• Free Shipping on Orders Over $100
  • Account
  • Cart (0)
  • Checkout
Artisan Crafted Christian Jewelry and Inspirational Religious Gifts Designed to Encourage Your Spirit and Uplift Your Heart
Artisan Crafted Christian Jewelry and Inspirational Religious Gifts Designed to Encourage Your Spirit and Uplift Your Heart
  • Home
  • Shop Jewelry 
    • Bracelets 
      • Sterling & 14k Gold
      • Brass & Fine Pewter
      • Mixed Media
    • Necklaces 
      • 14k Gold
      • Sterling Silver
      • Fine Pewter
      • Gemstone & Pearl
    • Custom Engraved
    • Charms & Chains
    • Earrings & Rings
    • Men's Jewelry
    • Children's Jewelry
  • Shop Gifts 
    • Personalized Gifts
    • Jewelry Dishes
    • Olive Wood Crosses
    • Prayer Boxes
    • Journals & Gift Books
    • Keyrings & Pocket Tokens
    • Wallets & Lapel Pins
    • Tees, Totes, & Bandeaus
    • Home Decor
    • Polishing Cloths
    • Sale
  • Gift Guides 
    • Shop By Occasion 
      • Baptism
      • First Communion
      • Confirmation
      • Easter
      • Graduation
      • Mother's Day
      • Father's Day
      • Birth & Adoption
      • Memorial
      • Anniversary
      • Recovery/Serenity
      • Christmas
      • Valentine's Day
    • Shop By Theme 
      • Appreciation
      • Encouragement
      • Friendship
      • Strength & Healing
      • Anchor of Hope
      • Mustard Seed Faith
      • Fruit of the Spirit
      • Guardian Angel
      • Holy Spirit Dove
      • Armor of God
      • Lion of Judah
      • Hymns of Praise
      • Blessing Prayers
      • Daily Prayers
      • Grace
      • Peace
      • Joy
      • Crosses
      • Ichthys Fish
      • Inspired by Nature
      • From the Heart
      • Celtic Symbols
      • Holy Land
      • Bible Verse Jewelry
      • Quote Jewelry
      • Catholic Jewelry
    • Shop By Verse 
      • 1 Corinthians 13
      • Colossians 3:12
      • Ephesians 3:20
      • Esther 4:14
      • Galatians 5:22
      • Hebrews 6:19
      • Isaiah 40:31
      • Jeremiah 29:11
      • John 3:16
      • Joshua 1:9
      • Luke 1:45
      • Luke 18:1
      • Matthew 5:16
      • Matthew 17:20
      • Matthew 19:26
      • Matthew 28:20
      • Micah 6:8
      • Numbers 6:24-26
      • Philippians 4:13
      • Proverbs 3:5
      • Proverbs 31
      • Psalm 23
      • Psalm 46:10
      • Psalm 91:4
      • Song of Solomon 6:3
    • Shop By Recipient 
      • Mom
      • Dad
      • Little Ones
      • Teens
      • Teachers
      • Pastors
      • Military
      • First Responders
      • Sweethearts
      • Wedding Party
    • Personalized Gifts
    • Current Best-Sellers
    • Gifts Under $15
  • New Arrivals
  • Connect/FAQs 
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • FAQs
    • Shipping Info
    • Return Policy
    • Customer Reviews
    • Newsletter Sign-Up
    • Blog Posts
What's new? Here's the latest from Clothed with Truth...

Sterling Silver Jewelry Guide for Nickel Allergy Sufferers

Sterling Silver Jewelry Guide for Nickel Allergy Sufferers

For those who struggle with a nickel allergy, finding jewelry that does not irritate your skin can be a challenge. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 10 to 20 percent of the population is allergic to nickel. Nickel is the most common type of metal allergy and the likely culprit for any type of allergic reaction associated with wearing jewelry. People with nickel allergies develop contact dermatitis, a rash which causes the skin to become irritated and itchy when exposed to direct contact with this metal.

Allergic skin reactions to nickel usually begin within 24-48 hours of exposure. Skin rashes caused by a nickel allergy are not life-threatening, but they can be highly uncomfortable. Symptoms of nickel allergy include:

  • Rash or bumps on the skin
  • Itching, which may be severe
  • Redness or changes in skin color
  • Dry patches of skin that may resemble a burn
  • Blisters and draining fluid in severe cases

If wearing jewelry causes you to develop a skin reaction, remove it right away and allow your skin time to heal. You may apply an over the counter antihistamine or hydrocortisone cream to the affected area to reduce discomfort. Nickel allergy rashes usually begin to clear on their own once the jewelry item containing item has been removed.

