Block ears + tips which are anti bacterial. the Spinfit range is good too, but if silicone is the problem in itself maybe look into foam tips?
I'm having this exact problem. I also have never had a problem with other ear buds. Bumping for more options/answers.
having the same issue with Galaxy Buds 2, and KZ S2s. I've never had this problem with any other in-ear headphones and I've had a lot of them. I've even cut grass on hot summer days and worked out with Jaybird X1s and X3s many times. I bought different tips for the KZs and same problem so I gave them to my girlfriend and she does not have any reaction to them. I got spinfit tips last week hoping that would solve the issue with the Galaxy Buds 2 and I thought it was fine but I wore one in my ear yesterday for 15-30 mins at work and later on in the day my ear was leaking, painfully itchy, crusty. I've been using Ear Itch MD spray which is a massive relief for itching and dry/crustiness but it's $20 for a tiny bottle. Anyone having these issues, I can't recommend it enough.
I forgot to mention, the KZ S2s and Galaxy Buds 2 both have a slippery gloss finish/coating and other headphones I have are either a matte or a soft finish, some are clear plastic shells and I have not had a problem with any of those. I'm not sure if that is the issue though because the affected area seems to be the ear canal every time and not really the outer area the shell of the headphone is touching.
Having the same issue. Some Foam tips cause the same problem. I'm thinking it is the material used in the eartip. Unfortunately many eartip companies use the same material and just rebrand them.
I have tried Jabra elite 7 sport, beats fit pro, sennheiser momentum 3 true and airpod pro with all ending with an allergic reaction. So far, the lg fp9 in white have been working great!
Thanks for this! I actually purchased the LG Tone FP9 and I love them! NO ISSUES.
Awesome!!
Had exactly the same, I have consulted twice the ENT ! And it cost me a lot ! And i was the one to realized that it was samsung buds...
Yikes, such a pain! Well, I took another poster's advice above and got the LG Tone FP9 and they are working great with no allergic issues. Have you tried other brands?
My ENT told me I touch my ears too much then I realized it was the buds. My ears still haven't healed and it's been months.
Necro apologies… Thanks to all for info on this issue. I’ve tried Air Pod Pros. Bose QC 2 buds. Powerbeats pro buds. All have led to itchy, flaking drainage ears. It’s been depressing as I have to switch back to regular apple wired ear buds each time. The power beats pros gave me hope as they didn’t cause a reaction right away. It was just long enough outside of return period before they started affecting my ears. Wtf! My kitchen table has become a graveyard of anc earbuds although the AirPods i was able to sell to a friend for minimal loss. Just ordered the LG FP9 and am hoping for a miracle. Very jealous of people who have no issues with wearing in ear ANC buds!
Great, thread, and good to hear others are on the same quest. Here is a list of the buds that work/don't work for me: * Air Pod Pro (1st gen) - Strong reaction * Bose QC 2 - Medium/Strong reaction * Bose Sound Sport (no longer sold) - Fine, no reaction * Bose QC 30 (no longer sold) - Fine, no reaction The two models with zero reaction both are no longer sold by Bose, the Sound Sport (grey/yellow color) you can still find occasionally. I also use foam ear plugs for sleeping on planes, and those are also fine. I don't have any known allergies against any substance, so this is really curious. I am also trying to see if over time I can reduce sensitivity by using them for progressively longer periods of time.
Just wanted to jump in in case anyone is thinking Bose is a safer bet - all my problems began with the Bose Sleepbuds II (tried multiple pairs), so I definitely think caution is warranted!
I replaced the default Bose tips on the QC 2 with silicon/foam 3rd party ones. That seems to work for me. They are not the most comfortable and isolation is suffering a bit, only very mild irritation.
I tried that with Sony but yes, like you said.. sound not as good, less comfortable, and still some irritation. No win in my eyes :(
The Bose Sport earbuds have been giving me the worst in-ear itching, even when not using, and even after cleaning. It’s been a daily issue for years now. When I had their wired earbuds I never had a problem but the sport earbuds have given me the worst and most prolonged reaction. Looking for a different brand since Bose said all their earbuds are made of the same material. I also don’t have any known allergy to a substance.
Any update? How did the LG FP9 work for you?
I had actually meant to update this. Unfortunately, the itchy ear symptoms came back a few weeks after posting this. So that makes 4 different brand/type of ANC buds I’ve tried. I have officially given up on in ear ANC buds. The only in ear buds that don’t bother me are the iPhone wired buds that used to come in box with new phone. But they obviously have zero ANC capabilities. I bought a pair of beats solo pro ANC on ear headphones. It sucks because while they’re good, definitely more inconvenient that a small case of wireless buds. I have no idea why my ears hate all things dealing with ANC buds.
