What Causes A Jewellery Allergy
Jewellery allergies can appear out of nowhere, even after years of wearing your engagement ring or favourite necklace. But why and how does this happen?
To put it very simply The issue arises from repeated and prolonged exposure to certain metal allergens which are often found in jewellery, leading to a condition called Allergic Contact Dermatitis or a skin allergy.
To add a little more detail As the skin experiences repeated and prolonged contact with jewellery containing the metal allergen, it becomes sensitised, eventually leading to an immune response. Your immune system has recognised an allergen and attempts to defend itself by releasing histamine, resulting in inflammation of the skin known as ACD.
If you want to get a little more specific, allergic reactions to jewellery are actually an example of metal induced allergic contact dermatitis .
All types of metal jewellery and accessories can cause ACD, but surveys across Europe have suggested that it is most common for people to become allergic to earrings. Some argue that the reason for this is because the metal actually goes through the skin, triggering a more severe response.
Myth #: Clear Fingernail Polish Will Protect The Plating On My Jewelry
Theres a product known as Jewelry Shield that coats jewelry to protect the plating of your piece and prevent skin irritation. But unless youre trying to preserve costume jewelry or other inexpensive pieces, fingernail polish is not recommended. Your high-quality pieces will thank you if you avoid falling victim to this myth.
Are You Really Allergic To Gold
Food, pets, pollen and dust are the most common allergens, but they are not the only things that can cause allergic reactions. Some individuals are allergic to gold. Although gold allergy is not necessarily due to the gold itself but the metals in it, such as nickel, people still experience a reaction when in contact with certain types of gold.
Also Check: Twix Ingredients Allergy
What Is The Treatment For A Gold Allergy
If you have symptoms like itching, swelling, redness, and blistering after wearing gold jewelry, the best way to treat the reaction is to use an over-the-counter topical corticosteroid cream. To reduce itching, be sure to keep your skin moisturized and apply a cool compress.
For a severe reaction, see your doctor, as you may need a stronger medication. To avoid future allergic reactions, you may want to stop wearing the jewelry altogether.
How Do You Get An Allergy To Nickel
Nickel allergies, like any other allergy, is your bodys natural response to a foreign body like a bacteria or virus. It is your immune system protecting itself from a harmful substance. It is unclear why some people react to certain metals, and others dont.
Sometimes the body can respond immediately, such as a new piercing. Other times it can be a build up over years of exposure. However, once you develop symptoms, you will always have an allergic reaction to nickel or whatever the substance is. Youll need to avoid contacting nickel in all forms, not just jewelry. Fortunately, we have the solution below.
Also Check: Does Twix Have Peanut Butter
Are You At Risk
If you arent currently experiencing any new-found allergy symptoms, how do you know if you are at risk? Allergies are most common in adults with genetic susceptibility or family history of allergies. Everyone has a different personal vulnerability to allergies, which is why some may develop sensitivities and others will never experience any symptoms. Environmental exposures to certain allergens can also put you at risk of developing allergies. For example, several years of exposure to allergens can cause you to develop skin or lung sensitivities. As you age, you may lose tolerance to chemicals and ingredients in shampoo, perfumes or makeup, which can lead to allergic reactions on your skin.
You May Like: Why Do Allergies Cause Fatigue
Other Places You Will Find Metal
Youll need to look beyond jewelry for potential sources of metal. Metal can hide out in products and devices where youd least expect it. Here are six surprising sources:
You May Like: Alergy Index
Suddenly Allergic To Shellfish Heres How To Cope
Unlike most food allergies that develop during childhood, a shellfish allergy typically emerges during the teenage or adult years. You may have eaten shellfish without any issues for years and then suddenly experience allergic reactions after consuming crustaceans or molluscs.
Before we share with you the ways to cope with shellfish allergy, let us first identify which foods qualify as shellfish and which symptoms point to a shellfish allergic reaction.
What Is A Gold Allergy
There are some people who experience an allergic reaction when wearing gold jewelry. What are the symptoms? Usually, the skin in contact with the jewelry will become red and itchy. In most cases, taking off the gold piece and washing the skin with water and soap will alleviate the problem.
Allergies to gold are rare.
It is worth noting, however, that allergies to gold are rare. If you get a rash from wearing gold jewelry, it is very likely that it is not gold that you are allergic to but nickel.
