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Home/Sitemap · Search · you are here: Forum =>letter 21860 Earrings for Nickel allergy?+++ I have a serious nickel allergy and am not sure what it limits me to in earrings. Is it possible to find white gold made with palladium and not nickel? Or will the rhodium plating be enough if there is nickel in the earrings to protect me? (I'm thinking no since it wore off everyone's rings) Is there any combination that works out in white gold or do I have to move up to platinum? If someone could someone please explain this to me I would really appreciate it. Lindsay Hi, Lindsay. Hoover & Strong has a catalog of earrings and piercings that are palladium based white gold instead of nickel based white gold. Here are two web-based, mail-order sources of nickel-free hypoallergenic jewelry:
Simply Whispers Regards,
+++ Silver and stainless steel are two alternatives. James Watts
+++ Hi, I manufacture custom jewelry and use REAL surgical steel. If you have a nickel allergy, surgical steel should not affect you if it is properly manufactured and finished. Have you had a nickel sensitivity test? I ask because a lot of body jewelry is not surgical steel, even though the manufacturer claims it is. I know for sure that jewelry made in Asia is mainly 302-304 grade stainless steel, according to samples tested at my metal suppliers lab. Even 316 L stainless steel can be the cause of your "nickel allergy" as it must be chemically passivated before it can be worn, or autoclaved. Genuine surgical steel is used by only three body jewelry manufacturers that I am aware of, as I sell this alloy wholesale. I am one of them, the spec is that the alloy is in annealed condition, conforms to A.S.T.M. F138 [link is to spec at TechStreet], being 316 L vacuum-melted, and has 14% nickel, low carbon, sulphur, and phosphorus. The higher nickel content actually makes the alloy more resistant to "in vivo" corrosion. If the steel is correctly finished your body WILL NOT be able to metabolize any nickel from the surface of the jewelry, as it has a thin, clear layer of chromium oxide which prevents corrosion. This is the result of proper passivation techniques, which few companies actually bother to do. I have sold jewelry to hundreds of "nickel sensitive" people that have had no reaction whatsoever to my A.S.T.M. F-138 316Lvm surgical stainless steel. I truly believe that you are likely yet another of the millions of people that have been sold fake surgical steel, and/or titanium if you are reacting to these alloys. Either that or the stuff is very poorly finished. There are many stainless steels available that do not contain nickel, if you really are allergic. As for your white gold, I do not know of any standards for it in respect to nickel content, unless it is dental gold. Good luck, and I hope this helps you make an informed decision. Jeff Swayze +++ Hi, I recently bought a white gold bracelet without realizing it contained nickel. Unfortunately I am allergic to nickel but I have been told that there are 'anti allergy' coatings which can be painted on jewellery, providing a temporary solution. I am desperately seeking such a product but have had no such luck-please has anyone else heard of this? Does anyone know the name of this product or where it can be bought? Thank you so much! Cathy L Hi. People do use clear nail polish or clear urethane coatings to achieve this goal, but whether that offers hope depends on the style of the bracelet. If it's a band, it probably will work; if it's links, maybe not. NoNickel.com is one place that offers both the nail polish coatings and the urethane. Regards,
+++ It is illegal (and has been for some time now) to sell jewellery in the UK, and indeed in Europe, that contains nickel. Take the bracelet back to the jewelers and tell them to change it for a legal one. If they will not do so, report them to the local Trading Standards Office
+++ Trevor, I am with you on your option. In the states we are sorry and behind. Properly finished SS maybe OK but one cannot tell if it is so. Better to avoid it altogether. In titanium I am amazed that Grade V is OK in the states and a lot of the world but that in general to get a CE mark it needs to be a chemically pure grade. But then again we still hold on to Hex Chrome. Jon Quirt +++ Jon, Thanks for your submission and comments. I just thought it may be worth reiterating the current EU regulations regarding nickel release as it may shed some light on how and why some alloys in the USA induce allergic responses. Firstly the regulations only relate to articles that are "...in direct and prolonged contact...." with the body; presumably this means both skin and through-body piercings. Secondly, in general the articles must not contain more than 0.05% nickel. Thirdly the articles must not release more than 0.5 ug/cm**2/week of nickel, as determined by the specified tests. Fourthly, any coated product must not release more than 0.5 ug/cm**2/week and the coating must remain fit for purpose for at least two years under normal use. The regulations come under Article 94/27/EC and have been in force for about five years. The EU's main stumbling block was having a suitable nickel "corrosion" test, but this has now been resolved. Interestingly