How To Avoid Allergies From Gold Plated Chains

One out of every seven individuals will have an allergic reaction to nickel. The result of this can be intense itching, cracking of the skin, rash and unsightly weeping blisters. Unfortunately, the most common source of this allergy – also referred to as allergic contact dermatitis – is in gold plated jewellery. Gold plated chains, in particular, can be a nuisance as the evidence of dermatitis is in the most conspicuous of places, framing your face and hard to camoflauge.

Plating gold is an affordable way to give a consumer the look of gold at a reduced cost. However, one in seven people will start to develop a nasty rash once the thin painted layer begins to wear away with repeated shifting and rubbing against the skin. Unless you prefer to wear your chains over a turtleneck on a daily basis, you will eventually see a scaly and sometimes weeping rash running a circle around your neck.

Some people advocate buying 12 karat gold or higher to prevent such problems, but sometimes budgetary restraints limit us. Others suggest coating your gold plated items in clear nail polish but that is not always a great idea either. Nail polish will flake off easily and it also contains toxic chemicals like phthalates, toluene and formaldehyde which are not the best things to be in contact with.

Here are three things to keep in mind.

1. Test the item before wearing it.

If you are given an item which may or may not be plated, test it first. This will be helpful if you are given a gift or an heirloom that you’d like to wear but can’t ask directly how pure it is. (On the flip side, if you pick up something from a costume jewellery shop, it’s most likely plated). There are now liquid solutions on the market that can be swabbed onto metal items and which form a chemical reaction, indicating whether or not they contain nickel.

2. Guarding.

Some people resort to nail polish as a protective coating, but this is not always the best idea. As anyone who has had or seen a manicure before, nail polish can easily flake and chip in a matter of days. It also contains toxic chemicals including phthalates and formaldehyde. There are coatings specifically formulated for jewellery protection that can be obtained readily. They will wear longer and are free of any hazardous ingredients.

3. Prep your skin with moisturizer.

When all else is unavailable to you, and you really want to wear that piece of uncoated jewellery, then put a barrier on your skin itself. You can use moisturizer around your neck and collar area, or even Vaseline which is more economical and thicker, to boot. Not only will it reduce friction and wearing away of the plating, but if the chain already has some wear to it, you will at least have a barrier between the item and your skin.

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