Recommended Reading: Best Carpet For People With Allergies
Is It Possible To Be Allergic To Gold Jewelry
maxie43174469 over a year ago
Loading…
larina46174468 over a year ago
EJ over a year ago
Guest over a year ago
It is possible to be allergic to gold. I just got back from having a patch test for allergens from the dermatologist. I am severly allergic to gold. The doctor said any time she has seen a bad allergy to gold is on people with gold dental work. I have a gold cap. Also, nickel is in a lot of jewelry, even gold. It is a more common allergy. I would suggest getting a patch test done to see which allergy you have, or just a sensitivity. When done you will get a paper on each thing you are allergic to and how to avoid it or what you can do. I hope this helps
Guest over a year ago
It’s unlikely you are allergic to gold. But any gold less than 24kt is mixed with other metals. Jewlery gold is always less than 24kt because pure gold is too soft.
Different batches of gold may be mixed with different metals to strengthen/stiffen them – nickel is commonly the cause of allergies. Also a nickel allergy can start later in life (like you have a life time exposure tolerance, before that you will never show any allergic response, after that point you will always show an allergic response.
If you have a favourite ring, you may be able to get a good jeweller to reset the ring in nickel free gold.
over a year ago
In reply to anonymous on 2016-01-28 – click to read
Loading…
How To Diagnose Shellfish Allergy
If you suspect a shellfish allergy, make an appointment with your doctoreven when symptoms are mild. Since a shellfish allergy can worsen over time, you shouldnt self-diagnose. Your regular doctor may refer you to an allergist for testing.
Your doctor may complete a physical examination, and then ask about your symptoms and the circumstances surrounding your allergic reaction. To make an accurate diagnosis, your doctor may suggest two tests a skin prick test or a blood test. Testing also helps distinguish a food allergy from conditions with similar symptoms, such as seafood poisoning.
1. Skin prick test. This test examines your bodys response to a suspected allergen. Your doctor pricks your skin with a small amount of the shellfish protein, usually on the forearm or the back of your hand. Your doctor watches your skin to see if hives or raised bumps develop at the prick site. If bumps develop, this can indicate a shellfish allergy. Results are typically available within 15 to 30 minutes.
2. Blood test. This test evaluates how your immune system responds to the shellfish protein, and checks the level of certain antibodies in your bloodstream.
You May Like: What’s Better For Allergies Claritin Or Zyrtec
What Metals Cause Allergies
The metals your doctor will most likely test for during the patch test include nickel, cobalt, and chromates. Allergies to copper are rare, and allergies to gold are even rarer. But if you suspect you are also allergic to a specific metal , ask your doctor to test for that as well during the patch test.
How To Avoid Jewellery Allergy
If you have a jewellery allergy, a dermatologist can perform a skin patch test to determine if you have a metal allergy. Once your nickel or cobalt allergy is confirmed, it is essential to avoid contact with that metal. The following tips may help when purchasing jewellery.
- Alternative white gold alloys are available based on palladium, silver and other white metals, but the palladium alloys are more expensive than those using nickel. High-karat white gold alloys are far more resistant to corrosion than are either pure silver or sterling silver.
- When having ears or other body parts pierced, have it done with a stainless steel needle and make sure your jewellery is made of stainless steel or either 18- or 24 karat gold.
- Look for jewellery that is hypoallergenic, i.e. made of stainless steel, at least 18-karat gold, sterling silver, or polycarbonate plastic.
- If you must wear earrings that contain nickel, add plastic covers made specifically for earring studs.
- If your wedding ring or another item of jewellery that you wear daily causes a reaction, you can ask a jeweller about having it plated in a non-allergic metal, such as rhodium or platinum. However, the coating will eventually wear off and need re-plating.
Also Check: What’s Better For Allergies Claritin Or Zyrtec
The Hidden Cause Of Nickel Metal Allergy Revealed
Metal allergy or nickel allergy is a type of allergy that causes skin rash or dermatitis by touching some metallic substances, particularly nickel, among predisposed individuals. The condition worsens especially if the person is frequently exposed to various metallic materials like jewelries, watches, needles, and even cosmetics or dental metals.
About six hundred million people are allergic to the metal nickel. In addition, anyone can suddenly develop the allergy later in life.
Just like with other types of allergies, once you develop metal allergy, you will always be allergic to the metal. And the more often you are exposed with the metal, the higher your risk of developing metal allergy. Why our body reacts this way has long been shrouded with mystery, but finally recent findings revealed its real cause.
In this article, we’ll let you know the latest information about the real cause of metal allergy and its preventive measures.
What Treatments Are Used If I Have An Allergic Reaction
Epinephrine is the main treatment for anaphylaxis. Once your provider has confirmed a shellfish allergy, you will most likely get a prescription for self-injectable epinephrine . Your provider will teach you how to use it.
If you have a severe allergic reaction and inject yourself with epinephrine, the next step is to call 911. Make sure to tell the dispatcher what happened and that you used your epinephrine injection. Emergency medical technicians may need to give you another dose when they arrive.
