Phydeaux on 12/6/2006 at 10:57
OK, so I got this necklace, and it's the first time I've ever worn one. After a few days of wearing it, it started irritating my neck. Not in the way that any new thing might be uncomfortable before one gets used to it, but actually irritating. My skin wasn't red (at least, it wasn't before I rubbed it nearly raw trying to get rid of the feeling), but it was definitely irritated. Even several hours after not wearing it, I could still "feel" the necklace around my neck. It took several days (4-5) after discontinuing wearing it entirely for this phantom feeling to go away.
Now, I've heard about some people being allergic to body piercings, and needing titanium studs rather than the normal stainless steel (?) ones. Could this be what's wrong with me and my necklace? What causes the allergic reaction? Can a person buy a hypoallergenic necklace chain? I shudder to think of the cost of a titanium chain.
Advise me please, because I'd like to wear my nifty new necklace, but it's a pain in the neck (*rimshot*)
Rogue Keeper on 12/6/2006 at 11:28
Yes, there definitely is a skin allergy to titanium and nickel.
Try wearing a silver necklace? Eventually some people will confuse it for titanium...
Lacerta on 12/6/2006 at 11:57
Or gold (24ct)
Rogue Keeper on 12/6/2006 at 12:14
Only mafia thugs and gipsies are wearing big gold necklaces today. Silver is decent.
Lacerta on 12/6/2006 at 12:23
I never purported to give fashion advice, only metallurgical ;)
Convict on 12/6/2006 at 12:36
I've heard that the nickel allergy is relatively common (uncommon nonetheless).
Phydeaux on 12/6/2006 at 12:51
Quote Posted by BR796164
Only mafia thugs and gipsies are wearing big gold necklaces today. Silver is decent.
Yeah, I'm far too whitebread to wear a gold chain.
Nickel huh? That sounds vaguely familiar. Some wikipedia info on nickel seems to confirm this. Next time I'm nearby I'll swing into a Jareds or Kays or something and see what they have to offer. I suppose it could still just be that I'm not used to wearing a necklace and my skin was simply irritated from being rubbed.
Thanks.
Lacerta on 12/6/2006 at 13:16
Sterling silver seems to be non-irritant as well. My ex was sensitve but sterling silver never upset her skin (as they've said, it's the nickel they putinto cheaper silver alloys).
Hey.. at least it's a good reason to buy yourself the expensive jewellery!
Karlfox on 12/6/2006 at 13:52
I want to say that my aunt can't wear silver for that reason. But perhaps it's the nickel in silver alloys that irritates her.
aguywhoplaysthief on 12/6/2006 at 15:28
Silver sometimes leaves a little blackish ring around my finger. It wasn't annoying, or painful, it was just black. But I figured that if my body reacts to silver in anyway not normal, it probably isn't good overall.
Now I wear gold, and I don't have that problem.
