Jewelry and Sensitive Skin, Can Match?

Not too long ago I was on a subway in NYC and saw a lady with her fingers and neck rashed. I thought to myself, it’s definitely sensitive skin. That should affect millions of people and how people deal with that.

Then I figure out, after some research that at least 15% to 20% of the population will develop an allergic reaction to any kind of metal during lifetime. According to WebMD and the vast majority are women.

It is also called Metal Hypersensitivity. The most common reactions are rashes and swelling. Which also can lead to pain and if not diagnosed and appropriately treated could drive to severe complications.

The National Institute of Health alerts that this kind of reaction due to hypersensitivity contact of some metals usually happens after twenty-four to forty-eight hours in touch with the skin. (Ears, Neck, Fingers, Bellybutton, and others). For the most sensitive ones, in twelve hours.

Metal Hypersensitivity is an immune system disorder. Basically what happens is that the cells are trying to balance the immune system, “attacking” strange particles of your body.

That creates the inflammation-producing the allergic reaction on your skin.

Nickel is the most common metal that creates complications on sensitive skin. Followed by stainless steel as it is common to see traces of nickel as a non-oxidation booster for the metal.

Not necessarily jewelry may cause inflammations in contact with your skin. Makeup, coins, cosmetic products with metal on its formulation, believe it or not, can triggers metal hypersensitivity.

What Kind of Metals Doesn’t Go With Sensitive Skin

We have seen above that Nickel, and Stainless Steel is the Top 2 Internationally, causing red rash and itchiness. Let’s see what the other non-friendly metals for sensitive skin are.

Plated Metals Doesn’t Match with Sensitive Skin

Unless you see the Steerling 925, which means 92.5% purity, it could be risky for your skin if you know you have sensitive skin.

The same criteria you could use with gold in terms with the purity index. If you will, and for gold, the requirements are the karat (symbolized with a K).

To avoid any issues, 14Karat is the lowest to get. So prefer from this number above.

It’s a good idea to ask when purchasing any earing, ring, bracelet or necklace what is the base metal before plated. Because that the thin layer is not guaranteed to avoid allergies.

What about White Gold? Is it risky for sensitive skin?

There’s no issue with white gold itself. The main problem is that many times the white gold receives treatment with nickel, to show up more white. Which can cause inflammation to your sensitive skin.

The same thing could happen with Yellow Gold, receiving copper to look up in a more yellowish way.

Brass With Sensitive Skin

If you have ever had your skin turning green after wearing a necklace or earrings, quite sure that brass is the base metal. Brass is a combination of copper and zinc alloy and also is ubiquitous base metal for gold. And silver, so the one to blame when causing metal hypersensitivity

What to Be Careful When Looking To Earrings for Sensitive Ears

Many times it’s not the metal that is causing the rash and redness to your skin. It could be actually either the surface or the new piercing not very well cleaned, and this is a common thing.

Not everybody is aware, so next time you got new earrings, wash them with saline solution.

The best thing to do to prevent any undesirable skin reaction with earings is avoiding nickel, as seen previously here.

It is the highest responsible metal. It causes inflammation and in case you really feel like insisting on using them, there is a solution for you.

Cleaning the earrings with hydrogen peroxide and then applying vaseline in the piercing post.

Here is another one that could be neglected by many who are piercing ears by a professional. It is a common situation as many of us have a friend and relative who claims as a “professional ear piercer”.

If you have sensitive skin, this is something that can happen frequently.

Last but not least, as you know already about the most common metals responsible for hypersensitivity to the skin, don’t be afraid to ask and to understand better what is the base metal on the earrings or necklace you got in love.

Can I Believe in Seals Mentioning Hypoallergenic Earrings?

If it is a solid trustful band, yes but actually the reality of the matter is that there is no solution, or chemical or magic component to an earring to be considered Hypoallergenic.

If you pay close attention, it will be evident that the metal base is out of the critical metals to avoid.

Are there any treatments for Metal Allergy Reaction or Metal Hypersensitivity?

Of course, there are, and the treatments are particular according to each person, situation, chronicalness but the very first thing to do is consulting a doctor expert in allergy. The diagnosis could be precise leading to the right treatment.

If you are like me, who likes the natural healing, be aware that some of the allergic medical procedures are done with either corticoids or antihistamines.

As chemicals, there are other risks as side effects. To avoid all of that, a simple attitude is the usage of the red-flagged metals detailed here in this post.

And at the end of the day, it doesn’t heart to look at the positive side of things. We deserve the best gold, silver, diamonds in the world!

We could have less of the best available! If you allow some real insights bare in mind that we as humans have the ability to adapt to anything.

And even though sometimes we want to follow the trends, as the designs are always changing, the classic will still be classic, beautiful and last forever.Jewelry and sensitive skin can match for sure, but with some small details to take care, we can avoid rashes and allergic reaction, due to metal sensitivity.

Enjoy life with lots of joy!