Is There a Difference Between Hypoallergenic Jewerly & Nickel Free?
According to Linda McCloud, staff writer at Beyond Allergy.com, products can legally be labeled hypoallergenic in the United States. Most products, including jewelry that is labeled as being hypoallergenic, simply leave out the most common allergy-causing ingredients. Does this Spark an idea?
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Sterling
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Sterling silver is usually made with nickel. Nickel is the metal that most people have an allergic reaction to. Jewelry that is labeled as being hypoallergenic that doesn't also say it is nickel-free may have nickel.
Metals
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Gold (predominately 10 to 14 karat), other metals and stainless steel often contain nickel. If you are allergic to nickel you should buy only those marked as being made nickel-free.
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Naturally Hypoallergenic
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Titanium is used in medical repair parts. There are other metals that are naturally nickel-free that are also hypoallergenic. Mayo Clinic suggests titanium, 18-karat yellow gold and niobium. Both niobium and titanium are physically inert, meaning they will not react with your skin's chemistry, and are even used in pacemakers and medical screws.
Other Options
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Platinum rarely causes allergic reactions. Mayo Clinic says that although surgical-grade stainless steel may have a small amount of nickel, most people do not have a reaction to it. Jewelry that uses no-metal strings, cords or material may also be hypoallergenic.
Precaution
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Make sure that not only the main part of the jewelry but also the connectors, latches and earring backings are free of materials that you react to.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Barbara L. Hanson Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Hayden
