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A common misconception is that "pure gold" will help one avoid jewelry allergies. My aunt had such a belief. We did all we could for her -- but found that jewelry isn't made of pure gold. So, we purchased the nicest gold jewelry we could find. Unfortunately, this wasn't good enough as her allergies persisted. Once she visited her doctor, my aunt understood that she was allergic to nickel, which is commonly mixed with gold and other metals to add strength, flexibility and durability. This has been a common practice for centuries after it was discovered that even 85% pure gold was very soft and would wear out quickly. 24 Karat (24 Kt) gold is 100% pure gold and is too soft to last. Silver, zinc and copper are naturally used by your body. Nickel is not. So, it is reasonable to conclude that the nickel-containing jewelry is causing all the uncomfortable symptoms. This reaction is called Contact Dermatitis and can show up at any age. After the dermatitis appears, and your physician has pinpointed that it is indeed from the nickel alloys in the jewelry, you may be stuck with the allergy for the rest of your life. So how can you treat this allergy without losing your precious gold? Sorrowfully, white gold always has nickel. However, you can buy 18 Kt yellow gold (and sometimes 14 Kt yellow gold) if it is nickel free. Here are some tips that may help: For gold rings, coat the inside with clear nail polish, about three coats. This should keep the metal off your skin, but will eventually wear off, and it may damage the ring itself. It is not recommended for the backsides of your gold earrings, use plastic covers, and use only hypoallergenic or platinum posts. The more practical approach to all of this is to sell your white gold and gold-filled jewelry. Simply buy stunning jewelry that does not have nickel. Copper, although a very base metal to wear, can be worked into beautiful pieces. They have to be well taken care of, though, and tarnish, especially when exposed to acids in the sweat. This can often result in a green stain on the skin where the jewelry was. Some ingenious copper jewelry designers have clear coated the areas that touch the skin with a non-toxic barrier to prevent this. Nickel-free sterling silver is a wonderful alternative, but verify first. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. Though copper is usually used as the "other metals", it is not guaranteed unless the sterling is marked nickel free. Platinum, although expensive, can hold pendants and be shaped into rings and necklaces, and resembles white gold. Titanium is a very tough metal, but highly recommended for nickel-allergy sufferers. Jewelry made of Titanium can last almost forever. Try to avoid "surgical stainless steel" as they may contain nickel, but there are reports from nickel allergy sufferers that they get no reaction from it. Do not trust "German silver" as it nearly pure nickel mixed with other base shiny metals. All in all, you do have great choices over white gold jewelry. If you really want gold jewelry, 18 Kt yellow gold jewelry (not filled or electroplate) will work great. There are many cost-effective alternatives available for your enjoyment. You should have no regrets for improving your health and quality of life by making a change from white gold.
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