Nickel allergy? Tips for earrings and jewelry for allergy sufferers

Nickel allergy, especially when wearing earrings, affects some people, and even if it doesn’t affect you, you should still make sure to buy nickel-free jewellery. Repeated skin contact with nickel can contribute to the development of a nickel allergy in some people.

All sustainable jewellery pieces from Maren Jewellery are made from pure silver and gold alloys and are therefore always nickel-free. In the following journal, we’d still like to share a few tips and pieces of information about nickel allergy.

Nickel is a chemical element that occurs naturally on our Earth. It is primarily mined as raw nickel, usually as a by-product in copper extraction. Through special processes, nickel can then be obtained from raw nickel or even pure nickel. It is especially used in fashion jewelry as part of metal alloys, particularly because it is silver-colored and positively influences the color of the metal alloys. It is also particularly malleable, making it easy to work with.

In Europe, however, there is a clear regulation regarding the use of nickel in jewelry and other items that frequently come into contact with the skin, such as buttons, zippers, or mobile phones. Only nickel that releases a maximum of 0.5 µg per cm2 per week from the items is allowed. This means that nickel is only permitted in small amounts.

A nickel allergy can manifest through various symptoms. For example, the earlobe that comes into contact with nickel jewelry may swell, redden, itch, dry out, or become rough. If you notice these symptoms while wearing costume jewelry, we advise you to stop wearing these earrings. A nickel allergy is a type of contact allergy, so the symptoms usually completely subside once the skin is no longer in contact with the nickel.

To definitively determine whether you have a nickel allergy, you should definitely consult your dermatologist.

For nickel allergies, jewelry made from pure gold or silver alloys or titanium is best suited. It is advisable to check with the manufacturers and jewelry designers about the alloys they use to ensure that no nickel is included.

All our earrings and pieces of jewelry are completely nickel-free. We work with pure gold and silver alloys. Our 18-carat recycled yellow gold, for example, consists of 75% pure gold, 15% pure silver, and 10% pure copper. You can also read more about our gold alloys in our journal article about gold alloys.

That is why many customers with a nickel allergy choose our alloys when buying earrings and stud earrings. I hope you enjoy wearing them.

Nickel allergies develop through direct skin contact with nickel, for example when wearing jewelry or earrings. Even though only small amounts of nickel may now be used in jewelry, if you have a known nickel allergy, it makes sense to look for nickel-free jewelry alloys.

It’s best to choose durable, high-quality jewelry made from pure gold or silver alloys, so you can enjoy wearing your beautiful pieces for a long time.