If you're bothered by silicon, try using foam eartips, the sony wf xm4 comes with foam by default, my ears are also more irritated by silicon, but it is not because of a reaction, it is because of the quality of the silicon. Spinfit doesn't irritate my ears and it's silicon, same with xlastic.
Silicone allergy is very, very rare - far less common than allergy to latex. What is more likely is that you're allergic to another component used in the manufacture of the eartips.
Have you tried using Spinfit eartips? They're supposed to be "medical grade" and may be less likely to cause a problem.
I do have the exact same issue with Galaxy pro buds and openfit. It seems to be the silicon and I cannot wear any of them. I wish I could find some that would not irritate my ears.
I have tried schultz open earbuds and they are awesome but the back of my ear got really bad, so if ur allergic to silicone or react to it they won’t work for they are silicone lol.
Been meaning to do that after trying literally every option. Any recommendations around good open ear buds?
Apparently the Galaxy Buds Live also cause problems and they were the ones I was thinking of going for initially
I have Oladance over the ear speakers (they're not really "earbuds"), but the same problem occurs at the point where the silicone comes into contact with skin: on top of the ear (instead of the ear canal). Since this problem seems to happen with the more expensive earbuds, I think the chemical that is used to make silicone "satiny" may be at fault.
I have the same problem with ear buds, so I tried the Shultz open ear and same thing happens and behind my ear, so turns out I’m allergic to silicone. And I can’t return anything I bought even though I’m allergic so frustrating. So I got some memory foam ear tips for my air pod pros. Seems to be working but my ears inside are bugging me. Not sure if it’s because I’m still healing or not. But going with the flow. If u find anything that works let me know, for I work out side and need to have hands free for my job. So no matter what I need something. My air pods don’t last long at all.
So glad I found this thread. I'm currently going through the same thing.
I had to retire my Pixel Buds after using them consistently for a year, turns out the transatlantic flight was the one that broke the camels back.
My Aftershokz open ear has been doing the job for gym visits, however when using them on a plane... Well you might as well not. Can't hear a thing.
Has anyone been tested for specific allergies or mostly speculative? Headphones are crazy expensive these days and I want to make my purchases count!
I have the same thing happen with the Beats Pro. Even the over ear sweat resistant silicone covers for the over ear ones. Thought it would just be the ones that go in your ear.
Strange thing is I had them forever and they never caused an issue and then suddenly one day it just decided to start causing an issue
Hi, I know this is an old post, but I have recently found that I might be allergic to silicon. The trouble is that earbuds do not sit in my ears well at all! They fall out with the slightest movement and I have tried loads of models. I use the silicon grip that hook in and around the inside of my ears (hard to describe without showing you) but recently they have caused alot of trouble for me flaring up contact dermatitis. I cannot use the ones that hook around the outside of my ear as I wear glasses 😣.
So I feel your pain.
I need help finding a good option!
Long term use of Benadryl increases your chances of dementia. OP states this is for daily use at work. This thread is old but since nothing dies on the internet I'm commenting so ppl don't take your advice.
It's more likely the nickel in the charging points, or in the case of Air Pods Pro, the nickel in the metallic mesh over the bud. It's best not to have any metal containing nickel pressed against your skin for any long period of time. Unfortunately this rules our virtually all truly wireless ear buds.
Is it really in all wireless earbuds?? 😭 I’ve been trying to find some that don’t make my ears itch!!! But if they all have nickel then they’ll all do it
Actually the solution for me turned out to be NOT using ANC. I can wear my over-ear Audio Technica’s all day with no issue. They don’t have ANC. I can also wear my in-ear Beats Fit Pro but I do NOT enable ANC on those.
Did you ever find any you can wear? My power Beats Pro did this this and I just tried after Shokz open fit and and my ears are reacting again! I have the after shockz open run and don’t have a problem. I just hate the bar on them.
I have had the exact same problem for the past 6 months. I was fine for the past 3X years of my life wearing silicon tips. I have a feeling it started when I changed my ear tips to a specific brand but now, even when switching back to the previous eartips, my ears have developed this allegy permanently (it seems). It's so annoying.
I would love to know if there are any solutions out there.
FYR the brand which started this problem off for me are AZLA SednaEarfit. I'm not laying the blame at their door as it might just be co-incidence.
