Allergy Safe Jewelry can make you look good and feel great, but you’ll want to be sure to check out the materials and types of metals used in the jewelry. It would help if you avoided any jewelry made of Surgical stainless steel, Rhodium plating, Brass, and Tungsten carbide. Surgical stainless steel is the most allergy-safe material, so it’s best to avoid it if you have skin sensitivity.
Stainless steel
If you’re concerned about nickel content in your jewelry, you can find the best allergy-safe options by choosing stainless steel. Stainless steel is a metal that can withstand harsh conditions and is also corrosion-resistant. There are three grades of stainless steel, each of which contains different amounts of nickel. 316L has just 1% of nickel, while 430 and XC45 contain up to 3%. 304, however, contains a little more nickel and is therefore not ideal for those with nickel sensitivity.
Surgical-grade stainless steel is hypoallergenic and is an excellent material for many different jewels. This material is safe for even the most sensitive skin. The only caveat is that you should avoid lower-grade stainless steel, as the alloy can cause a reaction in people with a severe allergy. However, if you’re prone to allergic reactions to stainless steel, you should opt for higher-grade stainless steel if possible.
Rhodium plating
If you have an allergy, you should check if your jewelry has been plated with rhodium. The plating on your jewelry can wear off over time, which exposes you to the metal underneath. Rhodium plating is a type of electroplating used to protect the jewelry from tarnish. During this process, a metal is plated with rhodium, a metal that is usually less durable. Once the metal has been plated, the jewelry is placed into a rhodium solution.
The rhodium plating on your jewelry will not change the piece’s look. Because a small amount of rhodium is used, it won’t feel heavy or have a rusty appearance. However, you may need to reapply rhodium plating after a couple of years. The process will also take a little while, so it’s best to plan and buy a piece that’s already been plated.
Brass
The term hypoallergenic, or safe for people to wear, has many different definitions. It depends on the type of allergy and its severity, but generally, the jewelry does not contain nickel. Nickel is a metal found in alloys and is allergic to approximately 15 percent of the population. Hypoallergenic jewelry contains very little or no nickel and may be made of several metals, including gold, silver, titanium, and stainless steel.
Generally speaking, brass is not hypoallergenic. Alloying copper makes brass with zinc. It may also contain nickel. Copper in brass can react with the skin, turning it green because it interacts with sweat. Hypoallergenic plating is also standard on costume jewelry. But even if your brass jewelry is hypoallergenic, you may still experience an allergic reaction to it. If this is the case, you should avoid wearing it until you get the necessary test results.
