I know my situation may sound odd, but I don't know where else to turn...I have a gold earring toward the top of my ear. I have not been able to remove it for about 2 years now--not a problem until now. The issue is that the rubber back I placed on it a number of years ago has gradually hardened and shrunk. I can't remove it from the back of the earring and the location makes it difficult to use force without hurting my ear...it will not budge, not even twisting in place. My hair dresser has even tried to remove it without success--any suggestions on how to get the rubber to loosen or break apart?
Thanks for the quick responses!!!!! The earring is actually not the problem---it's the rubber piece I added to keep the earring in place behind my ear--it is the rubber that has shrunk to the gold post that is the issue, not the earring itself.
I assume this is how I add a comment? Sorry, I'm new here. I didn't actually say that it is a diamond earring with sentimental value so I would rather not damage the earring. Thanks for the responses!
I would just buy some wire cutters and cut the back off. It would ruin the earring but at least it would be off.
A pair of toenail clippers should clip the rubber in two and it should crumble or peel off with no problem. You will likely need help to reach the back and manuever the clippers...
With a post, you may just have to bend it back and forth until it breaks off the earring. I've heard of using dental floss to get off a ring, so it might work here. Have someone try to wrap it around the post and under the rubber backing a couple of times, and then try to pull it back off. Good luck.
My oldest daughter had an earring where the skin actually grew over the back of the earring. We had to have an ENT surgically remove it. He just put a local on it, told her to clinch her fists, and even though it hurt and I could not watch, it was off in less than 10 seconds. He said they see it all the time. He did it without damaging the earring also. Even though her's was nothing special. I'm sure if your's is of any value, it will be even easier because it is probably made stronger.
Try baby oil on the rubber part. Keep twisting and it should eventually work its way free.
Is it possible that the earing has grown into your ear?? That can happen as the body works to heal the wound (even though it was a piercing - your body doesn't know that - LOL) it can cover it and heal it into the skin - since the earring won't twist or move, you may need to go to a surgeon to remove it.
Try the wire cutters first, though.
Good luck and keep us posted!
JUST saw your update - the jewler can always reset the diamond:)
I had that happen to me when I ws younger and I had to go to the hospital.
I wonder if the rubber piece has grown into your skin. I can not imagine that it shrunk, especially not enough to not come off. I know that when I was younger I wore some small birthstone earrings to bed a few times in a row and soon the earring started to embed in my ear and then my skin started to grow around it. I would suggest going to your doctor and having him/her numb your ear and pull it off. Or, have your spouse, significant other, etc look really, really close to the earring on the back and see if that is what it looks like. Have him or a close friend lube it up, maybe a really warm washcloth to soften the skin, then lube it with vaseline then pull as best they can. Maybe even pull with a cloth so they have a better grip. Good luck
If the back is rubber that is hardened... tips on this page might help:
http://www.ehow.com/how_###-###-####_soften-wiper-blade-r...
yea... I know it's for wiper blades but they are rubber.
I would try that and then use needlenose pliars to grip the back.
Good luck!
As Tina C. said, I would get some nail clippers or some other small scissors & have someone try to cut the rubber. Then hopefully the actual earring wouldn't be damaged, and would just need a new back.
have some one else try cutting the rubber with sissors
try to put minural oil on it several times a day for a few days and see if that helps. or you could have someone use a straight razor on the rubber piece to cut it. good luck, R.
I think the baby oil and clippers might work. It may take a few days but if the back is made of rubber the baby oil will start to break it down making it easier to scrape or cut off with clippers etc..
You may need to just cut it off...the earring, that is! =)
Ask a person with steady hands to use wire cutters on the backing. Get as close as comfortable for you, and snip it off.
Next time you use an earring, please take it off at least a few times a year to clean the post. This way you can inspect the fit of the backing. Let us know how it went!
If you had a butterfly back then you could use the ez-Release earring remover: www.earringremover.com.
