Nickel allergies are incredibly common and affect more than half of the population. Unfortunately, many jewelry manufacturers use nickel in their products because it is a relatively inexpensive metal that allows them to increase their profit margins. To the dismay of the buyer, wearing nickel-laden jewelry on a regular basis when you have a sensitivity to it can be troublesome and uncomfortable. Knowing what to look for when it concerns a nickel allergy and how to deal with it will help you overcome this problem.
Effects of a Nickel Allergy
It’s pretty easy to tell if you’re experiencing a sensitivity to nickel. The first sign is when your skin is irritated, itchy and red when wearing any type of jewelry containing this metal. The most common type of jewelry that causes an allergic reaction are earrings because they are going through the actual skin and will have more contact with the body than, say, a necklace. Nickel allergies aren’t necessarily life-threatening like other allergies, but they can still be annoying and uncomfortable. In more severe cases, swelling can occur and engulf the earring altogether, resulting in the need for medical attention to remove the jewelry.
How to Deal with the Reaction
If you’re experiencing a reaction to any type of jewelry, you need to take it off your body or out of your ears immediately. The only good thing about this type of allergic reaction is that it’s not permanent. Once you get rid of the cause of the issue, the reaction subsides and your body returns to normal without the itchiness and irritation. If you have lesser quality jewelry, you should consider switching everything to better items and going with nickel-free products only. You can find an array of beautiful pieces by visiting http://www.blomdahlusa.com/earrings.html.
How to Purchase Nickel-Free Jewelry
Once you recognize a nickel allergy, you need to avoid jewelry that contains this metal. It’s pretty safe to say that if a product doesn’t specifically say that it’s nickel-free, it probably contains trace amounts of the metal. This is because jewelry manufacturers have to let consumers know if their products are free of nickel, since it is considered an allergen. There are lots of stores and companies that sell nickel-free items. You will find these pieces are much more comfortable to wear and don’t cause you to feel itchy or irritated whenever you put the metal onto your body.
Nickel-free jewelry may be slightly more expensive than other cheaper types, but just think of all the wear you’ll get from the pieces you buy. After all, who wants to constantly wear a pair of earrings that irritates their skin and causes their lobes to become red and swollen? If you currently have a lot of nickel jewelry, you might want to consider donating or selling these items to individuals who don’t have the same allergies as you. Nickel-free jewelry is vital to those with sensitive skin and for younger children.