Left earlobe flaking and irritated, second time
Hi, i wanted to ask here about an issue i'm having recently because maybe you can give me some additional advice about it.
My left earlobe has started flaking, to the point where the skin gets red and wet (i think there's sebum), it's really achy to the touch. The first time occurred around April. I don't wear earrings very often, and when it happened i wasn't wearing any for months.
I asked my doctor about it, which told me it was likely an allergic reaction to the earrings, even if i told her that i wasn't wearing any when it started flaking. Did cortisone cream for 10 days and it healed, left it alone ever since.
Last saturday i wore surgical steel earrings, i've always wore them and never had any issues with them, i don't have any known allergies anyway. They were a bit heavy, when my ears aren't really used to them they usually get slightly achy and swollen the next day but they go back to normal the same day, no redness or anything.
The next day the left lobe was a little achy but otherwise ok, then in the following days it started flaking all over again. I didn't wear other earrings, i kept the earlobes clean. I don't remember if i did that in that instance, but i remember cleaning the holes with those little strings that you dip in saline to take out the dirt. Again, i don't remember if i did it this time.
I always keep them clean and use Cerave cleanser soap for normal to dry skin to wash both face and ears.
To clean the earlobes i use saline spray (Isomar) when needed.
The right earlobe never had any reaction like this. some dry skin a few times, but nothing major.
The left earlobe has a bit of history though. Has 2 failed attempted piercings before this one years ago (i was a teen and dumb). First one was fine, but my dumbass distractedly changed earring after a week. For a reason i can't remember i just decided to let it close. Second time a couple years later by a jeweller with a piercing gun (i know, super wrong, i didn't know at the time), got immediately infected and had to take it off. Had a tiny ball inside for quite some time but it eventually went away, before getting it pierced again 3 years ago by a professional, who gave me a ltitle titanium rod piercing so i could have some romm to clean it properly. Followed his instructions religiously: Wash hands with antibacterial soap before celaning ears, never take piercing off, clean with saline solution.
I had an issue when it wouldn't heal properly after 3 months, but it was the saline drying my sking and making the earlobe discharge. I had also changed the piercing to a thinner, curved one because the skin kept becoming dry, was fine after that.
Now, i'm not a frequent earring wearer because i either forget to put them on (sometimes i take them off for safety reasons) or because they start to get uncomfortable to keep on. So there are times where i don't wear them for months. If i start wearing them again, i usually use the most comfortable ones so i can sleep on them, and keep them as long as i can.
Never had an issue, until now. The red cut-like shape is the same exact as the last time, same spot and everything. builds a thin crust layer and flakes off.
I'm using cortisone cream again, but how do i prevent this from happening again?
I always wear the same earrings, didn't by or wore any new ones.
Thank you in advance for any kind answer.
Edit: I've asked on a dermatology sub and was told it's a form of contact dermatitis, i'm concerned because i don't know what's causing this