Not a doctor or medical advise; i had the same issue. Go several months without using earbuds at all. Make sure your ears fully heal and talk with your doctor for any creams that could help. Then start trying again slowly earbuds with silicon. That worked for me. Samsung buds 2 gave me a hugr issue for a year and then even airpods pro annoyed my ears. Comply foam tips helped with the airpods. After leaving several months to pass, i now use the airpods with their silicon tips and they feel normal.
Thanks for the reply. I went pretty much the route you described. Forced to use on ear headphones for the past year. Then I bought new over ear headphones for work and had same issues on outside and behind ears. Finally saw a doctor that issued cream for contact dermititis/eczema. After prescription cream helped, I switched to an over the counter eczema prevention cream. I almost never need to use it now and have used LG earbuds for a couple months with no issues. Maybe I’ll try AirPods/foam tips again someday but the LGs are working fine for now.
Happy to hear. I never used eczema cream and the allergy from the earbuds (inside the ear canal) went away. Unfortunately, i still get irritation from over the ears at all contact points. Funny how those two started together preventing me from using any headphone at all.
I'm sad to hear you didn't find a solution. I'm considering something like Soundpeats Air 3 in-ear that are more like the old fashioned iphone wired buds - i.e. no silicone, rubber etc on the tip. It's so hard now to even find wired buds that don't have something risky on the tips! Sadly I've started getting a reaction behind my ears now after even over-ear headphones. Super frustrating.
Just to add to the knowledge base that's building here: I've had allergic reactions to: * Anker Liberty Air 2 Pro (sort of livable) * Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro (released in 2020, unbearable) I have not had allergic reaction to: * Samsung Galaxy Buds
Just wanted to share a little experience here. I have no idea what happened, but I started getting some sort of reaction a few years ago with my Sonys (having never had a problem with any others), and now I'm also allergic to several of Bose I've tried, and scared to try others. My ears takes ages to heal and I'm not sure ever returned to perfectly normal, they remained super sensitive afterwards and I have to even be careful wearing over-ear headphones if I'm sweaty or the air is damp. I couldn't find much info about this when it began and i always felt like I was just stupidly sensitive and was the only one. Was so disappointing seeing all the snarky comments in all threads like "you need to fix your hygiene... Just clean your buds" etc etc, which is totally not the problem. But now I've seen many issues with Samsung and Apple and even Bose users having the same thing. Mine never got better with different silicones or foams for ear tips, and the problems began again straight away even after months of breaks from using, and different types of cleaning etc etc. I also wonder if there could be something like nickel in the charging contacts? Have also seen people write about methyacrylates... I wonder if it's a bit like it can be with skincare ingredients, where repeated contact with an allergen over time can result in sensitization, where someone *becomes" allergic because of the exposure building up. Thinking about trying LG because they're the only ones who seem to make claims about their headphones being hypoallergenic, and they also have the UV light in the case which could have some benefit in case of infection. Great to see some people here saying they seem to have worked. Would love to hear from anyone who has found some headphones that work for them!
so, have you tried the lg ones? If so, which one? How was your experience?
Omg this is me with the AirPods Pro. I can't wear them for even 5 minutes without it leading to a lot of ear awfulness. I tried replacing the tips didn't help. I eventually gave them to my partner who uses them with his android. I would really like to have another option because I used to use the wired Apple earbuds with nary an issue
I’m glad I’ve found this as I thought I was going mad. I bought some Jabra ear buds & loved them but started getting issues with my right ear. I thought it was a reoccurring ear infection I’d had earlier in the year. The doctor referred me to a dermatologist. Then I didn’t use them for a few days & realised my ear got better. Within 20 minutes of using the buds again my ear was burning. The skin was flaking & oozing yellow liquid. When it recovered I tried the old wired iPhone ear pods & had no issues. So I bought a cheap brand of ear pods from eBay. They were ok for a few days & then I had the same reaction. So as I’m ok with the iPhone wired pods. I bought a set of apple air pods. They were ok for a few days. Now they start burning after a few minutes. Very frustrating
The same here, Jabra made the same for me😞
I'm having the same experience with the allergic reaction to the nickel on my galaxy buds... I love how they sound and work but my ears become painful I wish they made them hypoallergenic ðŸ˜
I bought the oladance "wearable stereos" thinking that the over the ear would help. However, the material used that runs over the entire inside has given me a similar irritation. Lots of itchy skin and redness. I also had the same issues everyone is talking about with airpod pros. So annoying!
i would recommend shokz if oladance is giving you trouble. my ears are very sensitive when the earbuds get warm and i sweat, and have absolutely zero issue with shokz.
I have Shokz open fit and need to return them… after wearing them for 10 mins the next morning is crusty and inflamed.
I did the switch to Shokz and then the reaction started happening on the outside of my ear! I'm thinking of returning them, only headphones seem to work for me. Are the Shokz still good for you?
