You have your eyes on a new piercing jewellery, but guess what? Nickel allergy is real, and it happens quite often to people, which may lead to piercing rejection. So what to do with it?
You can totally get the trendy piercing jewellery with nickel allergy. However, there are some things you must follow to scratch the nickel itch. You just have to be super smart and select hypoallergenic piercing jewellery for sensitive skin.
What’s the Deal with Nickel Allergies?
Nickel is a very common metal that is present in piercing jewellery to make it cheaper. It gives the seller the advantage of making trendy designs at a lower price, which normally doesn’t last for long.
Nickel allergy is no joke. It’s a form of contact dermatitis, which means your skin has a bad reaction when it touches the metal. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can turn your piercing dream into a literal nightmare. But don’t stress. We’ve got the fix!
Symptoms of a Nickel Allergy
So how would you know you are facing nickel allergy, and what are the common nickel allergy symptoms?
- Scratchy or red skin around the piercing.
- Swollen spots or bumps nearby.
- Popped blisters or peeling skin if things get really bad.
If you’re still unsure, it’s a safe idea to get a quick test done before heading to your nearby piercing studio.
Can You Get Pierced if You Have a Nickel Allergy?
Quick answer: YES! Just because you are allergic to nickel doesn’t mean you have to miss out on piercings and cute piercing jewellery. You just have to play safe and use other metals like premium surgical steel, high-grade titanium and niobium. Even gold and diamonds are good for your piercing. The only thing you might want to do is to buy it for a higher price than regular nickel piercings.
How Premium Piercing Metal Works Against Allergies
There are plenty of available options for you to try and style, as stated above. So, how exactly does high quality piercing jewellery work for your benefit?
When it comes to piercings and allergies, premium metals like surgical steel, niobium, titanium and gold work like magic. They remove the common nickel allergy factors like itching, swelling, redness, and keloids. These metals are biocompatible, meaning they naturally sync with your body, reducing the risk of irritation and infection.
The result? Your piercing heals faster and feels comfy. Plus, you get to enjoy stylish designs.
Jewellery to Avoid
If you can’t tell what jewellery contains nickel, we have a few hints.
- Cheap costume jewellery (most of it contains nickel).
- Nickel alloys (often found in cheaper jewellery).
- Gold-plated or gold-filled jewellery (the base metal is usually nickel).
How to Tell If Piercing Jewellery Has Nickel
It’s not always easy to tell if a piece of jewellery contains nickel. But don’t worry.
Look for terms like “nickel-free” or “hypoallergenic.” If a product doesn’t mention being free of nickel, it probably contains some.
Ask the seller. Whether you’re shopping in-store or online, ask what the jewellery is made of. If the seller can’t guarantee it’s nickel-free, it’s a no-go.
Do a test. You can buy a simple nickel test kit online or at your local pharmacy. Just rub the solution on the jewellery. If it changes colour, it has nickel.
Why Nickel-Free Jewellery Matters for Healing Piercings
Your piercing is an open wound which needs to heal. Your body works on its healing process as usual, but you also have to look out.
Adding nickel to your piercing mix can cause unnecessary irritation, slow down healing, and even lead to severe complications like infections. That’s why choosing nickel-free jewellery is so important for healing piercings.
So here you have the necessary information to forget your fear of allergies and start wearing new piercing jewellery designs, which are popping up almost every day since it has hype.
You can try different styles and mix and match everything by surely watching for allergy signs. If you are interested in following piercing trends, check out some October trending piercing jewellery to create fun looks.