When we have an allergic reaction to our silver jewelry, we immediately think we have a silver allergy and look for information about the symptoms or solutions, but... What if I told you that the problem is not the silver?

Let's start with the most important thing: the composition of your jewelry.

First of all, you need to know that there are two types of metals used in jewelry making: -Reactive metals like nickel, cobalt..., which have the property of interacting with their environment, in this case with particles. -On the other hand, there are more stable metals like silver or gold, which, unlike the aforementioned metals, do not interact with their environment. However, as you might not suspect, it is not the silver that reacts with your body, but one of the reactive metals it is composed of.

What are the symptoms of a silver allergy?

When sweat mixes with some of the reactive metals that jewelry may contain, it causes a harmful reaction on the skin, which manifests as itching, redness, pain, swelling, or other effects depending on the degree and type of skin it occurs on. If silver does not cause an allergy, then....

Why do some silver jewelry pieces cause a reaction?

To make the jewelry harder, it is mixed with reactive metals that are harder than silver, and then a reaction with your skin can occur.

What do I do if I have an allergic reaction to a piece of jewelry?

The first thing you should do is remove the jewelry that is causing the reaction and apply a soothing cream to the area. In many cases, the reactions are very strong and a soothing cream is not enough. You should then see a dermatologist and get a prescription for a corticosteroid cream, which can significantly better alleviate the damage to your skin. You now know that when buying a piece of jewelry, you should pay attention to its composition, not only to know if it is 100% silver, but also to identify the reactive metals that cause allergies. Nevertheless, there are a few tips to achieve even more: Cover the parts of your jewelry that come into contact with your skin and can therefore cause a reaction with clear nail polish. Clean them every time you take them off or put them on, because this will remove any residue that may have been left on the jewelry and on your skin. At Luz de Nehca, all of our sustainable silver jewelry is made of 100% silver, so as you have learned in this blog, it will be very difficult for it to trigger allergies. Here you can find some products from our collection so that you can look unique and take care of yourself.