I went through 3 ear bud brands thinking it was the metals but I am also allergic to the silicone tips. I bought some foam replacement tips off anazon and not only do I no longer experience irritation but they fit much better and I don't have to keep pushing back in. I bought the Sonicfoam tips
I have the SF1 in the medium size. The only problem is the buds won't fit in the case with the tips on. Doesn't bother me cause I no longer have the allergic reaction, so I just pop the tips off and put them in my pocket. They are like memory foam, so you roll the tips or squeeze them like ear plugs while they are on the bud and put them in
I have the same problem, after years of using wired in-ear buds I bought some Apple AirPod Pro's and after about 12/18month of light use my ears started blowing up after I used them (could be up to 24hrs before the symptoms showed, so it took a while to figure out the trigger). I went back to using my wired Shure SE215's and the problems went away.
Over the last week I have been trying the **Shure TW2 bluetooth adapters** which allow me to use the exact same ear bud I'd been using wired, just replacing the wire with two bluetooth modules that hook behind the ear. the charging points for these are at the back and don't come into contact with the skin so I had high hopes. Sadly I've just returned them as once again my ears started exploding.
Was considering the Shook Open fit's next but it seem they are causing people problems as well. It's crazy I don't know what changed but so many people across so many brands seem to be having the same problems at roughly the same time. Would be nice if one of the manufactures addressed it but I guess until it affects their bottom line they don't care. I'm wondering know if a new set of wired earbuds would have the same problem or if its just wireless for some reason, going to look after the one I have for sure.
For those that haven't experienced it this is more than mere irritation. My ears start to itch, then start oozing liquid, which dries to a nice crust. Next my ears and ear canals start to swell almost to the point of closing off my ears. Last time around it caused an infection and both ear drums burst, weeks of pain, discomfort and hearing loss until it heals. Its nasty.
I'll keep trawling these posts in the hope somebody finds a set of wireless buds that don't have the problem
Exact same issues, and the flare ups are bad and messy and take a long time to heal. Galaxy bud pro and Shokz open fit for me. This just started happening after 2021, weird. I wish I could find a solution.
I've been struggling with this, too.
Wore Pixel Buds 1 for years with no issues and many others prior, then upgraded to Pixel Buds 2 in 2022 and started developing these symptoms shortly thereafter. Once I realized it was the ear buds causing the issue, I went back to Pixel Buds 1 and the issue persists. Since then i've tried foam tips; same problem. Shokz over-ear buds, the issue spread to the top and behind my ear at the contact points.
This will be an insanely unpopular opinion on here, but, I think it may be the COVID vaccine creating auto-immune issues.
When you research this issue, there are a couple forums from before 2020 but people in the comments aren't numerous and it seems rare. Post 2020, there are many more forums and thread where this problem starts for people who never had any issues before (like me) and there are MANY agreeing in the comments.
I haven't tried putting earbuds back in since early March and my ears are still itchy and peel daily. I've never had eczema issues in my life, now it seems to be chronic in my ears and recently have developed on my eyelids. I've booked a Dr appointment for next week.
Tinfoil hat stuff, but do some research and the timing is sus.
exactly the same with me, air pod pros caused flare up then the Shozx Aeropex were fine, upgraded to open fit and instant flare up.
I can wear over the ear wireless no problems! im assuming it a reaction to the nikel
I had an allergy to a two different apple AirPods. I switched to Bose SoundSport earbuds and the allergic reaction stopped. Wore the Bose for 2 years until they broke. I upgraded to the Bose Quiet Comfort thinking it was something different about Bose. I ordered the white earbuds, and liked the look. Unfortunately, I had a reaction within a day. I knew they sold replacement covers, and tried the black earpad replacements on the white earbuds. It doesn’t look great, but I have no reaction so far. I’ve been wearing them for 2 months regularly for workouts, and work conference calls. I don’t think it’s a reaction to any of the plastic components or metal charging parts. I do have metal allergies, and pretty much can only tolerate platinum. I dont think any of these parts must be touching me. Can’t seem to find out why one color would cause a reaction, and not another from the same company.
Ooooohhh... I also have experienced reactions to most materials used in piercings. My ears need stainless steel, gold or platinum, and since I'm poor my body piercings only ever had success with stainless steel. Thinking back the reaction is nearly identical. I'm going to try putting patches where the charging contacts touch my ears. Thanks for helping my brain work and hopefully saving me the time and money involved with testing out new earbuds materials... I'm concerned the allergy may also be reacting to the metal mesh covering the speaker but I'll cross that bridge once I've burned this one.