Nickel allergies can develop at any age, however, once a nickel allergy has developed, your immune system will continue to be sensitive to nickel for the rest of your life. Repeated exposure to nickel can worsen the allergic reaction to the condition. There is no cure for a nickel allergy, so the best way to avoid symptoms is simply to avoid wearing jewelry that contains nickel.  

Ears and wrists are the most common trouble areas for people who have nickel allergies. Nickel free jewelry is designed to minimize the risk of an allergic reaction. Sometimes the words "nickel free" and "hypoallergenic" are incorrectly confused as interchangeable terms. The term hypoallergenic means "below the normal level" of allergenic. It is important to note that "hypoallergenic" does not mean that an item is nickel free. 

Unfortunately, there are no US government standards or regulations for using the terms "nickel free" or "hypoallergenic." Jewelry can be misleadingly labeled as “nickel-free” or “hypoallergenic” because these terms may also be used to describe only the silver plating portion of a design. Keep in mind that the actual base metal used to create the design may still contain nickel.

Use caution when purchasing silver-tone jewelry that has been silver plated. Silver plated jewelry contains a thin layer of silver bonded over a base metal, such as brass, nickel, or tin. The thin layer of silver on silver plated jewelry will wear away, flake, or scratch off over time, exposing your skin to whatever type of base metal that lies underneath the plated surface. 

Likewise, silver filled jewelry is created by bonding silver plating over a base metal. The difference between silver plated and silver filled jewelry is simply in the amount of plating used to cover the base metal. Although silver filled jewelry contains a much thicker plating, and is a significant step up in quality from silver plated jewelry, this thicker layer of silver plating does not guarantee that you will not develop an allergic reaction to the base metal underneath. 

If you are allergic to nickel, your best bet is to select solid sterling silver jewelry. Sterling silver is quality stamped with ".925" and must be comprised of at least 92.5% pure silver. Pure silver is too soft for use in jewelry because it bends and stretches easily which would cause designs to become quickly misshapen. To improve the strength and durability of pure silver, jewelers create sterling silver by mixing 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% copper.

This can be where it get's tricky...technically the 7.5% of metals used to create a sterling silver alloy can be comprised by many different types of metal. Reputable jewelers use copper for the remaining 7.5%. Copper is ideal to alloy with pure silver for the creation of .925 sterling silver because it is a non-allergenic metal. By comparison, nickel is an inexpensive metal well suited for mass production. Nickel is rarely used by US jewelry manufacturers to create sterling silver, however, it is commonly used in sterling silver jewelry produced overseas as the use of nickel, instead of copper, creates a significantly less expensive sterling silver alloy. 

All sterling silver jewelry available for purchase at Clothed with Truth is guaranteed to be nickel free. Our jewelry is created from solid sterling silver and every piece of sterling silver jewelry contains the artist's makers mark as well as the .925 stamp. We offer a wide variety of faith-based sterling silver rings, bracelets, and necklaces for women and sterling silver rings and necklaces for men that have been skillfully handcrafted in the USA. We hope you'll visit us online and welcome you to reach out to us with any questions that you may have.



Tweet Share Pin It Email

Also in What's new? Here's the latest from Clothed with Truth...

How to Measure Your Wrist for a Sterling Silver Bangle Bracelet
How to Measure Your Wrist for a Bangle Bracelet

Continue Reading

Salvation Story Bracelet - Holy Land Olive Wood - Gemstone - Swarovski Crystal
Scripture Based Salvation Story Bracelets

Continue Reading

Fine Pewter Jewelry Made in the USA Available for Purchase from Clothed with Truth
How to Clean and Polish Fine Pewter Jewelry

Continue Reading

Customer Service
  • Search
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • FAQS
  • Shipping Info
  • Return Policy
  • Customer Reviews
  • Monthly Newsletter Sign Up
  • Blog
  • Privacy
Let’s keep in touch!

We welcome you to use the sign up form below to receive our monthly newsletter. You can expect to hear from us on the 1st of each month. That's it friend! We value your time and respect your inbox :) You'll be the first to know about new product designs, receive exclusive offers provided only to our newsletter subscribers, and get the inside behind-the-scenes scoop on the latest happenings here at Clothed with Truth. Your email address is secure and will never be shared with third parties.

Judge.me Verified Reviews Badge
1021
Verified Reviews
Wear it, Share it

Clothed with Truth was born out of a desire to share a message of joy, hope, and encouragement; to shine the light of Christ into the world in which we live. Our mission is to inspire others to stand firm on God's promises, knowing that nothing can separate you from His unfailing love.


© 2023 Clothed with Truth. | All Rights Reserved

Visa Mastercard Discover American Express PayPal Apple Pay Google Pay
Proud Member MJSA