Anyone else allergic to Nickel ?(ei, costume jewelry, silver, etc.)

[RitaZ.]

I have always had problems wearing jewelry (earrings, necklaces, rings,even watches), I start to itch within 20 minutes of putting it on. The itching becomes so intense, then the lobes or skin swell and break into an oozing rash. It takes days for the rash to heal. I have had this happened to my ear lobes, neck, wrist & fingers (anywhere metal touches).

The allergic reaction is especially bad if the jewelry is silver or costume, sometimes even gold. This has been happening to me since I had my ears pierced as a little girl. There is such beautiful costume jewelry out there and I've stayed away from it because of my allergy. My brother gave me a watch as a gift that is nickel-free, so for the first time ever I can wear a watch without breaking out in a rash. That's when I decided to do a search and I found out that it's the nickel that causes the problem.

For years, I have asked doctors about this and they just said that I must be allergic to something. Now, I finally know what is causing the allergy, it's the nickel. So I decided to buy some costume jewelry (earrings) and coated all the metal that comes in contact with my skin with clear nail polish (2 coats). So far, so good.

Anyone else have this problem?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, and it is a VERY common allergy. I also can't wear any of the socalled "hypo-allergenic" pieces, because they have surgical steel in them, which I am also allergic to. I CAN wear gold if it is 16 karat or better. Be sure to stay away from things marked "gold filled" because they are gold plated over nickle.

 

[becka]

I have never been official diagnosed with an allergy but I have learned over the years that the cheaper costume jewelry, etc. really causes me to itch and get a rash so I try to avoid it.

When I was a teen I had my ears pierced twice and both times they got infected even with constant cleaning and care...I think the problem was the posts on the earrings. I would love to have pierced ears and I have thought about having it done again with 24k gold posts but I have so much scar tissue in my ears from the previous attempts that I am afraid to try.

 

[RitaZ.]

Diane~ I know what you mean about the "so called hypoallergenic", I can't wear it either. I didn't know it was such a common allergy until I did my search.

 

[airhead]

Try wearing jewelry from "Simply Whispers". I've been wearing
their earings for years with no problems because they contain no nickel! I think the website is www.simplywhispers.com

Hope this helps you!!

airhead

 

[worm761]

i am right there with you guys. i have never gone to the doc to get a diagnosis but over the years have just learned.

and i love jewelery but have to buy the more expensive pieces. so i dont have much.

 

[Regina]

My youngest DD has this allergy. Even the back of the snap on her jeans irritates her skin.

It has to be a common problem since you can find nickel-free jewelry in stores like "Claire's."

Fortunately, she's okay with real silver and gold.

 

[RitaZ.]

Airhead~ Thanks again for the link!

Regina~ I have never set foot in Claire's, I figured there would be nothing there for me. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the info!

 

[Saffron]

I'm allergic to nickel too, but I can wear sterling silver and gold without a problem. Sterling silver from QVC never bothers me at all, I can wear it with confidence. Less expensive silver bothers me as much as costume jewelry. Costume jewelry has the same reaction on my skin as it does yours. It takes days before the rash and itching go away so I can wear jewelry again. I just stay away from it now and buy my jewelry almost exclusively from QVC.

I have a few pair of earrings from Simply Whispers. Their prices are fantastic. I only wear their "gold" pieces though. I wish I could afford the real thing all the time , but for their prices, I can get lots of gold looking earrings for the price of one pair of 14k or 18k. They have never bothered me.

Good luck in your search! I love jewelry!

 

[Dodie]

Yes! I can't wear a watch with a buckle band because the buckle breaks me out. I have to wear stretch bands with stainless steel backs.

ALL of my earrings come from Simply Whispers! They have an awesome selection. I hadn't been able to wear earrings for 15 years until I found them!!!

 

[SeaSpray]

I can only wear real gold jewelry. I do wear my Mickey Mouse watch with a leather band, and the fake gold buckle causes an itchy, oozing rash once in a while, then I have to take the watch off for a few days so it can heal. I can go weeks without it causing a rash, then all of a sudden it will appear and I know to remove my watch for a couple of days.

DS14 also is highly allergic to anything except real gold. I have to coat the buttons and rivets on his jeans with clear nail polish, then reapply it after a few washings. He can't wear silver, either. Only gold.

