Five Steps for Dealing with a Jewelry Allergy

You Are Most Likely Allergic to the Components, Not the Jewelry Itself

Jewelry has been present for eons. Men and women throughout history , to the present day, gain personal confidence in themselves, their social identifications and status through the jewelry they wear. Many have difficulty wearing it in spite of a great desire to do so.Are you among them?Do you wonder if it could be an allergy?Do you know you have an allergy?

You may have developed an allergy and not realized it. If you know you do, there may be some steps you can take to minimize discomfort you are experiencing. or you may simply find some things to avoid or to look for when you purchase a piece of jewelry.
If you make jewelry there is helpful information for you.

STEP ONE

The first step is to consider that you may have developed a jewelry allergy. This is not uncommon.. An allergic reaction may appear soon after contact with an item, or it may occur after months or years of comfortable wear. Some itching, discomfort,or redness may be the first indication that your skin is reacting to the piece. The individual will react differently.

To some it is easy to realize and recognize that an allergy is developing. The discomfort is such that there is no doubt.

To others it may be more subtle in developing with a bit of itching or redness which they do not recognize as an allergy. This is especially true if the person has had no previous problems with the piece or wearing jewelry in general.

STEP TWO

The second step is knowing what a jewelry allergy is.

DEFINITION OF THE ALLERGY

Jewelry allergy, experts agree, primarily comes from the nickel content in the metal components of the jewelry.For those who experience allergy even to Gold or Silver, the pure form of these metals are soft. They are mixed with other metals primarily nickel, zinc and copper to help harden it so it may be formed or casted into the desired shape .Zinc and copper do not harm the skin , but skin is always sensitive to nickel. People who are allergic to jewelry are allergic to the nickel it contains , not the jewelry.