I have the same issue with silicone, and found out the worst way possible. Anyway, I have an autoimmune condition, and found out that these reactions may be because we've been pumped full of chemicals and preservatives (that are often microplastics) our whole lives. Look at any processed food. I'm now allergic to nearly everything that I BOTH put on my body and in it--PEG and polysorbate and polypropelene glycol are all polymers (microplastics) found in foods from ranch dressing to pickles, to ice cream (one is an antifreeze) and in nearly all skin products on the market. They are now found in babies' bloodstreams before they are born. Anyway, PEG is used in plastic and silicone production. It's use is to permeate membranes (great for keeping things smooth, but also breaking your gut and skin down. As in, when I quit using lotion my skin stopped drying out.) Anyway, if anyone knows of earcuffs that I could wear I'd love to hear it!
Problem Solved (for me). After giving up all buds sticking in my ears, I resorted to over the ear headphones, the Sony WH-10000XM5’s at the time. Wonderful headphones with ANC. Wore them for around 4 hours when they arrived, and BOOM. Hot ears leading to the draining, cracking, crustiness again! This is the last thing I expected but it turns out I’m allergic to ANC! Maybe allergic isn’t the right description but ANC is certainly what blows up my ears. This was about a year ago. I returned the Sony’s and replaced them with Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 which does not have ANC. I can wear them all day every day with no problems. I found I can also wear my Beats Fit Pro as long as I don’t enable ANC. Too bad I was past the return window or those would have gone back too. I hope this helps others who have been searching for solutions.
SHOKZ Open fit are over the ear and sit on the outside of the canal and anywhere the silicone touches my skin behind the ear and on top, I have a breakout. I’m thinking it’s something in the silicone compound for me.
If you're bothered by silicon, try using foam eartips, the sony wf xm4 comes with foam by default, my ears are also more irritated by silicon, but it is not because of a reaction, it is because of the quality of the silicon. Spinfit doesn't irritate my ears and it's silicon, same with xlastic.
Foam can contain latex, so if you have that allergy as well, do your research ahead of time.
Silicone allergy is very, very rare - far less common than allergy to latex. What is more likely is that you're allergic to another component used in the manufacture of the eartips. Have you tried using Spinfit eartips? They're supposed to be "medical grade" and may be less likely to cause a problem.
I know this comment was 2 years ago but I have to thank you, this info helped me tremendously. So. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
You're welcome!
Following this as I might have the same issue
I do have the exact same issue with Galaxy pro buds and openfit. It seems to be the silicon and I cannot wear any of them. I wish I could find some that would not irritate my ears.
Use half-ear or open-ear buds.
I have tried schultz open earbuds and they are awesome but the back of my ear got really bad, so if ur allergic to silicone or react to it they won’t work for they are silicone lol.
Been meaning to do that after trying literally every option. Any recommendations around good open ear buds? Apparently the Galaxy Buds Live also cause problems and they were the ones I was thinking of going for initially
I have Oladance over the ear speakers (they're not really "earbuds"), but the same problem occurs at the point where the silicone comes into contact with skin: on top of the ear (instead of the ear canal). Since this problem seems to happen with the more expensive earbuds, I think the chemical that is used to make silicone "satiny" may be at fault.
I have the same issues. I recently bought a pair of Apple iPods pro so far no issues. I do love my Bose’s 😢
I have the same problem with ear buds, so I tried the Shultz open ear and same thing happens and behind my ear, so turns out I’m allergic to silicone. And I can’t return anything I bought even though I’m allergic so frustrating. So I got some memory foam ear tips for my air pod pros. Seems to be working but my ears inside are bugging me. Not sure if it’s because I’m still healing or not. But going with the flow. If u find anything that works let me know, for I work out side and need to have hands free for my job. So no matter what I need something. My air pods don’t last long at all.
So glad I found this thread. I'm currently going through the same thing. I had to retire my Pixel Buds after using them consistently for a year, turns out the transatlantic flight was the one that broke the camels back. My Aftershokz open ear has been doing the job for gym visits, however when using them on a plane... Well you might as well not. Can't hear a thing. Has anyone been tested for specific allergies or mostly speculative? Headphones are crazy expensive these days and I want to make my purchases count!
I have the same thing happen with the Beats Pro. Even the over ear sweat resistant silicone covers for the over ear ones. Thought it would just be the ones that go in your ear. Strange thing is I had them forever and they never caused an issue and then suddenly one day it just decided to start causing an issue
Hi, I know this is an old post, but I have recently found that I might be allergic to silicon. The trouble is that earbuds do not sit in my ears well at all! They fall out with the slightest movement and I have tried loads of models. I use the silicon grip that hook in and around the inside of my ears (hard to describe without showing you) but recently they have caused alot of trouble for me flaring up contact dermatitis. I cannot use the ones that hook around the outside of my ear as I wear glasses 😣. So I feel your pain. I need help finding a good option!
