Is sterling silver good for hypoallergenic earrings?
With both metals combining, sterling silver is hypoallergenic too making it perfect for earrings and rings. Plated silver on the other hand is often created using nickel which can irritate skin easily, coated by a layer of pure silver. This means that silver plated is not as hypoallergenic as the other kinds of silver.
You can also use alternative, nickel-free jewelry such as titanium, platinum, sterling silver and 18K gold. Be sure to avoid plated or mixed-metal jewelry such as white gold.
Hypoallergenic and Nickel-Free Jewelry Are the Answer
Your best choices include those made from medical grade plastic earrings and titanium earrings studs. Titanium earrings are beautiful, affordable and allergy free.
The sterling silver is hypoallergenic, and 18k gold has only a slight percentage of nickel.
The best earrings for sensitive ears are generally made with gold, platinum, or silver. Make sure you buy earrings that are 14k gold or above or sterling silver 925 to avoid the possibility of nickel being mixed in.
Sterling Silver is an alloy
The trouble is alloyed metals is that they commonly contain nickel, a noteworthy irritant. Nickel allergies are widespread, affecting an estimated twenty percent of the population. When nickel is in contact with your skin an allergy can develop over time.
Look for jewelry made from such metals as nickel-free stainless steel, surgical-grade stainless steel, titanium, 18-karat yellow gold, or nickel-free yellow gold and sterling silver. Surgical-grade stainless steel may contain some nickel, but it's generally considered hypoallergenic for most people.
For example, although surgical-grade stainless steel has some nickel, dermatologists consider it hypoallergenic for most people because the nickel content is so low. The best kinds of nickel-free earrings are medical-grade plastic earrings and medical titanium.
Sterling silver is an alloy, but does not contain any nickel, so is wearable by most segments of the population. Sterling is sometimes stamped . 925, because it's made of at least 92.5% pure silver. Typically the remaining 7.5% consists of copper.
However, if you find yourself itchy and uncomfortable after wearing your favorite sterling silver pieces, allergies may be to blame. Sterling silver allergies are a common type of allergic reaction that most often occurs from wearing jewelry items.
What earring material is hypoallergenic?
Your best choices for nickel-free, hypoallergenic materials in jewelry are titanium and medical grade plastic. They are both versatile, durable and comfortable to wear.
Like gold, sterling silver is typically a safe bet if you have sensitive ears.
Sterling silver is an alloy composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. It is not known to cause metal allergies, so it's considered among the safest materials for people who are susceptible to contact dermatitis.