Denmark have prohibited all nickel containing articles that release more than 0.5 ug/cm**2/week since 1991, as determining the nickel by dimethylglyoxime. There is some concern that people who develop full blown allergies to nickel may be pushed into a reaction at levels lower than the 0.5 ug, but the lowest threshold level for an allergic response that I have come across is 40 ppm. Fear not residents of the USA and Canada, where some coins contain high levels of nickel- the good news is that there is (as far as I know) no confirmed case of nickel allergies being brought on by normal use of coins. There are a few cases where exposure to coins has been greatly and deliberately enhanced and this has caused a problem, but these cases are only examples induced in the laboratory. Further information on nickel allergies can be found on the NiDI.org website. I hope this is of use to nickel sufferers and to anyone else interested in the problem.
+++ My engagement/wedding ring set is white gold. Since I have had it, it has caused a terrible red, itchy rash on my finger. I had it plated with Rhodium first, but it still caused the allergic reaction. I just got it plated with Palladium, and it's starting again. Does anyone have any other solutions to this problem? I can't just exchange it. It's my wedding ring! Sarah M +++ Sarah, I have the same problem ... inherited my grandmother's 3.5 carat diamond and white gold ring, and have had this itchy scaly rash on my finger. I knew that I had an allergy to nickel, but until today, didn't know that there was nickel in the ring! I NEVER take it off! I am also hoping someone has the answer! Heather E Hi, Sarah and Heather. Before despairing, please see letter 33777 wherein a number of women found out that they were not actually allergic to the metal of their rings after all; rather, that boiling in vinegar & hydrogen peroxide [link is to product info at Amazon] cleaned whatever was causing the rash. It's worth reading! If the problem is a true allergy to nickel, the right answer is palladium-based white gold. But since that isn't applicable to your existing rings, please download a great Powerpoint FAQ about rhodium plating by Metal Arts Specialties. Regards,
++++ My daughter is extra sensitive to nickel. She has a place on her stomach about the size of a grapefruit where her belt buckle has caused a nickel rash. She is miserable and I believe that the area is going to be scarred. I am looking for a belt with a "silver" buckle that will not contain any nickel. Please understand she is 14 years old and wants to wear what everyone else wears. I have begged her to leave the belt off - but instead she puts a extra-large bandaid over the affected area and goes on!!! Today she is miserable and we are heading back to the doctor for a shot. Does anybody out there know of a belt like what we need???? Thanks for your help Debbie D ++++ For the belt buckle, you could brush it with clear polish, so it doesn't contact her skin. It's rather tedious, but it works. I had to do that with my eyeglasses frames for a year when I discovered I had the nickel allergy. And thank you to this forum for informing me that white gold is alloyed with nickel. No wonder my earrings have been bothering me that last two days. Tina L Hi, Tina. Not all white gold is alloyed with nickel -- some is alloyed with palladium. But since that is far more expensive than nickel, you won't get it by accident, you need to work to find it, and you'll pay more :-) But I understand that all
Simply Whispers Regards,
++++ I've been wearing my yellow-gold wedding band & engagement ring for 7 years this January. They are soldered together, and have been since 6 years ago this November. All of a sudden, a couple months ago, I got a rash just like you are describing under the rings. I've never heard of a metal allergy, but I'm trying to find info. I have another gold ring on my other hand, and there is no reaction there. I put the wedding/engagement ring on my right hand & got the same reaction on my right ring finger. Can an allergy just appear like that? Anyone have an idea of what's happening with me? I'm sorry if I'm not talking about the same thing as the rest of you, but I'm at a loss. Jane Maus
++++ It could be the solder, ya never know. Ask what solder was used and check the chemical make-up. Zack Allen +++++ You should consider the possibility of psoriasis as well, wherein a rash appears on the skin when it is stressed. I get a rash from *any* metal rings, and mine are all sterling silver. No nickel here! Kate Setzer Kamphausen ++++++ Rhodium is not a safe plating. According to several published articles in the medical community, Rhodium has no effect on preventing nickel from getting into your bloodstream. Please be aware. Marina D'Artagnon ++++++ You're certainly at least 75 percent correct, Marina, because Rhodium is usually too porous, usually too thin, and always too temporary to keep the skin away from the underlying nickel. But can you name one of those published articles so I can understand what you are saying? Because, despite skin allergies, nickel is widely used medically -- even in stents and such -- and I've never heard of this issue of "nickel in the bloodstream" that you are alluding to. Thanks.
