Contact dermatitis caused by certain types of jewelry is fairly common. This form of dermatitis is quite easy to spot and is brought about because your skin is sensitive or allergic to certain metals contained in your fashion accessories.
But for those of you who aren’t quite sure if the causes of your skin irritation is from jewelry or not, you can find out quite easily by getting your dermatologist or doctor to do a diagnosis. This is usually done via a patch test on your back.
The dermatologist will stick a few small patches on your back that contain certain allergens such as nickel or copper, to see if these cause a reaction your skin.
Symptoms of Jewelry Sensitivity
If the test results come back positive, then my heart really goes out to you. For allergy sufferers, choices in accessory styles become extremely limited, however it is not the end of the world is there are other alternatives available (more on this below). The worst thing happened to a girlfriend of mine who got engaged but couldn’t wear her engagement ring, all because she had jewelry rash, talk about bad luck!
Anyway, back to symptoms..
Being allergic to jewelry, you might experience a common symptoms like dry, irritated and itchy skin that turns scaly. Sores, skin redness as well as blisters and rashes will also appear in severe cases. If it’s a mild case of irritation, the skin may just look a bit reddish, which isn’t so bad.
A little discoloration may also be visible. Although skin discoloration is not an allergic reaction, it is very common for someone to end up with a green, blue or black skin from wearing tarnished, or fake/cheap accessories.
What Causes the Skin Irritation?
Nickel is one of the main metal components of fashion jewelry that cause allergic reactions in a lot of women, especially for those who have sensitive skin. Nickel is widely used in jewelry making – whether it is costume jewelry, gold accessories or silver charms. So, it is common for people to be allergic to these metals as well. Gold and silver in pure forms are naturally soft. To make them less pliable, they are combined with nickel, copper or zinc for hardness. If you are getting irritated skin, it is probably because of one or some of these materials.
Sweat can be another potential problem. When the salt in your perspiration mixes in with the metal components in your jewelry, it can trigger skin irritation as well. This is quite common amongst people who have sweaty hands.
Dealing with Your Skin Sensitivity
Here are some quick tips on how to take pleasure in sporting some fabulous “bling” without irritating your skin.
First-aid with anti-inflammatory cream or ointment
The first rule in treating an allergic reaction to jewelry is to reduce the irritation and avoid infection. Creams or ointments that contain hydrocortisone can help soothe the itch and reduce skin redness. If the condition is more serious, contact your dermatologist immediately.
Going for high quality gold
When buying gold jewelry, always aim for the higher karat. Avoid the cheap stuff as these tend to contain the previously mentioned metals that cause your sensitive skin to play up. 14 or 18 karat gold is safe to use.
Sterling silver is another great choice because it looks gorgeous, is inexpensive and most of all, safe to wear. With regular silver, look for the 925 mark which means that it contains 92.5% silver, which is the closest you can get to “pure”.
Another safe metal is platinum, which is known to be more solid than gold. It contains a smaller amount of nickel too. The only downside to platinum is its high price.
Stick with hypo-allergenic jewelry
Hypoallergenic (a.k.a. sensitive skin jewelry) jewelry is a real lifesaver for us girls. There are good brands out there that make nickel free pieces that are great for those with sensitive skin. “Simply Whispers” is an example. This company has created a wide range of top class hypoallergenic earrings, necklaces, and bracelets especially made for women suffering from nickel allergies and skin sensitivity. They use “SSS” (surgical stainless steel) and other materials that are nickel free.
Keep your accessories clean at all times
Prevent your pieces from getting tarnished. Don’t let dirt, oil, and bacteria, build up, don’t be lazy and keep them clean. For rings and necklaces, the buildup of detergents and soap between the accessory and your skin can lead to skin irritations.
Keeping your earrings free of dirt and grime produced by your skin can help prevent rash breakouts as well. Use warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush to scrub them clean on a regular basis. You can also purchase a no-rinse jewelry cleaner as an alternative. You’ll find this available in grocery or jewelry stores.
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