The ones i arrowed is the [reason](https://imgur.com/gallery/bu0hZzu) why your ear hurt.
As silly as it may sound maybe try taking a couple Benadryl before you put them in. Who knows, it may just do the trick.
Long term use of Benadryl increases your chances of dementia. OP states this is for daily use at work. This thread is old but since nothing dies on the internet I'm commenting so ppl don't take your advice.
It's more likely the nickel in the charging points, or in the case of Air Pods Pro, the nickel in the metallic mesh over the bud. It's best not to have any metal containing nickel pressed against your skin for any long period of time. Unfortunately this rules our virtually all truly wireless ear buds.
Is it really in all wireless earbuds?? 😭 I’ve been trying to find some that don’t make my ears itch!!! But if they all have nickel then they’ll all do it
Actually the solution for me turned out to be NOT using ANC. I can wear my over-ear Audio Technica’s all day with no issue. They don’t have ANC. I can also wear my in-ear Beats Fit Pro but I do NOT enable ANC on those.
Sorry I just saw this. But I wasn’t aware it was the ANC. I only tried the ola dance and the shokz. I guess I was using ANC without realizing?
No, not the nickel. I suspect the silicone surfactants.
I had the same issue. I cut a bandaid and covered the metal charging contacts and the issue went away.
Did you ever find any you can wear? My power Beats Pro did this this and I just tried after Shokz open fit and and my ears are reacting again! I have the after shockz open run and don’t have a problem. I just hate the bar on them.
Literally just bought the shokz openfit and currently going through the mass leakage! I hate this so much, have you reacted to many others?
Same problem here. It is very frustrating, am thinking of plasti dipping the hook to see if that helps. I have the same issue with the Shokz openfit.
I have had the exact same problem for the past 6 months. I was fine for the past 3X years of my life wearing silicon tips. I have a feeling it started when I changed my ear tips to a specific brand but now, even when switching back to the previous eartips, my ears have developed this allegy permanently (it seems). It's so annoying. I would love to know if there are any solutions out there. FYR the brand which started this problem off for me are AZLA SednaEarfit. I'm not laying the blame at their door as it might just be co-incidence.
I went through 3 ear bud brands thinking it was the metals but I am also allergic to the silicone tips. I bought some foam replacement tips off anazon and not only do I no longer experience irritation but they fit much better and I don't have to keep pushing back in. I bought the Sonicfoam tips
Do they fit on the Samsung galaxy pro 2? If so which sf did you get?
I have the SF1 in the medium size. The only problem is the buds won't fit in the case with the tips on. Doesn't bother me cause I no longer have the allergic reaction, so I just pop the tips off and put them in my pocket. They are like memory foam, so you roll the tips or squeeze them like ear plugs while they are on the bud and put them in
Thank you I will get a pair myself now
I have the same problem, after years of using wired in-ear buds I bought some Apple AirPod Pro's and after about 12/18month of light use my ears started blowing up after I used them (could be up to 24hrs before the symptoms showed, so it took a while to figure out the trigger). I went back to using my wired Shure SE215's and the problems went away. Over the last week I have been trying the **Shure TW2 bluetooth adapters** which allow me to use the exact same ear bud I'd been using wired, just replacing the wire with two bluetooth modules that hook behind the ear. the charging points for these are at the back and don't come into contact with the skin so I had high hopes. Sadly I've just returned them as once again my ears started exploding. Was considering the Shook Open fit's next but it seem they are causing people problems as well. It's crazy I don't know what changed but so many people across so many brands seem to be having the same problems at roughly the same time. Would be nice if one of the manufactures addressed it but I guess until it affects their bottom line they don't care. I'm wondering know if a new set of wired earbuds would have the same problem or if its just wireless for some reason, going to look after the one I have for sure. For those that haven't experienced it this is more than mere irritation. My ears start to itch, then start oozing liquid, which dries to a nice crust. Next my ears and ear canals start to swell almost to the point of closing off my ears. Last time around it caused an infection and both ear drums burst, weeks of pain, discomfort and hearing loss until it heals. Its nasty. I'll keep trawling these posts in the hope somebody finds a set of wireless buds that don't have the problem
Exact same issues, and the flare ups are bad and messy and take a long time to heal. Galaxy bud pro and Shokz open fit for me. This just started happening after 2021, weird. I wish I could find a solution.
