Metal allergy - YouLookFab Forum

Yesterday I wore this new necklace for only the second time:

http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

Within an hour my neck began to itch, and when I looked in the mirror, I discovered red, round itchy skin in the exact shape of the necklace! It looked like my skin had been burned in the shape of the necklace. This has never happened to me before. I took the necklace off immediately, and it cleared up in about an hour or two.

The necklace is not real gold - I am assuming the culprit is nickel? I do have another long gold necklace, but when I wear that one, it usually lays on top of my clothes and not next to the skin. I have other fake gold necklaces too, that never gave me a problem like this - but I haven't worn any of them in years.

Anyone else have this problem?

I guess this rules out gold costume jewelry for me and I'll just stick to pearls and silver. I'm not terribly disappointed - it makes it a lot easier to just stick with one metal or the other and build a wardrobe around it.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Oh no what a shame it's a lovely necklace. i can't wear cheap earrings they make my ears itch but touch wood i've never had a problem with necklaces x

Kari

Shiny, what a bummer!
I have a nickel allergy too. When I was young I had to get my ears re-pierced a couple times because they swelled up so badly from wearing cheap earrings. I'm less sensitive to cheap metal now, but I'm still careful about not wearing cheap earrings for too long. I was told that stainless steel is an iffy metal for costume jewelry because it can contain nickel, but sterling silver should be relatively safe.
By the way, I *love* your dress! Such a cute shape.

Mamapicklejuice

What a shame though - the necklace is a stunner on you!

Dawn

(website)

Active Member

I have a nickel allergy as well and have the same story as Kari. I had to have my ears re-pierced two or three times when I was a teenager because they kept swelling up. I don't wear earrings any longer because of this, and I only tend to wear sterling silver now as well.

Maya

How awful. It's a lovely necklace but I guess you'll need to pass it on. That sounds ghastly. Maybe one of the DD's will take it? Unless it's genetic..

I have never had a metal allergy so I'm not sure what the culprit is. But if this is the first time it happened, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Debora

Shiny, so sorry to hear about your necklace. Sounds like you may have a nickel allergy. I think I bought the same necklace at Nordstrom but ended up returning it. The one I bought was by Ralph Lauren. The product description for that necklace says it's made of base metal. I looked up base metals and they are described as metals frequently used in costume jewelry such as nickel or brass that are not noble or precious metals ( gold, silver and platinum).

Here's a good web site I found that defines metal terms:

http://www.rings-things.com/METALS.HTM

I wonder if you could wear gold costume jewelry if it is gold plated? Hope you can get to the bottom of this. That was a gorgeous necklace on you.

elpgal

Shiny, My sis has the same problem. She avoids earrings but coats the back of pendants and bracelets with a layer of clear nail-polish before she wears them.

rute

My sister in law has the same problem, she can wear only silver or gold

shiny

I've never had any problem like this before. But, in the past few weeks, I had noticed that one of my pairs of inexpensive studs was making my lobes itch - the burnished gold ones (not real gold). I guess I'll just have to experiment and see which items are problematic. I could try the nail polish trick, or just use it as impetus to cull out my jewelry box!

Debora - thanks for sleuthing this for me. I had assumed it must be nickel. I know it's not real gold. I only have a few gold necklaces, from back in the 80s/early 90s. Delicate gold chains with lockets, and one or two thick gold chains. All were given to me as gifts. I would not have bought them myself: I actually prefer the look of costume jewelry.

Kyle

Shiny: I have developed the very same problem over the last couple of years. It comes and goes along with sensitivity to certain makeups, too. I have been told that those of us who are very fair skinned are more prone to these problems, but don't know if this is a fact-based statement though. I can't always find any rhyme or reason with my problem. I assume that it is a nickel allergy, but I don't know which pieces may or may not have nickel. I also wonder, as I am getting older, if there could be a hormonal component. I was also super sensitive to metals (along with lots of other things) during pregnancy.

yublocka

That's a shame Shiny - the necklace looks great with the dress. I hope you can find a siialr, non-allergic one!!!

shana

Bummer b/c that is such a pretty necklace! I buy alot of inexpensive jewelry at Target & noticed that they have alot of pieces listed as "Nickel Free" - perhaps more retailers will follow suit?

anne

What a pity Shiny - it is lovely!

MNsara

What a bummer - I hope it is only the one necklace - just something specific to its metal.

My sister has similar problem and sticks with only 14K gold. I have heard of others having luck with the clear nail polish trick.

I hope you can find some resolution and no more irritation!

Dusty

Nickel is a very common allergy, so that's probably what it is. It really does sound like a metal allergy - it's exactly what happens to me if I wear gold (but that's not a new thing - I've always been allergic). I've had a few people try to tell me that it's a nickel allergy - but even 24 c just eats me skin.

anemone

I developed a nickel allergy in adulthood, as well. My mother has it, too. I can't even wear a watch anymore. I've looked at some sterling silver watches, but most of the cases still have stainless steel backs.

In addition to sterling silver and solid gold, I am able to wear vermeil (gold-plated sterling silver), but not gold-filled jewelry, and I cannot wear gold plated jewelry if the metal underneath isn't sterling. I was happy to discover I could wear vermeil, because gold complements my warm skin tone better, but vermeil is a lot cheaper than solid gold. Better quality vermeil uses 24K gold, which I find to be a much warmer and more flattering shade of gold than solid 14K anyway.

I like Novica.com for interesting sterling silver jewelry in all styles and price ranges, and they also have a bit of vermeil. I've been making a lot of my own sterling silver earrings and vermeil earrings and necklaces from jewelry components I get from Etsy, Firemountaingems.com or shiana.com. With a few jewelry tools, a little practice, and high quality components, you can make some very nice jewelry.

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