Sensitive Skin & Jewelry
Love wearing jewelry but have a skin allergy that gets in the way? The key to enjoying irritation-free accessorizing is knowing which metals you might be allergic to. In general, the number one culprit that can cause a skin reaction is nickel and cobalt, which are often found in silver jewelry rather than in platinum or pure gold. For metals that are less likely to elicit reactions, experts recommend titanium, platinum, 14 or 18K gold, and niobium. Plated jewelry can also be a good option, as it can protect the skin from elements that can cause an allergic reaction. However, as the jewelry wears down, the inner components may become exposed, leading to skin allergies. If you do end up with an allergic reaction, remove the jewelry responsible for the allergy and apply a steroid cream to help heal the rash.