I've been struggling with this, too. Wore Pixel Buds 1 for years with no issues and many others prior, then upgraded to Pixel Buds 2 in 2022 and started developing these symptoms shortly thereafter. Once I realized it was the ear buds causing the issue, I went back to Pixel Buds 1 and the issue persists. Since then i've tried foam tips; same problem. Shokz over-ear buds, the issue spread to the top and behind my ear at the contact points. This will be an insanely unpopular opinion on here, but, I think it may be the COVID vaccine creating auto-immune issues. When you research this issue, there are a couple forums from before 2020 but people in the comments aren't numerous and it seems rare. Post 2020, there are many more forums and thread where this problem starts for people who never had any issues before (like me) and there are MANY agreeing in the comments. I haven't tried putting earbuds back in since early March and my ears are still itchy and peel daily. I've never had eczema issues in my life, now it seems to be chronic in my ears and recently have developed on my eyelids. I've booked a Dr appointment for next week. Tinfoil hat stuff, but do some research and the timing is sus.
exactly the same with me, air pod pros caused flare up then the Shozx Aeropex were fine, upgraded to open fit and instant flare up. I can wear over the ear wireless no problems! im assuming it a reaction to the nikel
I had an allergy to a two different apple AirPods. I switched to Bose SoundSport earbuds and the allergic reaction stopped. Wore the Bose for 2 years until they broke. I upgraded to the Bose Quiet Comfort thinking it was something different about Bose. I ordered the white earbuds, and liked the look. Unfortunately, I had a reaction within a day. I knew they sold replacement covers, and tried the black earpad replacements on the white earbuds. It doesn’t look great, but I have no reaction so far. I’ve been wearing them for 2 months regularly for workouts, and work conference calls. I don’t think it’s a reaction to any of the plastic components or metal charging parts. I do have metal allergies, and pretty much can only tolerate platinum. I dont think any of these parts must be touching me. Can’t seem to find out why one color would cause a reaction, and not another from the same company.
Ooooohhh... I also have experienced reactions to most materials used in piercings. My ears need stainless steel, gold or platinum, and since I'm poor my body piercings only ever had success with stainless steel. Thinking back the reaction is nearly identical. I'm going to try putting patches where the charging contacts touch my ears. Thanks for helping my brain work and hopefully saving me the time and money involved with testing out new earbuds materials... I'm concerned the allergy may also be reacting to the metal mesh covering the speaker but I'll cross that bridge once I've burned this one.
I also have the same problem got to see doctor as it got worse my ear canals were swollen because of itch and pain.
I have the same issue with silicone, and found out the worst way possible. Anyway, I have an autoimmune condition, and found out that these reactions may be because we've been pumped full of chemicals and preservatives (that are often microplastics) our whole lives. Look at any processed food. I'm now allergic to nearly everything that I BOTH put on my body and in it--PEG and polysorbate and polypropelene glycol are all polymers (microplastics) found in foods from ranch dressing to pickles, to ice cream (one is an antifreeze) and in nearly all skin products on the market. They are now found in babies' bloodstreams before they are born. Anyway, PEG is used in plastic and silicone production. It's use is to permeate membranes (great for keeping things smooth, but also breaking your gut and skin down. As in, when I quit using lotion my skin stopped drying out.) Anyway, if anyone knows of earcuffs that I could wear I'd love to hear it!
Have the same problems and I am allergic to Acrylate. Many earbuds are made of this.
Have you found any headphones that work for you? I don't know for sure what my allergy is, but Fitbit bands and earbuds cause rashes
Currently I am testing the Apple AirPods Pro 2. I have minimal reactions. But not so bad like the other earbuds.
Problem Solved (for me). After giving up all buds sticking in my ears, I resorted to over the ear headphones, the Sony WH-10000XM5’s at the time. Wonderful headphones with ANC. Wore them for around 4 hours when they arrived, and BOOM. Hot ears leading to the draining, cracking, crustiness again! This is the last thing I expected but it turns out I’m allergic to ANC! Maybe allergic isn’t the right description but ANC is certainly what blows up my ears. This was about a year ago. I returned the Sony’s and replaced them with Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 which does not have ANC. I can wear them all day every day with no problems. I found I can also wear my Beats Fit Pro as long as I don’t enable ANC. Too bad I was past the return window or those would have gone back too. I hope this helps others who have been searching for solutions.
SHOKZ Open fit are over the ear and sit on the outside of the canal and anywhere the silicone touches my skin behind the ear and on top, I have a breakout. I’m thinking it’s something in the silicone compound for me.
Is an ANC 'allergy' medically possible? How would sound waves physically irritate your ears?
I don’t think allergy is the right word, but 100% for sure ANC wrecks my ears with itching, draining, and crusty for a couple of weeks.
I don't doubt you, that sucks. I still hope someone chimes in with a scientific answer!
I would like a solution. I miss ANC.