Health Tip — Itchy Rash from Jewelry? Try Silver Instead of Gold

Friday, June 29, 2001

ROCHESTER, MINN. — An itchy rash on your earlobe, wrist or neck could mean that the metal in your jewelry is upsetting your immune system, according to the July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

The condition is called allergic contact dermatitis. More common in women, it can develop even after years of wearing the same jewelry with no reaction.

A dermatologist or allergist can give you a patch test to determine what metal or chemical caused the reaction. It is done by taping dime-sized discs, each containing a different substance, to your back. Two days later, the discs are removed to determine which substances, if any, inflamed your skin. Nickel, a metal often present in jewelry, is the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis from jewelry.

If nickel is the culprit, you may want to substitute silver jewelry for gold. Nickel is an alloy in most golds. Stainless steel jewelry also contains nickel but is hypoallergenic for nickel-sensitive people.

Shelly Plutowski 507-284-5005 (days) 507-284-2511 (evenings) e-mail: newsbureau@mayo.edu

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