Some people can have an allergic reaction to metals contained in some jewelry. These metals can cause allergy symptoms in people that have a sensitivity to them and those people that do experience a reaction should transition to allergy safe jewelry.
According to the National Institute of Health, allergic symptoms that can result from exposure to certain metals usually appear 24 to 48 hours after exposure. These symptoms include itching, redness, swelling, tenderness and a feeling of warmth at the exposed area. In severe cases, dry patches and blisters may result.
People should avoid the following metals in jewelry if they have sensitive skin or have metal allergies:
• Nickel and Stainless Steel – Nickel causes the most allergies while also being the most widely used metal alloys. Stainless steel contains trace amounts of nickel and iron and may cause an allergic reaction in some people.
• Copper and Rose Gold – People that are allergic to copper may also have an allergic reaction to metal alloys that contain copper. This can occur with rose gold which contains copper to give the gold its pinkish colour.
• Brass (Copper & Zinc Alloy) – Brass is often used as a base metal for jewelry that is then coated with either sterling silver, or gold. If a person’s skin turns green after wearing a necklace or earrings, it most likely a reaction to the brass it contains.
• Plated Metals – Metal plating in jewelry is not a barrier to allergies. The plated base metal may still cause an allergic reaction. Jewelry is often plated with silver or gold on base metals like copper and brass to keep prices low.
• Gold – While pure gold is inert and generally a safe option for people suffering from jewelry allergies, certain types of gold jewelry contain other metals that can trigger an allergic reaction. White gold, for example, is alloyed with nickel or other common white coloured metals to give it a white colour. For gold to be allergy safe it must have a purity of 14 karat or higher.
People that have hypersensitive skin should consider jewelry made from Platinum or Tantalum which are completely hypo-allergenic metals and safe for sensitive skin. Platinum is a precious metal that is more valuable and durable than gold while Tantalum is a precious metal that has zero reactive properties, is extremely resistant to corrosion and is allergy safe jewelry.
