Allergy to silver jewelry - does it really exist, what really sensitizes us?

Do you complain of sore earlobes after putting on earrings?

Short time after putting on the bracelet,rash and redness appear on your hand? When you wear chains, your skin starts to itch and turns red right away?

These are symptoms that indicate skin contact allergy. Colloquially and often associated with allergy to silver jewelry. But… this is not an allergy to silver in itself.

If not gold, if not silver, what makes me allergic?

The unbearable and very troublesome allergy associated with jewelry is the effect of accessories that can be found in jewelry.

However, this only applies to jewelry that is not of confirmed origin - it is impossible to identify where it was made.

It is quite common that such  jewelry was produced with the addition of other metal alloys that affect the so-called test of gold and silver.

You will ask, but what are these add-ons for?

Imagine that you travel in exotic countries, you fancy delicious and aromatic curry. You enter a restaurant and order a dish. The waiter brings you a beautiful plate and sprinkled food

coriander, with rice in the bowl next to it. The dish smells good and you start eating.

The first bite is good. You taste the spices clearly. However, by the third and fourth time,  you know that the dish was not made of high-quality ingredients. Or worse, it's been watered down and its flavor is mostly based on extra spices designed to trick your taste buds.

It is still a flavorful curry but unfortunately not of the highest quality.

Silver, although in its pure form 999.9 is beautiful, it is not suitable for creating jewelry. It is too soft and plastic. It would not be possible to make a beautiful and durable ring, necklace or earrings that would please you, and even the next generation.

Therefore, the best and highest-quality silver for the production of jewelry is the 925. Exactly the same as Artipol jewelry. Check here.

You can wear such silver and enjoy it without allergies and troublesome rash.

A story about getting rich

Why in the past, and in some countries until now, other metals are added to silver in greater amounts?

To increase its amount and make it shine brighter.

Here I have to tell you a little about how your jewelry is made. Just from the beginning.

Silver, which is an element, is found in the earth's crust. It has been used for centuries as a precious metal and was the most expensive metal in the world for most of the time.

It is a metal that needs to be melted down to give it shape, durability and aesthetic appearance. In the past, small amounts of nickel and copper were added. These additives improve the color, shine and susceptibility to oxidation.

All these additives, however, become allergens only when they come into contact with our skin.

Nickel is the main culprit behind allergies, itching, rash and aversion to jewelry. We find it in gold, silver, metal hooks and buttons.

In lower-quality silver, of unknown origin or from countries where there are no restrictive regulations and precious metal control, there will be more of these additives.

A popular additional "spice" to silver was also palladium, it is now added to the so-called white gold, but also for electronics. The aforementioned nickel helps it being allergic.

Chromium is a commonly used element in jewelry because it protects it against corrosion. Remember the chrome parts of cars. They shine beautifully and are responsible for this "wow effect".

Another popular "spice" is cobalt. It is not known why this element causes allergies. However, it is an allergen only in combination with chrome or nickel.

Today it can be found in cement, artificial jewelry, paint for ceramics or some cleaning agents.

The additives make it possible to obtain more silver from one smelting. But it will be of much lower quality.

Contamination is quite common in cheaper jewelry. The more additives, the less money spent on pure silver and easier production. Cheap jewelry or semi-finished products for its production most often come from Asia or India because there are no such strict environmental and health standards as in Europe.

How it's done in Europe

In Europe in the Middle Ages, silver was contaminated with nitrates because it was not thoroughly refined. This is where some of the “unpure” silver comes from, which was passed on and hereditary, for example in countries where gold and silver are not  mined elements but their possession gave a higher status.

Silver refining is purification by removing all other metals.

Silver is refined by adding chemicals and refined by exposure to fire. When it warms up it changes color, which indicates the presence of specific impurities.

This process is standard in Europe and makes silver very pure, but it is energy consuming and expensive.

Artipol has a guarantee of the quality and origin of precious metals. France strictly controls the purity of precious metals.

You can read even more about the quality of Artipol silver here.

What to do when you are "allergic to silver"?

Buy jewelry from reliable sources and good quality jewelry.

Following the French - "less is more". Buy better jewelry but less often and play with it, create your style with it. Remember that your body may be allergic to many things, such as food or plants.

Everyone is susceptible to allergy symptoms to certain substances. An allergic reaction may manifest as a rash or irritation of the skin or affect everything from breathing to digestion. Silver jewelry is no exception. It has been found that some people are allergic to the precious metal.

Therefore, contrary to old superstition, silver jewelry is said to be good for people with sensitive skin who are allergic to other types of jewelry – but only if it is made of pure, refined silver.

Occasionally this is caused by years of wearing jewelry without cleaning it. Mostly such small sins concern rings and earrings. About how to clean jewelry, we wrote earlier here [link].

Black borders on fingers

Do you like rings and other jewelry but it appears on your skin as a gray or black coating where the precious metal was in contact with it?

It is not anything dangerous and can be easily washed off with soap and water.

However, it is a signal from our body.

Sometimes about a lack of different elements, iron and zinc.

Or changes in the level of hormones in the blood – in women this phenomenon usually occurs during menstruation.

It may also be a symptom that warns of inflammation or infection in the body.

Our sweat reacts with gold and silver, and its chemical composition causes the formation of the aforementioned coating.

Another reason could be the high chlorine content of the tap water you wash your hands, or the chlorine in the pool if you don't like to part with your jewelry even while swimming.

As you can see, you don't need to worry.

When you buy jewelry from a good and proven source, you are not at risk of allergies and unpleasant visits to a doctor.

High-quality silver and gold will give you the joy of wearing jewelry and lots of good memories.