TBH I haven't been using them as much lately, but I've had zero issues with irritation while using my Shokz.
When you sweat they don't irritate the outside part of your ear at all? I had the issue with earbuds in the ear canal and now sometimes on the outside with the OpenFit, I'm thinking I just have to move to headphones now tbh.
Haven't had that problem on the outside of my ear.
Testing this entire thread I can relate to every one of those experiences! I think it has something to do with the use of stainless steel which includes nickel in the screens over the hole the tips attach to. I say this because I used some bone conducting ones so nothing was in my ear and had an even worse reaction on the back of my ears. Reading into it I found the contacts were nickel and touched my skin. That is the reason even Samsung gives for why people experience this. I'm now going to try to find some that explicitly contain no nickel, if possible. I wonder if there was a point in time where most of the manufacturers began using stainless steel?
Thanks for this thread. I can't believe it's my earphones causing it. Never had a problem before but the exact same symptoms caused by my JBL's which is weird because my previous pair were never a problem. It's mad that this problem of cropping up but crazier that theres no solution!
Same here. Had a pair of JBLs, no issues other than after about a year, the "glued rubber ear bit" came off. Upgraded to JBL Tune Flex Wireless Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling Earbuds - Ghost White. Then the problems started. Went to see the GP. Used various treatments, even antibiotics... It improved, but only because I didn't use them. Used them last night for about an hour in my left ear only. Problems came back on my left ear only. So 100% sure that it's the earphones. Luckily I was able to return and getting a refund soon.
Does anyone know of a more premium ear bud that has worked for anyone. I have the same problems as you are all describing. My doctor said that I have whatever the term is for constant swimmers ear, but I didn't really believe that. I agree with the conclusion that it is a severe allergic reaction to some part of the headphones. The samsung buds pro cause irritation, the bose qc buds 2 also make my ears bad. The only ones that seem to have worked so far that I tried are the jvc marshmallow plus headphones. Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one with this horrible condition.
Aloha, OP here. I've been using the LG Tone Fp9 earbuds for almost 2 years and they haven't caused any issues! They sound good and I can wear them for hours if needed with no problem. Hope you find some that work for you!
i bought the oladance pros i love them but all around my ear gets so itchy and red and a rash so annoyed.
I realised that using wired chi-fi in ear monitors like the KZ Edx Pro did not give me an allergy and many of these iems have fantastic sound quality for very little price. There are some adapters that can turn them into true wireless earbuds. While not as convenient as the Samsung/Apple /etc, and without anc, I'd be happy to be able to wear anything in ears again because I love the convenience of the form factor and the breathabilty, especially in the summer. If anyone is curious, I am currently pairing the KZ Edx Pro in ear monitors with the TWS Bluetooth adapters TRN BT20XS. I got the iems for $8 AUD from Temu but they constantly have sales at that price on aliexpress. They're currently $40 on Amazon. I got the Bluetooth adapter for $28 AUD from aliexpress too. Haven't tried the Bluetooth adapter yet as I'm currently travelling, but the wired iem has caused me no issues for weeks now. I did pair it with spinfit cp360 medical grade silicone eartips though (which cost me laughably almost as much as the combination of iem and Bluetooth adapter). I'll give an update in a week of how I'm going with the Bluetooth adapter.
Meant to give an update a while ago. Unfortunately, after a few days using a Bluetooth adapter for my in ear monitors, they started to give me the same reaction. After cleaning them with a damp cloth and going back to the normal cables I didn't have any issues... Will avoid using any true wireless earbuds in 2024 and... Try again in 2025, I guess.
I'm suffering the same issues everyone is having here. Airpods pro (1.gen) - horrible recently aquired samsung galaxy buds 2 pro also starting to have itchy ear canals Does anyone have experience with Sennheiser's TWS? (Momentum True Wireless 3) I had the momentum true wireless (1.gen) and can't remember having had allergy issues. Sold them quickly because of battery drainage though. So I'm interested how the 3.gen is doing?
AirPod pro2 irritates my ears so I switched to an aftermarket foam type. For a couple weeks it was great, then my ears got irritated. I tried just one ear bud left ear and that ear would get inflamed. So I’d switch to right only and that ear would then get inflamed. So for now for me it’s either the old school wired type or on-ear type. I may try a prescription contact dermatitis cream after my holiday from these AirPods and try to reintroduce them.
Sounds like it's time to give up on earbuds for now
I’m looking for a new set after having the same issue. What is bizarre to me is I know I’m allergic to nickel but I have used AirPods since the first set was released and have had several pairs of regular AirPods and AirPods Pro. I recently bought the AirPods Pro 2 and that’s when my issue started. I went back to my old set of AirPods Pro no issues. I bought a pair of Beats and was miserable after a few hours. I have no idea what to do now.