One of the important things you need to take into consideration when shopping for jewelry, especially if you have sensitive skin, is being able to buy the safest earrings.
In most cases, this also translates to understanding the differences between nickel-free earrings and hypoallergenic earrings. Perhaps this will help you understand why some of the nickel-free earrings still bother your ears.
These two are terms that are used interchangeably in the jewelry world, and unfortunately, these two don’t mean the same thing. To understand the differences between these two, this article gives you a breakdown of all you need to know about nickel-free and hypoallergenic earrings.
What earrings are considered nickel-free earrings?
Earrings that are considered nickel-free are earrings that are not made of alloys and mostly metals that are made with no nickel at all. Most of these metallic earrings are not metal alloys, and the few that are alloys are made with no nickel.
In other words, the earrings that are considered nickel-free earrings are earrings that contain no nickel in them and have a very low chance of causing allergies, especially if one is only allergic to nickel and not any other metals.
The nickel-free earrings are not, however, free of other metals that may cause allergies, which is to say that not all nickel-free earrings are 100% safe on the skin for anyone with sensitive skin.
If you are allergic to other metals, it may result in some form of reaction, meaning you should take time to understand the metals that you are allergic to and what may cause a skin reaction.
Are nickel-free earrings hypoallergenic?
Hypoallergenic is the term that is used in many descriptions for earrings, and it’s what makes us believe that the earrings are safe for anyone with sensitive skin and metal sensitivity reactions.
Unfortunately, the terms nickel-free and hypoallergenic used interchangeably to refer to the earrings do not mean the same thing.
So, if you see the description ‘hypoallergenic’ on the jewelry label, what that means is that the earrings have a low risk of causing allergies or very few allergic reactions.
The hypoallergenic earrings are not necessarily free of nickel or allergy-proof. So, you should be careful not to assume that the expensive earrings you are about to buy will not cause a skin reaction.
An example of hypoallergenic earrings would be the earrings made of 316L surgical-grade stainless s steel, which, while it contains trace amounts of nickel, the levels of nickel are rather low, and most people don’t react to it; hence the term hypoallergenic incorporated into this kind of jewelry.
If you believe that you are allergic to nickel, then it would be a wise idea for you to invest in the nickel-free rather than hypoallergenic earrings because they would still cause allergies because the nickel-free earrings have no nickel in them, and this means that they will not cause any skin reaction, as long as you are not allergic to any other metal that the earrings are made of.
It’s important to note that neither of these terms or labels for jewelry are regulated, and they are mostly used as tricks for marketing, making sure that the earrings are sold.
So, if you come across the term hypoallergenic, all it means is that the pair of earrings has a less or low likelihood of causing an allergy.
And so, if you are allergic to nickel or something else, it wouldn’t make sense for you to still buy wear the same earrings if there is a low likelihood that the earrings will still cause a reaction. The hypoallergenic earrings, therefore, are not ideal for you if you have metal allergies to nickel or any other metal.
Are nickel-free earrings safe for your sensitive ears?
If you have sensitive ears but you are only allergic to nickel, then the nickel-free high-quality earrings would be ideal for you. These earrings are essentially safe for anyone with sensitive skin, but if you have metal sensitivities and are allergic to other metals besides nickel, then it wouldn’t be ideal for you to wear nickel-free earrings.
Overall, however, you need to look for high-quality earrings made of premium metal that are completely free of nickel, as well as other metals that are known to cause metal sensitivity reactions.
Doing this is the safest bet for you, as it ensures that the earrings you settle on are really safe on your ears and they will not cause any kinds of allergies or skin irritation.
Pros and cons of nickel free earrings
Pros
- Most of nickel-free earrings are biocompatible and safe on the skin and the human body.
- The earrings are durable.
- Safe on the body, and will not harm the body at the end of the day
Cons
- Most of the nickel-free earrings are expensive
- Just because the earrings are nickel-free doesn’t mean that they will not cause irritation; you may be allergic to other metals.
- Not many nickel-free earring options on the market today
Tips for wearing nickel free earrings
1. Know what your earring options without nickel are
If you are only allergic to nickel and not other metals, what you need to know is that you must avoid the nickel alloys for earrings. The earrings should also be tested and shown to have met or exceeded the minimum nickel level requirements.
Some of these nickel-free metal options for the earrings include the stamped 925 Sterling silver earrings, rainbow-colored niobium, high-grade or medical-grade titanium, and the solid 14k or 18k gold.
2. Surgical-grade stainless steel earrings are not nickel-free
Although these earrings are often considered hypoallergenic, no version of the stainless steel alloy is 100% free of nickel.
The surgical grade stainless steel alloys often used to make earrings, 316 and 316L, have a low nickel content, and if you have very sensitive skin, then these earrings would still result in an allergic reaction.
3. Look for nickel-free, biocompatible earrings.
If you struggle with metal sensitivity reactions and believe that you are allergic to nickel or any other metals, then you may want to start looking for biocompatible earrings.
These earrings are free of nickel and are very safe on the skin. Examples of biocompatible nickel-free earrings include medical-grade titanium earrings, earrings made of pure platinum, and high-grade solid 18k, 22k, or 24k gold. These are all biocompatible metals, and they work well for persons with sensitive skin.
4. Avoid cheap earrings.
Most earrings are made of less than favorable metals that may harm your skin.
So, to avoid the risk of irritation and bad skin reactions, it might be a great idea for you to buy the more expensive earrings because they are often made of the safer metals that make the earrings safe and worth the investment.
5. Know your sensitivities
Skin sensitivity reactions result from reactions to different metals, but for most people, nickel is the biggest cause of allergies.
But you shouldn’t just assume that you are allergic to nickel because you may be allergic to other metals besides nickel so, it’s important to know what you need to avoid before you spend your money.
Conclusion
Nickel-free earrings are different from hypoallergenic earrings because the latter contain trace amounts of nickel, a common allergen, unlike nickel-free earrings that don’t contain any nickel and are largely safe on the skin.
Visit here for more topics!
Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.