Have you ever bought and worn jewelry that gave you rashes on your skin? Then you might have an allergic reaction to your jewelry.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of nickel-free hypoallergenic jewelry, don’t worry! Today we will be looking into what you need to know about hypoallergenic jewelry.
What is Hypoallergenic Jewelry?
The term ‘hypoallergenic’ refers to metals that have a lower risk of causing an allergic reaction. Hypoallergenic jewelry often contains pure metals, such as titanium, stainless steel and even silver.
When it comes to jewelry making, certain metals are too soft to create malleable and durable jewelry. This is why jewelers mix in other metals to enhance and strengthen the jewelry pieces, and some of these added metals might cause an allergic reaction to the jewelry wearer.
Nickel is one of the common alloy metals included in making jewelry, but they are also metals that cause the most skin allergies. This is why choosing hypoallergenic jewelry metals are a much safer option for those with sensitive skin.
You can learn more about the surprising advantages of wearing hypoallergenic metals for jewelry HERE.
How Do You Know You Are Allergic to Your Jewelry?
There are certain jewelry metals that can be tough on sensitive skin and cause an allergic reaction to its wearer. If you want to learn more about if you have an allergic reaction to your jewelry, you can observe your body and skin when wearing different types of jewelry pieces.
Jewelry allergic symptoms may differ from one person to another, but here are some of the common signs you should look out for: -
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Your skin will feel irritated and itchy
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You will notice patches of red rash on your skin
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Upon removing your jewelry, you will notice that your skin has a colored tint. This is otherwise known as Skin Discoloration
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Your eyes will become teary and swollen
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You will have skin inflammation
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You will get blisters and swelling
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Your skin will look flakey
Types of Jewelry Metals to Buy and to Avoid
Certain metals used in producing everyday jewelry can cause an allergic reaction to those with sensitive skin. Now we will be looking into some of the non-hypoallergenic jewelry metals you should definitely keep an eye out, as well as hypoallergenic jewelry you should keep in mind.
Types of Jewelry Metals to Avoid for Sensitive Skin
● Nickel
Nickel is one of the jewelry metals that is the primary cause of skin allergies. Nickel can be found in many products, such as costume jewelry, buttons and even zippers! When worn, nickel jewelry tends to cause red, itchy, and swollen skin for its wearer. This reaction can take place minutes or hours upon contact with the skin.
If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid nickel jewelry at all cost and choose nickel free jewelry as a safer alternative.
● Brass
Besides nickel, brass is another jewelry metal that some people are allergic to. Brass is an alloy that combines both zinc and copper. Therefore, if you are allergic to copper, you should stay away from brass jewelry.
● Copper
If you have worn jewelry that contains high levels of copper content, you would notice that sometimes they will leave behind a green tint on your skin. Rest assured, this is not because you have copper allergy, but instead it’s a mere oxidation effect when moisture comes into contact between the copper jewelry and your skin.
This is a natural chemical reaction called discoloration that often happens to jewelry that contains copper. Fortunately it is easy to remove the green tint from your skin and there are ways to prevent them. You can learn more about how to avoid skin discoloration HERE:
● Jewelry Metals with Low Melting Temperature
You should watch out for jewelry metals that have low melting temperature, such as zinc, lead and even tin. These metals can be found in costume jewelry making. While they don’t cause severe skin allergic reactions, they do tarnish and discolor easily.
Types of Hypoallergenic Jewelry Metals for Sensitive Skin
● Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an alloy that is made up of very mild materials that will not give you any allergic reaction. Stainless steel often consists of materials like chromium, carbon, iron, and occasionally titanium for additional strength and durability. While certain stainless steel may contain nickel, the nickel concentration is very tiny and will not cause a reaction for its wearer.
● 14K Gold and Above
One of the best jewelry to go for is 24k Gold, otherwise known as pure gold. This jewelry metal is easy on the skin and hypoallergenic.
If you have highly sensitive skin, it is ideal to choose 18k gold or higher to prevent any skin discomfort. For some, 14k gold is a good option for them, while for others it may cause them to have skin allergic reactions due to its copper content.
● Sterling Silver
Contrary to what many people believe, sterling silver is not made of pure silver and is in fact an alloy. Sterling silver is made up of 92.5% of silver with 7.5% of copper alloy.
Despite being an alloy, sterling silver is a wonderful alternative jewelry option as it is hypoallergenic and is available in a wide range of jewelry designs. Choosing silver-plated jewelry is also a good option for those with copper allergies.
You can learn more about sterling silver jewelry HERE, where you will be told on the difference between silver and sterling silver:
● Titanium
High quality and hypoallergenic, titanium is a safe and quality jewelry option as it doesn’t contain nickel or cobalt. An excellent alternative to gold or silver jewelry, titanium jewelry is affordable and looks just as gorgeous.
While we all love to buy and wear jewelry, it is still important to be aware of the known allergens found within what you wear. Now that you have this newfound knowledge about hypoallergenic jewelry, it will teach you how to choose wisely and know what to avoid.
By choosing hypoallergenic jewelry, you will be saying goodbye to skin rashes and hello to comfy chic jewelry. Browse Eleganzia Jewelry today and find some brand new nickel-free sterling silver jewelry for yourself.
