Jewelry enhances your beauty. It is why people made it in the first place.
Yet, if you are prone to allergies, some jewelry can trigger your allergy symptoms and cause discomfort. Often the culprit is a metal called nickel.
Hence, if you want to avoid trouble, wear nickel-free jewelry only!
Being labeled as hypoallergenic is not enough. Always check what the jewelry you plan to buy is made of!
Precious metals are generally OK for people with allergies. Today we’ll talk about silver and answer the question: Does sterling silver have nickel in it?
Let’s start!
Nickel-Free or Not: Does Sterling Silver Have nickel In It?
Sterling silver does not contain any nickel. It is an alloy made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
If you are allergic to nickel, sterling silver can be your safe haven when it comes to wearing jewelry.
It is 100% nickel-free, and unless you are allergic to copper or silver itself will not cause any undesirable allergic reactions.
So if you are wondering are my 925 sterling silver earrings nickel free, the answer is yes.
All sterling silver jewelry that bears the 925 hallmark contains only silver and copper. It has no nickel in it and is thus perfectly safe for people allergic to this metal.
What Does Nickel-Free Mean?
Nickel-free does not necessarily mean that the item contains no nickel at all. Some U.S. manufacturers produce jewelry that contains no nickel in the plating or overlay but has nickel alloys in its base metals and label it as nickel-free.
The European Union handles the situation much better than the USA.
Thanks to the EU Nickel Directive, the percentage of nickel allowed in ear-piercing studs, earrings, and non-earring jewelry is less than .05%.
In this way, the Europeans are well protected from nickel allergies. It is extremely important since about 4% of the population is born with this type of allergy.
What’s more, ear-piercing causes nickel allergy at a later age, and thus the figure goes up to over 20% pretty soon.
In the USA, jewelry can be labeled as both hypoallergenic and nickel-free and still contain nickel.
Manufacturers refuse to stop using it completely, since it reduces the cost of their products and makes them more durable.
Consequently, it isn’t enough to buy jewelry labeled as hypoallergenic. This term only signifies that the jewelry is “below the normal level” of allergenic and less likely to cause allergies.
It does not guarantee jewelry is free from all potential allergens, including nickel.
Nickel-free and hypoallergenic are not synonyms, nor do these terms guarantee you an allergy-free experience.
Therefore, if you have already established you are allergic to nickel, best check what the piece of jewelry you plan to buy is made from.
Precious metals are generally the best choice people with allergies can make.
Platinum, gold, and sterling silver jewelry typically contain no nickel and are generally low-risk when it comes to allergies.
Can You Be Allergic To Sterling Silver?
You can be allergic to sterling silver if you are allergic to either pure silver or copper, since this alloy contains both of these metals.
The good news is that both pure silver and copper are hypoallergenic metals that are highly unlikely to cause allergies. It does happen, though.
If you are unlucky enough to be allergic to silver or copper, wearing sterling silver will trigger an allergic reaction. It is not a pleasant experience.
What does an allergic reaction to sterling silver look like?
The allergic reaction to silver or copper is called contact dermatitis. The most common symptoms include:
- Redness
- Intense itching
- Swelling
- Rash (limited to areas that are in direct contact with the allergen)
- Pain
What should you do if you have an allergic reaction to sterling silver?
First and foremost, remove the silver jewelry that has caused the irritation.
Eliminating the allergen should give the results rather quickly, but it can sometimes take up to a week or two for all the symptoms to disappear.
If you want to speed up the process and minimize the aggravating symptoms, you can also try the following measures:
- Soothing lotions and oatmeal baths
- Damp dressings to relieve itching
- Topical corticosteroids (creams and ointments) for relieving moderate symptoms
The good news is that allergies to silver and copper are super rare. When it comes to jewelry, the most common cause of allergies is nickel.
The bad news is that some jewelers opt for sterling silver alloyed with metals other than copper. The reason behind this is that copper tarnishes fast.
Sterling silver can thus (rarely) be alloyed with:
- Zinc
- Germanium
- Platinum
- Nickel
These metals are utilized in order to enhance sterling silver’s strength and durability and make it less susceptible to tarnishing.
Yet, when a person is allergic to any of them, these metals cause trouble.
So, once again: Always check what the jewelry you plan to buy is made of, especially if you have overly sensitive skin or some known allergies to metals.
Final Words: Does Real Silver Have Nickel?
Real sterling silver rarely contains nickel. It is typically made of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper.
Yet, in some cases, it might contain other alloy metals, including nickel. 999 silver is pure silver (contains 99.9% silver) and has no nickel for sure.
Therefore, while waiting for the American Congress to institute the protection already enjoyed by Europeans, you should best check what the jewelry is made of before buying it.
It is the only way to be 100% sure any jewelry (including that made from sterling silver) will not trigger your nickel allergy.
Hope I have helped you stay clear from nickel and the aggravating allergy symptoms it often causes! If you have any concerns or questions I might help you with, leave a comment.
Please help me help others by sharing this article, too. Thank you in advance!
