One out of every seven individuals will have an allergic reaction to nickel. The result of this can be intense itching, cracking of the skin, rash and unsightly weeping blisters. Unfortunately, the most common source of this allergy - also referred to as allergic contact dermatitis - is in gold plated jewelery. Gold plated chains, in particular, can be a nuisance as the evidence of dermatitis is in the most conspicuous of places, framing your face and hard to camouflage.
Plating gold is an affordable way to give a consumer the look of gold at a reduced cost. However, one in seven people will start to develop a nasty rash once the thin painted layer begins to wear away with repeated shifting and rubbing against the skin. Unless you prefer to wear your chains over a turtleneck on a daily basis, you will eventually see a scaly and sometimes weeping rash running a circle around your neck.
Some people advocate buying 12 karat gold or higher to prevent such problems, but sometimes budgetary restraints limit us. Others suggest coating your gold plated items in clear nail polish but that is not always a great idea either. Nail polish will flake off easily and it also contains toxic chemicals like phthalates, toluene and formaldehyde which are not the best things to be in contact with.
There are ways to circumvent this though, short of upgrading all the chains in your jewelry box.
1. Test your new jewelery.
If you've purchased something you really like, or were given something you want to hang on to, you can test it with a chemical solution to see if it is safe to wear. You can even buy kits easily on the Internet for this purpose. The liquid is dabbed onto the chain and forms a reaction, indicating whether there is any nickel content to spark an allergic reaction.
2. Guarding.
Also on the market to make your jewelery collection viable, is a solution that can be painted on. Rather than using clear nail polish as some of us have done in the past, use this a jewelery-specific formula (this can also be obtained through the Internet) in order to create a protective film to protect the gold plating from wearing off. The problem with using nail polish, by the way, is that it's prone to flake easily anyway and can include a long list of toxic chemicals.
3. Prep your skin with moisturizer.
In a pinch, the best alternative option is to put a barrier directly on your skin. Before wearing your chain, rub in a moisturizer or cream around your neck and collar bone. Petroleum jelly can be a good alternative for this as well. By forming a barrier on your skin, you'll prevent direct content from the jewelery, at least for the day's worth of wear.
Plating gold is an affordable way to give a consumer the look of gold at a reduced cost. However, one in seven people will start to develop a nasty rash once the thin painted layer begins to wear away with repeated shifting and rubbing against the skin. Unless you prefer to wear your chains over a turtleneck on a daily basis, you will eventually see a scaly and sometimes weeping rash running a circle around your neck.
Some people advocate buying 12 karat gold or higher to prevent such problems, but sometimes budgetary restraints limit us. Others suggest coating your gold plated items in clear nail polish but that is not always a great idea either. Nail polish will flake off easily and it also contains toxic chemicals like phthalates, toluene and formaldehyde which are not the best things to be in contact with.
There are ways to circumvent this though, short of upgrading all the chains in your jewelry box.
1. Test your new jewelery.
If you've purchased something you really like, or were given something you want to hang on to, you can test it with a chemical solution to see if it is safe to wear. You can even buy kits easily on the Internet for this purpose. The liquid is dabbed onto the chain and forms a reaction, indicating whether there is any nickel content to spark an allergic reaction.
2. Guarding.
Also on the market to make your jewelery collection viable, is a solution that can be painted on. Rather than using clear nail polish as some of us have done in the past, use this a jewelery-specific formula (this can also be obtained through the Internet) in order to create a protective film to protect the gold plating from wearing off. The problem with using nail polish, by the way, is that it's prone to flake easily anyway and can include a long list of toxic chemicals.
3. Prep your skin with moisturizer.
In a pinch, the best alternative option is to put a barrier directly on your skin. Before wearing your chain, rub in a moisturizer or cream around your neck and collar bone. Petroleum jelly can be a good alternative for this as well. By forming a barrier on your skin, you'll prevent direct content from the jewelery, at least for the day's worth of wear.
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How to Treat Nickel Allergy?
According to medical and health experts nickel allergy is known as the primary cause of “allergic contact dermatitis”, although copper, cobalt, chromium and other metal substances can also caused this aversion. This is being acquired when the skin has a direct contact with these substances causing a negative reaction. The sensitivity doesn’t only happen when skin contacted to nickel, but it can also be possible thru eating foods such as nuts, chocolates, beans as well as grain foods. A lot of patients treated with this type of allergy had experienced minor to severe irritation feeling within the skin area where the contact occurred.
There are also people who are sensitive with this nickel allergy like when ear piercing is done. But, the skin does not intercourse during the first exposure with nickel and you might be directly contacted to it before any allergic reactions may occur. And when this thing happens your skin will start showing signs of nickel sensitivity such as blisters or itchy sensations.
There are researchers who found out that nickel is also found in water and other foods. If you had visited your doctor you might not favor the recommendation of controlling you eating foods containing high nickel substances. Foods such as salmon, chocolates candies, legumes, chocolate mixed drinks, canned veggies and fruits, dried fruits, peas, broccoli and cocoa are very high in nickel.
Nickel allergy can really cause acute irritations, and due to this you might not be able to work comfortably. Taking antihistamine can temporarily ease the rashes and blisters. Applying moisturizing creams can also soften the dryness of the skin at the same time lessen the itchiness. Corticosteroid cream can help healing blisters and rashes and wet compress can also lessen the skin irritations. Most doctors agree that it may take some time and considerable effort of get rid of nickel allergy, it is very important to follow all possible preventive solutions to stay away from such irritations and signs of illness.
There are also people who are sensitive with this nickel allergy like when ear piercing is done. But, the skin does not intercourse during the first exposure with nickel and you might be directly contacted to it before any allergic reactions may occur. And when this thing happens your skin will start showing signs of nickel sensitivity such as blisters or itchy sensations.There are researchers who found out that nickel is also found in water and other foods. If you had visited your doctor you might not favor the recommendation of controlling you eating foods containing high nickel substances. Foods such as salmon, chocolates candies, legumes, chocolate mixed drinks, canned veggies and fruits, dried fruits, peas, broccoli and cocoa are very high in nickel.
Nickel allergy can really cause acute irritations, and due to this you might not be able to work comfortably. Taking antihistamine can temporarily ease the rashes and blisters. Applying moisturizing creams can also soften the dryness of the skin at the same time lessen the itchiness. Corticosteroid cream can help healing blisters and rashes and wet compress can also lessen the skin irritations. Most doctors agree that it may take some time and considerable effort of get rid of nickel allergy, it is very important to follow all possible preventive solutions to stay away from such irritations and signs of illness.
1 comment:
Thank you so much! I have a cremation pendent that is precious to me, but I recently learned has nickel in it. this was a lifesaver!
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