When To Choose Nickel Free Earrings

Nickel is a common allergen that happens to be used often in making jewelry. One might expect it's only used in cheaper, costume jewelry. However, very expensive jewelry often harbors this offender as well. Considering that anywhere from 15 to 50 percent of people may be allergic to nickel, it's important to have alternatives. Nickel free earrings, necklaces, rings, and other jewelry can be a safer solution.

Signs of allergic reaction usually appear on skin that has directly contacted the metal. However, the very sensitive may react from indirect contact too. Symptoms may include aggravating itching sensations, angry looking redness, rash, swelling, blisters, weeping of fluid, or burning feeling. The very first reaction may be delayed for days after contact, making the cause seem mysterious. Subsequent reactions will happen within a day or two of contact.

Metal allergies are the second most common form of skin allergy. The allergy can develop suddenly, even in those who have safely worn nickel in the past. The problem has become so prevalent that U.S. coins are no longer minted using nickel.

This silver-white metal with a faint gold tinge acts as a hardener for softer metals. Nickel is very strong. While other hardeners could be used, nickel has the advantage of being cheap.

The odds of an allergy developing increases when broken skin is exposed to nickel. For this reason, when getting ears pierced, use completely nickel free earrings. This simple safeguard can help to reduce the possibility of becoming sensitized.

It might seem simple for allergy sufferers to just stop wearing jewelry. The problem is that nickel is in many common objects. Nickel can be in alloys used in metal eyeglass frames, buttons and snaps on blue jeans, hair accessories, zippers, cutlery, watches, old coins, belt buckles, and more. This type of skin allergy is often referred to as contact dermatitis.

The term hypoallergenic alone doesn't rule out the possibility of reaction. It only means a reaction is less likely in average people. Those already sensitive to nickel will want more assurance.

One solution is to purchase jewelry that has been plated entirely in 24-karat gold, which is nickel free. Surgical-grade steel is sometimes nickel free. In those few cases where nickel is used in surgical-grade alloy, the nickel is so tightly bound to the steel that it is unable to cause a skin reaction in most people, but it may still make the very sensitive react. One may find sterling silver, titanium, niobium, copper, or platinum jewelery that are certified free of nickel. Jewelry made of plastic, wood, glass, or bone should contain no nickel, but be careful of fasteners or coatings. There are products available that can be painted onto troublesome jewelry, forming a barrier between nickel and skin. Wedding rings or heirloom pieces may be plated by jewelers to avoid reactions. Avoid most common costume jewelry, as well as white gold, cobalt, and 14-karat gold since they usually contain nickel.

Thanks to increasing awareness, things are looking up for those with nickel allergies. A great deal of research has gone into development of good solutions. The advent of finely designed nickel free rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and more means that wearers don't have to settle. Due to all these efforts, millions of those affected by nickel sensitivity can wear jewelry safely and beautifully again.

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