Some people are allergic to jewelry and unfortunately they segregate themselves to only gold products. Even then some gold jewelry might cause allergic reactions on them. This particular allergy is called skin dermatitis and it happens due to the intolerance of the skin towards certain metals used in making jewelry.
Normally, the precious metals used to make jewelry are inert meaning that they will not produce any reactions at all and therefore shall never cause any adverse reaction on wearing. However, these precious metals such as gold and silver are too soft to wear in their pure state. The impurities mixed in them to harden are what cause the skin allergies. This affects 15% of the world population and is seen more with women. Obviously the reason behind this is that women wear jewelry more than men do.
Among all metals used in jewelry making, nickel is the most widely used and also the most reactive to skin. Almost all cases of allergy are caused by nickel. It finds common usage in white gold and in silver as well. A good alternative is sterling silver which is made from silver and copper. Fine silver can also substitute such jewelry but it is just too malleable to use.
Platinum can be used in place of silver if jewelry made from silver corrodes fast. Silver although is quite safe to use, gets eaten away by forces of nature fast. This results in a black coating over it which takes away from its appeal.
A commonly sold white jewelry is German silver. This alloy is made from zinc, lead, tin and nickel. Because of the presence of high amounts of nickel it is strictly sensitive to allergic skin. German silver is best avoided even though it is among the cheapest alloys used in jewelry.
One more alloy to stay far away from is surgical steel which, although is inert to nature, causes rashes on allergic skin thanks to its high nickel content.
In conclusion, people suffering from skin dermatitis will have to go for alternative metals that are slightly costlier than usual jewelry but are more brilliant and lustrous too namely, platinum and titanium. While platinum is used widely, titanium jewelry is hard to find and is exclusive too. Copper on the other hand does not come in jewelry as a separate part but as an additive to gold and silver. These jewelries are perfect for the unfortunate few allergic to nickel.
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