Read Also: Can You Eat Twix With A Peanut Allergy
Don’t Miss: Cetirizine-pseudoephedrine
Tips For Wearing Costume Jewelry
When you are diagnosed with some form of allergy to metal, its important to stay away from jewelry and other accessories containing that metal.
However, this is easier said than done as many jewelry products contain metals like nickel. Silver or gold plated jewelry contain nickel alloys underneath. Any gold jewelry that is less than 24K, such as white gold, will also contain a mixture of metals to provide structure to soft, pure gold.
Here are some ways you can continue to wear inexpensive jewelry and keep your skin safe at the same time:
What Does It Mean To Outgrow An Allergy
Have you ever heard the phrase outgrow an allergy? Perhaps you yourself have outgrown allergies in the past, or you have a child who has outgrown his or her allergies. Rashes, congestion, and itchy eyes are all symptoms of allergic reactions to pollens, pets, plants, etc.
No parent wants to see their child suffer from lifelong allergies. Therefore, the hope of outgrowing allergies is a hot topic in parenthood, but what does it really mean? And is it really possible to outgrow an allergy? Lets find out.
Recommended Reading: Claritin D Reviews
Does This Mean No Earrings
If youre experiencing symptoms of an earring allergy, you might bewondering if this means you have to give up wearing earrings altogether.
Some people do choose to stick to ear cuffs and other, less invasive, jewelry options after they experience symptoms of earring allergy.
The good news is that you dont have to do this if you dont want to!You can still wear your favorite types of earrings. You just have to be morecautious about the specific metals theyre made from.
The Prevention Of The Gold Allergy Suggests The Following Actions:
- Do not buy low-quality products at an attractive price, usually, 70% of the composition make divergent metals
- Process finery with antiseptics periodically
- Try not to purchase yellow gold, as it has the lowest content of gold and the largest proportion of diverse metals.
Thus, the person should not limit himself completely from luxury to wear jewelry. The solution in this situation is to purchase high-quality products with the lowest alloy of other metals or another option may be to wear silver, which is completely hypoallergenic.
Don’t Miss: Can You Eat Twix With A Peanut Allergy
What To Do If You Have A Nickel Allergy
If you are allergic to nickel, one of the things you can do is buy gold jewelry that is of a higher karat grade.
Most people with such an allergy cannot wear 10k gold, so if you are in the same situation, you can opt for 14k or 18k gold. Try higher karats until you find the type of gold you can tolerate.
Avoid gold plated jewelry as these pieces are covered with a gold layer that will eventually wear out and expose the base layer, which often contains nickel.
White gold is another material that is not recommended for people allergic to nickel.
The reason is that this type of gold is made from yellow gold mixed with other metals to make it look whiter, and there is often nickel among them.
Jewelry made of white gold is often plated with rhodium, but it will eventually wear down, and the nickel beneath will come into contact with your skin.
Whats even worse, sometimes, the plating itself can contain nickel. So if youre buying white gold, make sure that it is nickel free.
Polyethylene Glycols And Other Excipients That Might Cause Anaphylaxis
PEGs are polymers of ethylene oxide and have varying molecular weights, between 200 and 35000g/mol. PEGs have many names, such as Macrogol and Laureth-9, and are found in a multitude of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. In cosmetics, the number refers to its number of ethylene oxide units whereas molecular weight is referred to in pharmaceuticals. PEG 3350 is currently contained in more than 1000 FDA-approved medications and can be found in many tablets, topical gels, laxatives and parenteral steroids . PEGylation is the conjugation of PEGs to drugs, leading to prolonged half-life in plasma and less immunogenicity without compromising clinical efficacy . Polysorbate 80 is contained in nearly 7000 FDA-approved medications and is more commonly found in vaccines, parenteral steroids, immunoglobulin replacement and tablets . The formulation of PEG in the mRNA vaccines is different from the PEG used most commonly in other healthcare products, both in molecular weight and due to its coformulation as a stabilizing portion of a liposome .
Due to low awareness of PEG allergy, patients reacting to healthcare, cosmetic or hygiene products or with severe reactions to, for example, antibiotics or laxatives have been misdiagnosed with idiopathic anaphylaxis or drug allergy to specific products . Before being diagnosed with PEG allergy, 7680% of the patients had experienced one or more episodes of anaphylaxis requiring adrenalin treatment .
Read Also: Sudafed Allergies
Create Barriers For Your Skin
Creating barriers will help you reduce the risk of an allergic reaction while handling metals. For example, use gloves if youre working with metals. With jewelry, three coats of clear nail polish can do the trick. Apply the clear nail polish on the part of the jewelry that comes into contact with your skin, so you limit the amount of irritants that interact with body heat and sweat. Be sure to reapply additional coats of polish after a few wears.
