Your best choices for nickel-free, hypoallergenic materials in jewelry are titanium and medical grade plastic. They are both versatile, durable and comfortable to wear. Most importantly, designers can make beautiful earrings and other jewelry from them.
While surgical steel is a type of stainless steel, all stainless steels are not surgical steels. Surgical steels are those with the greatest amount of corrosion resistance and are designated for biomedical applications. When compared to other steel types, stainless steel is typically the most expensive.
This means that when the human body is in contact with metal, it starts to build up a resistance to it. So, if you experiencing sore ears from wearing earrings, and the pain goes away when you do not wear earrings, the reason is most likely that your body has developed a contact allergy to the metal in the earrings.
Hypoallergenic Earrings – the Answer to the Metal Allergy
Particularly when its pressed against skin, as is the case with earrings. Metals used often in hypoallergenic earrings include gold, platinum, copper, titanium, and stainless steel.The skin inside your ears can itch because of an allergic reaction. A beauty product like hair spray or shampoo could be the culprit. So can products that have nickel, like earrings. Plastic, rubber, or metal you put inside your ears, like earbuds or a hearing aid, can also cause a rash called contact dermatitis.
Non gold materials such as brass, nickel or bronze, are more prone to causing infections than precious metals. These components cause an allergic reaction and itching in many. In fact, many women get ear infections from wearing earrings. Materials that oxidize quickly cause allergies.
Nickel-Free Is Why You Need Titanium Earrings
In simplest terms, biocampatible means it's safe to use on the human body. That's why nickel-free titanium earrings and jewelry won't cause damage or allergic reactions to the skin. Titanium provides those with sensitive skin peace of mind.The Safest Jewelry for a New Piercing
- Plated Gold.
- High Karat or Low Karat Pure Gold.
- Alloys that Contain Nickel.
- Bone, Wood, and Other Absorbent Jewelry.
- Surgical Stainless Steel (SSS)
- Surgical implant titanium, Ti6A14V ELI.
- Niobium.
- Tygon.
Known for being highly resistant to corrosion, strong yet easy to work with, and hypoallergenic, stainless steel is a popular metal in the jewelry industry. Stainless steel is made of steel (a mix of iron and carbon), chromium, nickel, and small amounts of other elements.
Nickel is tightly bound up is stainless steel, especially surgical stainless steel. As one can see, nickel is found in many common, everyday items. Specifically, nickel allergy is a contact allergy, which is an allergic skin reaction in response to being exposed to a contact allergen or irritant, such as nickel.
Jewelry for Sensitive Skin:
- Tungsten. A strong and attractive metal in pure form, tungsten does not need to be alloyed with nickel or any other skin irritant, making it ideal for hypoallergenic jewelry.
- Platinum. As a pure metal, platinum is malleable yet durable.
- Titanium.
- Gold.
- Gold-plated.
The result: redness, itching, swelling or a rash, with skin blistering or scaling at the site. The symptoms of metal allergy range from mild to severe. Each time you're re-exposed to the offending metal, your skin reacts in the same way.
Surgical cutting instruments are often made from 440 or 420 stainless due to its high hardness coupled with acceptable corrosion resistance. This type of stainless steel may be slightly magnetic. General surgical tools are made from other chromium-bearing stainless steels, such as 17-4.
The alloying element that makes steel 'stainless' is chromium; however it is the addition of nickel that enables stainless steel to become such a versatile alloy. In fact, nickel is so important that nickel-containing grades make up 75% of stainless steel production.
Symptoms of Jewelry Allergic Reactions:
According to the National Institute of Health, allergic symptoms resulting from exposure to metals typically appear 24 to 48 hours after exposure. They can include itching, redness, tenderness, swelling, and warmth to the exposed area.Surgical steel is hard-wearing which is perfect for everyday wear and regular wear because although it 'can' scratch, it will not scratch or break as easily as Sterling Silver. Steel does not oxidise which means it does not tarnish or discolour and it does not require regular cleaning.
316 stainless steel has more carbon in it than 316L. This is easy to remember, as the L stands for "low." But even though it has less carbon, 316L is very similar to 316 in almost every way. Cost is very similar, and both are durable, corrosion-resistant, and a good choice for high-stress situations.
Even if you've been wearing surgical steel jewelry your entire life, you might still get a sudden unpredictable allergic reaction to it. Some reactions can be just a little rash or an itching sensation, but the severe consequences of having this allergy would be crusty scabs and ugly fluid filled pockets.
Many people are sensitive to nickel, which is present in a lot of jewelry. Even expensive earrings may contain traces of nickel. Another way to protect your ears from contact with the metal in your earrings is to coat the posts or wires with clear nail polish. This can also be done with rings.
Allergic reaction to nickel may include:
- A rash or bumps on your skin.
- Intense itching.
- Changes in your skin color that varies from red to purple.
- Patches of dry skin that may resemble a burn.
- Blisters that may drain fluid.
Not all studies have found that surgical hardware in the body sets off metal detectors. In fact, with recent medical advances, many implants contain metals less likely to set off metal detector alarms.
It turns out that titanium is weakly magnetic (compared to other ferromagnetic materials) in the presence of an externally applied magnetic field. Titanium also exhibts the Lenz Effect but to a lesser extent that many other metals.
Benefits of Surgical Stainless Steel
Surgical stainless steel should never cause an allergic reaction turning your skin green, and it should never make your skin breakout. Usually it is copper, but it can be lead, zinc, or other cheap base metals that will cause an allergic reaction if you have sensitive skin.Titanium. Titanium is often used in piercing jewelry, as it is every bit as strong as surgical steel and is reliably hypoallergenic. Like platinum, titanium earrings can hold up to everyday wear and are a good option if you are looking to build out your collection, but don't want to splash out on fine jewelry.
BRASS. Brass is not approved by the APP. It is an alloy that is typically around 60% copper and 40% zinc. Both copper and zinc are very reactive metals.
The best materials to look for if you have sensitive ears are surgical steel, titanium, pure gold, pure silver, plastic and stainless steel that is copper/nickel free.
With both of these common metals, purity matters. Sterling silver, for example, typically includes enough nickel to prompt an allergic reaction. If sensitivity is your only issue and you don't get skin discoloration, you can wear high-karat rose gold, which contains copper but no nickel.
925 sterling silver is the real thing. It is the silver you want your rings, necklaces and earrings to be made from. It is far more valuable than silver plated or stainless steel jewelry. So, you want to make sure that your silver is the real thing.
Causes of Pierced Ear Infections
Using earrings with dirty posts can cause infection. Touching the earlobes with dirty hands may also cause infection. Another common cause is earrings that are too tight. The pressure from tight earrings also reduces blood flow to the earlobe.The skin inside your ears can itch because of an allergic reaction. A beauty product like hair spray or shampoo could be the culprit. So can products that have nickel, like earrings. Plastic, rubber, or metal you put inside your ears, like earbuds or a hearing aid, can also cause a rash called contact dermatitis.
