Do you or your child have problems wearing
pierced earrings? Do they cause a rash or other irritation? We’re not talking
about an infection from a new piercing. Instead, this is for earring wearers
who have healed piercing holes but suffer from a condition called contact
dermatitis from their jewelry.
What happens is when you put your earrings
in, you’ll start to feel itchy, and the ears become red and inflamed. It’s
happening a lot, and the culprit is usually from a metal called nickel. It’s a
durable metal used in almost all jewelry as a base metal to add durability and
strength, especially to soft gold.
It’s time to switch to nickel-free jewelry
so that you can look beautiful without the worry.
What is Nickel?
Nickel is a hard yet supple, silvery-white
shiny metal that has a slight golden color. Nickel got its name from a medieval
German mythological creature called “Nickel.” German miners confused the red
nickel ore with copper ore, and when they could not extract the copper, they
blamed it on the bad spirit “Nickel,” and the name stuck.
Today, we find nickel in most common metals
such as stainless steel and most jewelry, both costume and high-end.
Unfortunately, approximately 17% of people have an allergy to nickel. Traditional
earrings, bracelets, and necklaces can cause itchy, red skin. There are two ways
to avoid it, either by not wearing jewelry (not an option) or wearing nickel-free
jewelry.
If you are new to the nickel-free earrings trend, here are five facts to get you up to speed.
1.Nickel-Free and Hypoallergenic Are
Not the Same
If you see “hypoallergenic” on a
jewelry label, it claims that it causes fewer
allergic reactions than other ones. It doesn’t necessarily mean it is
allergy-proof or free from nickel. For example, some surgical-grade stainless
steel does contain small amounts of nickel, but it’s low enough to be called hypoallergenic
for most people.
2.Metal Jewelry Options Without
Nickel
To avoid nickel alloys entirely, look for the
following jewelry metal options. They are considered nickel free and meet the
EU Nickel Directive which limits the amount of nickel exposure from wearing
earrings and other jewelry.
- Sterling silver stamped .925
means it’s 92.5% pure silver alloyed with other metals, usually copper. They
don’t use nickel in it.
- Niobium is a metal you see that
reflects a rainbow of colors when anodized. It is hard like titanium but malleable
enough to make wire and jewelry.
- Pure medical-grade titanium is
an element and contains no other metals. It is highly resistant to corrosion.
It is shiny, and dark gray or silver in appearance.
- Pure gold contains no nickel.
However, it is too soft to use in jewelry which is why they alloy other metals with
it to make it stronger. 14k yellow gold is usually 58% gold, 25% silver, and
17% copper. If you have a nickel allergy, avoid white gold because it contains
nickel for the color and strength.
3.Nickel-Free Doesn’t Always Mean
Metal
When we think of nickel-free earrings, we
think of other metal alternatives. However, there is one nickel-free option
that is right for everyone. It is medical-grade plastic.
Initially made for sutures in surgery, medical
plastic does not harbor bacteria, is light-weight, strong and very comfortable
to wear all day and all night long.
4.All Nickel-Free Earrings Are
Not Equal
People opt for surgical stainless steel
such as alloys 316, 316L, 304, 317, etc. Unfortunately, these alloys all
contain nickel, so chose earrings like titanium or medical grade plastic
instead.
For example, our medical-grade titanium
earrings protect your skin because there is no nickel.
5.Covering Nickel is Not a
Solution
You may read that by adding “clear nail
polish on jewelry may help,” but don’t believe it. It’s a temporary solution at
best and will end up wearing off while you wear your jewelry, causing
irritation at the worst time.
If you suffer from an allergy to nickel
there is only one solution, buy nickel-free earrings.
Everyone Can Wear Nickel-Free Earrings
Blomdahl USA has exclusive jewelry
designers who create pretty earrings, necklaces, and bracelets that work with
any outfit or occasion.
Many of our pieces have sparkling Swarovski
Crystals to enhance any look. Moreover, you can feel confident when giving
nickel-free earrings as a gift. They are comfortable, stylish and will last a
lifetime.
Ten articles before and after
4 Reasons People Choose Nickel-Free Earrings | CHURINGA EARRINGS
Are Your Earrings Nickel-Free? | CHURINGA EARRINGS
Medical-Grade Earrings Save Your Ears | CHURINGA EARRINGS
Why Everyone Loves Medical-Grade Earrings | CHURINGA EARRINGS
5 Reasons to Buy Hypoallergenic Earrings | CHURINGA EARRINGS
Why Nickel-Free Earrings Are So Popular | CHURINGA EARRINGS
Nickel-Free Earrings, What You Need To Know | CHURINGA EARRINGS
Nickel-Free Earrings – The Answer to Itchy, Red Ears | CHURINGA EARRINGS
Why You Must Wear Nickel-Free Earrings | CHURINGA EARRINGS
The Best Skin-Friendly Earrings for Kids | CHURINGA EARRINGS