+++++++ Does the higher nickel content explain why I have a reaction to a new Rolex watch that is 904L stainless? The jewelry store assures me the watch is non-allergenic, but I get a rash from wearing it. Donna Cooper January 31, 2008 I have an allergy to Nickel and unfortunately both my wedding ring and engagement ring seem to contain it. Is there an alternative metal that I can get a ring made from, or purchase, that absolutely will not contain nickel? Kathy Gonza February 2, 2008 The stainless Rolex should not release nickel. Your rash is probably due to perspiration, heat, or some other irritant. Amber C July 26, 2008 Trevor - Funny note for you, I have a severe allergic reaction to nickel. I cannot hold loose change in my hand for more than 5 mins before I start to itch. As for my wedding bands, they are white gold and continually have them dipped to keep myself from having a reaction. My husband and myself have been researching titanium and tungsten rings. But unfortunately, we have not found any settings we both like. And we are not quite ready to have custom ones made. Rhonda Lackie August 19, 2008 Rhonda - Since you've been researching, you may have stumbled across it already, but I got my titanium engagement ring from Titanium Era. I liked a lot of the choices they had and they regularly come out with more. Just thought I'd post in case you haven't seen it yet. Erica L September 5, 2008 Stainless steel is 14% Nickel for medical devises such as heart Stents. They are implanting these products directly into the blood stream. Nickel is a danger to humans much like lead. Who would ever assume they would put into the blood stream. Nickel has never had human testing, just a CDC study with rats. I had a stent 4 years ago and I have all the same problems. A German stent manufacturer published studies in 1999, still these products get FDA approval. Kevan Holmberg September , 2008 Hi, Kevan. What material do you feel stints should be made of? Thanks. Regards,
January 13, 2009 If your allergic to nickel does that mean you cant be tattoo'd either? Chloe Montague May 20, 2009 I have had psoriasis for 30+ years. I began to notice 3 years ago that, after playing guitar for several hours, my eyes would red up and itch. It got worse as the months went by and they soon began to swell and itch like poison ivy burns. It was lasting longer and longer up to two weeks to return to normal. I had a patch test and discovered I have become extremely allergic to nickel after years of regular contact. My doctor told me a slight nickel allergy can advance to extreme with more and more nickel contact. I changed all frets, strings and other hardware to from nickel to stainless steel on all my guitars. I can now play a full show with no ill effects from nickel. As a side benefit about six months after the the changes to my guitars my psoriasis is now clear. I found out there is a lot of nickel in this world. My office chair, belt buckle, snaps on jeans, some door handles, tools, fixtures, glasses, dirt, golf club shafts, key rings, jewelry, lots of musical instruments, and many many other things. This substance should be outlawed. If you have psoriasis it may be a nickel/bronze allergy. My psoriasis generally covered my elbows, knees, and torso and was never gone until now. Age Event
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