| Common Earring Allergies | | | | to make sure this will work. Also this needs to be |
| METAL ALLERGIES | | | | reapplied regularly. |
| Metal allergies are very common to most people | | | | Gold can be worn by some with a mild allergy. But |
| who wear earrings, especially those with sensitive | | | | it should be 14K or higher. |
| skin. Nickel and cobalt are among the most | | | | Surgical Steel. The term "Surgical" steel does not |
| common problem makers, and they are found in | | | | mean anything. It can be a very low grade of |
| just about all of the metal beads and findings in | | | | steel which can/will contain reactive metals. If you |
| jewelry. | | | | are considering steel for piercings it should be of |
| Copper and brass beads and findings often contain | | | | "implant grade". The most common metal that |
| a very high concentration of cobalt and nickel. | | | | meets implant grade standards is |
| Sterling silver is made up of 92.5% pure silver and | | | | 316-lvm stainless steel. It must meet all |
| 7.5% of other alloys, including copper and nickel. | | | | requirements of ASTM-F138 to be considered |
| But be careful of many products you find that | | | | implant grade. |
| claim t be 'sterling silver'. | | | | Consider nonreactive metals: |
| Gold is probably the least allergenic of the metals | | | | Titanium is the safest metal available for sensitive |
| beaders often use, but it also has some trace of | | | | skin, especially for anyone allergic to nickel or |
| copper or silver in it. The higher the karat number, | | | | silver. It is used for surgical implants and earrings |
| the less the amount of alloys, but if you're | | | | are the same medical grade. Allergic reactions to |
| extremely allergic to metal, you might want to be | | | | titanium are almost unheard of. |
| wary of this one, too. | | | | These earrings are available in polished titanium, |
| SO WHAT TO DO? | | | | which looks like silver or platinum and also in |
| Some suggestions: | | | | anodised colours. Anodising is an electrochemical |
| Try painting three or more coats of clear nail | | | | process which causes the surface of the metal to |
| polish on your metal findings and beads to keep | | | | change colour, there are no other materials added |
| the metal away from your skin! Do a test run | | | | and there is no plating or painting. |
| before you put too much effort into the project | | | | |