Golden Jewelry and Metal Allergies

Filed in archive Did you know , Metal Allergies , Skin Allergies on March 29, 2010

© LoulasBoutique

Does the price of a piece of jewelry indicates whether it contains nickel, and may thus cause rashes in individuals allergic to nickel? If you have nickel allergies, would you have less chances of having allergic reactions to, say a pair of women luxury earrings from an exclusive boutique than a similar pair from a generic retail store?

In some countries in Europe, perhaps, but not in the United States. In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2008, researchers tested 277 earrings from 34 different stores and artists in San Francisco and found about a third of them positive for nickel. However, the frequency of allergic reactions observed was not correlated to the country where the earrings were manufactured, nor to the selling price. For example, none of the 44 earrings priced between $5 and $8 in one accessory store tested positive for nickel, but numerous earrings priced between $15 and $25 in another accessory shop did.

If you have nickel allergies, be sure to wear jewelry that are labeled as nickel-free, or opt for stainless steel, platinum or golden jewelry (allergy to gold has also been known to exist, but is a relatively rare condition).