For centuries, we have worn jewelry to decorate our bodies
and outfits and in that way, express ourselves and show off our personalities.
In addition to that, wearing jewelry also has some functional as well as health
benefits.
However, not all of us can wear jewelry without problems.
Did you know that some people have too sensitive skin and metal allergies? For
them wearing jewelry means rashes, dry patches, itchiness, and redness, among
other things.
Thankfully, there are solutions. With these tips, even
people with sensitive skin will be able to wear jewelry. Let's check them out.
Get to know your skin
We all have different types of skin and that means that
different types of jewelry can cause various allergies and skin sensitivity.
For instance, one of the most common culprits of allergies
is nickel. But that’s not all. Many people are also allergic or sensitive to
copper, brass, and even platinum.
That’s why the best way to find out what you’re allergic to
is by getting to know your skin and the jewelry you wear. Find out exactly what
you are allergic to and avoid that metal.
If you're allergic to a specific metal, your dermatologist
will help you determine which one with the help of a skin patch test.
Once you have an idea of what you’re allergic to, you’ll be
able to stay away from jewelry that contains that metal and choose something
more appropriate.
Stay away from costume jewelry
Costume jewelry is a range of different types of jewelry
that can be found for a lot more affordable prices. Because of that, street
jewelry is usually manufactured from lower-quality metals such as nickel.
The good news for you is that you won’t be missing out on
much if you stop wearing costume jewelry. There are much better alternatives
that are equally as affordable but made of higher-quality metals that are much
safer for your skin. These metals are usually hypoallergenic and
nickel-free.
Check out skin-friendly jewelry at Blomdahl to find something for yourself.
They offer a wide range of high-quality hypoallergenic pieces so you won’t have
to compromise on your style.
Avoid metals that contain nickel
However, it’s not just costume jewelry that can cause you
problems. Sometimes, precious metals such as gold and silver can also cause
skin sensitivity and allergic reactions.
This is usually because nickel is added to these precious
metals to improve their strength. Of course, manufacturers add other reactive
metals as well, but nickel is the most common option for most of them.
If you’re a fan of gold jewelry, you should know that the
higher the Karat, the less likely you are to have an allergic reaction.
However, pure gold, while risk-free, is too weak to hold its shape as jewelry,
and that’s why reactive metals such as nickel or brass are added. So, less than
24 Karat gold is an alloy and contains other metals.
To be sure that you won't have an allergic reaction, PVD
gold-coated stainless steel jewelry is your best option.
Jewelry claps and hooks can cause trouble as well
If you notice that even after wearing the highest-quality
metal jewelry, you still have an allergic reaction the culprits may be claps,
hooks, and backs. Sometimes, to reduce costs, manufacturers use cheaper metals
for these features.
This is a serious problem with earrings since their posts
come in contact with skin the most. So, you’ll need to be careful when choosing
earrings.
To be sure choose earrings with hypoallergenic medical-grade
plastic posts or titanium earrings.
Titanium
Since we mentioned it, it’s only fair to remind you that
titanium is a great metal for those with sensitive skin.
Titanium is a durable, lightweight, non-toxic, and
biocompatible metal. Biocompatible means that the body won’t reject the metal.
This means that titanium is ideal for piercings.
Another great thing about titanium is its non-reactivity. A
non-reactive metal won’t tarnish and lose shine over time. So, titanium jewelry
is a great option if you want body jewelry but have sensitive skin.
How to know what jewelry is made from
It’s challenging not knowing what metals your jewelry is
made from. But there are some things you can do to find out.
For example, nickel is easy to spot in jewelry because it
leaves greenish or brown spots on the skin. But if you want to be sure, you can
use a nickel test kit.
You can use different kits to detect other metals as well.
These kits include several solutions that you rub onto jewelry to find out what
types of metals they contain. Use the cotton swab to apply the solution to the
jewelry and wait a couple of mintues. After a short time, the solution will
change colors depending on the metal your jewelry contains.
In conclusion
Skin sensitivity and allergies can be tough to deal with,
but you shouldn’t let them stop you from wearing jewelry. Many jewelry
alternatives won’t cause reactions or irritate your skin. Invest in
hypoallergenic, nickel-free, or titanium jewelry and you won’t have to worry
about skin issues.