DS11 so far only has a real gold chain. He's never worn silver or non-gold jewelry, so I don't know if he has the allergy or not. I think he probably does because his skin is very sensitive. Both of my DSs have to shower soon after a haircut because they get a rash when the little hairs irritate their neck.

 

[Serena]

I have to have the good stuff too. I can't say that I mind much. lol If only I'd quit losing the earrings.

 

[ripleysmom]

My mom can't wear metal either. Neither can my son.

We found out about it this summer when MIL gave DS a big pendant that she had from the 70's. When he got home he had a big rash around his neck and on his chest. It was still visible the next day and his daycamp called.

The best part is when my MIL's jeweler told her that it is not possible. I told MIL that I would be sure to tell that to my mother the next time she breaks into a rash from jewelry.

Interestingly enough I have to be careful with the earrings I wear. My ears are pierced with 2 holes and ever since I got the second hole, I can't wear anything but gold. Not even some gold. Very weird.

 

[nativetxn]

Yes, I have this problem. It was especially aggravating when I was younger because I didn't have the money to buy all 14k gold or sterling earrings, yet anything less and my ears would itch and suppurate and it was just uncomfortable and ugly. Besides some of that costume jewelry is so nice looking and fun and I just can't wear it.

I have worn Whispers and they didn't cause the allergy symptoms. Mostly I stick with 14k gold earrings but you have to be very careful, sometimes the stud part will be gold but the metal on the back of the earring itself isn't and so you still get the allergy symptoms.

When I want to wear costume jewelry now, I'll use clear nail polish to "paint" the studs and earring backs and it will protect me for a couple of hours, but not much longer than an evening out. I sometimes have to put clear nail polish on the backs of watches (I love those inexpensive fun watches) because otherwise I end up with a red itchy circle the size of a quarter in the middle of my forearm It's aggravating.

Katholyn

 

[MerryPoppins]

Another vote for Simply Whispers. I had to quit wearing earrings for years. Since I started buying from them I have no trouble. My grandmother had trouble with jewelry and DD is highly sensitive, too.

It's funny. I can wear almost anything except earrings. Within minutes of putting in most earrings I start to tingle and itch.

DD can wear some cheaper earrings, but only for 1 day at a time. She has to be careful of bracelets, watches and necklaces, too. her new sterling bracelet made her break out yesterday at school. A "best friend" pendant she received last year made her react so strongly that her skin peeled for days.

 

[phamton]

Another vote for "Simply Whispers": I also couldn't wear surgical stainless steel (Hype-allergenic kind) but I can wear Simply Whispers. Even 22K gold caused problems and silver was out of the question.

I even get my watches from Simply Whispers as I got tired of getting blister on my wrist. Even leather bands have rivets or buckles that caused an allergic reaction. My only problem is my wedding/engagement rings. I couldn't see trading in my nice rings for fake wedding and engagement rings from Simply Whispers. So I wear my wedding rings and coat the inside with clear fingernail polish. I only wear them when I am out and take them off at home.

I played flute from 6th grade and all through college and had to paint the sterling silver flute with nail polish where my chin and lips touched the flute. I still got fever blisters alot though.

Bev

 

[RitaZ.]

Wow, there are quite a few of us with this allergy. I never knew it was so common! I'm going to order some earrings from Simply Whispers, they have really good prices.

I played flute from 6th grade and all through college and had to paint the sterling silver flute with nail polish where my chin and lips touched the flute. I still got fever blisters alot though.

OMG, you poor thing! It must have been awful.

 

[kenpge72]

I have the problem also, I can't wear my emgagement ring because it is 14K gold, I can only wear platinum. I also collect vintage jewerly and can't wear most of it, only the pieces where only glass touches my skin, but am stubborn and do it anyway. This reaction showed up after getting my ears pierced. My mother has it also so I will not be getting my DD ears pierced.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by kenpge72
. This reaction showed up after getting my ears pierced. My mother has it also so I will not be getting my DD ears pierced.

That's when mine showed up also. I attributed it to the old way we used to pierce ears with ice, a sewing needle, and a cork, but maybe not.

I can wear simply whisper earrings but haven't been able to wear any others.

 

[kenpge72]

I had them pierced with a gun. I read somewhere (can't remember now) that it shows up after piercing in a lot of people with the problem.