Are You Allergic to Gold Jewelry? Here Is What You Can Do

Forget about the price of gold jewelry and how they make you feel when you wear them. Do you know you can wear gold jewelry even with allergic reactions? We can assure you that it’s not magic or witchcraft, but some types of gold jewelry do not trigger allergic reactions. If you are allergic to gold jewelry, you don't need to panic when you see your colleagues donning some gold. Instead, you can take the time to read our detailed article that serves as a comprehensive guide in terms of how to curb your allergy to gold while the light from the sun will glint off your premium gold jewelry.

What Is a Jewelry/Gold Allergy?

The first and most important things you need to understand about gold allergy are the symptoms associated with it. You may be allergic to gold without knowing it.. Therefore, what is this gold allergy, and how does it affect your lifestyle and the type of gold jewelry you purchase?

Allergy to gold, or "gold allergy" as it is sometimes referred to, is an adverse reaction of the human body, particularly the human skin, to certain compounds found in gold jewelry and other related items.

Jewelry allergy is one of the root causes of contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is essentially an itchy rash caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it. Most people who are allergic to gold usually have a metal allergy. One of the common allergens in gold is nickel. You will think you have a gold allergy, while it might be a nickel allergy. Other metals that could cause allergic reactions include cobalt and those from the platinum family.

Nickel is a metal commonly found in jewelry, especially gold and silver. It is used as an alloy to create more durable pieces of jewelry and also to add a unique luster or color to the finished product. . Most people usually believe they are allergic to gold or silver jewelry, while in the real sense, they are only allergic to nickel. You must note that gold allergy occurs when the gold touches the skin, and you may experience skin irritation in that regard.

Symptoms of a Gold Allergy

Gold allergies present symptoms quite similar to those of other allergies. While the body reacts differently to allergens, some typical symptoms could include:

• Body swelling
• Skin rash
• Redness
• Peeling
• Dark spots
• Blistering

You could experience mild or severe allergic reactions depending on your symptoms. Additionally, it is healthy to note that these symptoms occur shortly after you come in contact with gold or could occur after prolonged exposure to gold jewelry.

Wearing a gold ring may lead to discolouration, redness, or itching on your finger. Additionally, you may develop symptoms around your neck or on your ear after wearing gold earrings or necklaces. While it is challenging to distinguish between gold and other type of allergies, not all types of gold cause allergies. Some allergic reactions you may experience may come from eczema and other contact dermatitis rather than gold allergies. However, you must note that gold allergies always present similar symptoms any time your skin comes in contact with gold. 

When encountering this type of situation, the best course of action would be to consult your doctor or dermatologist to determine which type of allergy you have contracted.

Determining the exact cause of gold allergy is a rather tedious process. However, you must know that symptoms occur when your body's immune system is sensitive to the metal exposed. You could become allergic to gold if you experience an allergy to other metals. Furthermore, you could be allergic to gold if you have a family history with nickel or metal allergies. You could also be reacting to gold jewelry or other gold pieces because of some other metals in them. Nickel is one of the common allergens often used with gold. Hence, you probably won’t experience allergic reactions with a nickel-free gold piece.

How to Avoid Jewelry Allergy

The best solution for people with gold allergies is to find out what causes their allergic reactions. If you notice an allergic reaction after using a gold piece, try to find out if it contains pure gold or has other metals like nickel, platinum et al.. Most of the time, your body reacts to these alloyed metals, and not pure gold itself. Rhodium plating on your gold rings could also cause gold contact allergy. Finding out the source of your allergies will help you avoid contact dermatitis.

For example, if you know that your skin reacts to other metals, you would not wear earrings or a wedding ring that contains these metals. Avoiding metal-plated gold jewelry at all costs can also prevent future allergic reactions. If you eventually wear jewelry with these metals, you may have to experience metal allergies afresh.

Treatment for a Gold Allergy

After wearing white gold jewelry, it is best to check if you have symptoms such as swelling, itching, redness, blistering etc. The best way to treat your allergic reaction is to buy over-the-counter topical corticosteroid creams. An alternative solution is to apply a cool compress while keeping your skin moisturized to reduce itching. Always see a certified health professional if you experience a severe reaction to gold. It would be best to stop wearing jewelry altogether if you want to prevent future allergic reactions.

What Material Jewelry Is Best for Sensitive Skin?

The best material to use for sensitive skin is pure gold. If you want a budget-friendly piece of jewelry you can work with, it is best to consider sterling silver jewelry. You can consider yellow gold in order not to contract allergies while using unadulterated gold jewelry. Yellow gold is nickel-free and will not cause any allergic reaction. On the other hand, white gold usually contains other metals and may cause allergies. It would be best to consider jewelry that contain gold sodium thiomalate since these pieces protect the skin from contact dermatitis.

What Can Cause Extreme Skin Sensitivity?

White gold is one of the  root causes of extreme skin sensitivity since it contains nickel and other metals that cause allergies. Additionally, it is best to avoid contact with such jewelry. If you wear these kinds of gold jewelry, make sure to you take them off as soon as possible.

How Do You Treat Hypersensitive Skin?

If you experience metal allergies, it will help to take 5 to 10 minutes short baths with warm water. Desist from using harsh exfoliants. Instead, you can use gentle, fragrance-free soap to clean your body.

How to Wear Jewelry if You’re Allergic

It would help if you avoid using white gold, nickel etc. altogether  by sticking to silver sterling or 14-karat gold to prevent metal allergies. Another material you can consider is rhodium-plated gold jewelry.

Does Yellow Gold Cause Allergy?

Yellow gold is a pure gold form and does not cause allergies. Yellow gold does not contain nickel, platinum, copper, and other metals that cause allergy. Hence, you will not experience adverse effects while wearing yellow gold jewelry.

Is Sterling Silver Safe?

Sterling silver does not cause allergic reactions like white gold and other white metal materials. Most brands use sterling silver on everyday items to tackle and help reduce allergic reactions. As always, ensure that you do not have direct contact with materials that could cause allergies.

Which Is the Best Gold Jewelry to Buy?

You can purchase jewelry made from yellow gold and higher karats, and some of the best brands use rhodium plating to reduce allergic reactions. You can always consult brands like Lil Milan to buy your solid gold for a premium jewelry experience.