There have been instances where the jewelry has led to allergic reactions for the user. However, such reaction whereby the skin turns green is not visible that much in gold jewelry. There is a belief that gold does not cause any sort of allergic reactions on the person since it is believed to be hypoallergenic to a great extent. However, the same cannot be said about silver jewelry since it has a tendency to turn the skin green and lead to an allergic reaction.
The main reason being the purity associated with silver jewelry. It has been found that certain silver jewelry having very little amount of silver in them causes green discoloration leading to allergic reaction in a person. The main reason for these effects is the oxidation of the metal within the jewelry. Jewelry made from high purity gold containing 18k or 24k will not lead to allergic reactions. The same can also be said about 925 silver metals.
However, the presence of significant amount of copper in the metal alloy can lead to skin discoloration or green color. The main reason being the impurity associated with the copper used in the metal. Pure copper to a certain extent will not lead to skin discolorations whereas impure copper will have an oxidization effect that will definitely turn your skin green. In certain individuals, the body chemistry will aid the process of oxidation that leads to the staining process.
Sterling silver should ideally contain 7.5 percent of pure copper. If the purity is not up to the mark then there are very high chances that it will cause the skin to stain. Sterling silver jewelry has been found to lead to black stains that happen because the metal darkens because of their effect with gasses present in the air. This effect is known as tarnishing and can lead to skin discoloration in many individuals.
In order to prevent this effect of tarnishing, the sterling jewelry is coated with some special substance that wears off in a slow manner. Therefore, maintenance of silver jewelry is extremely important so that the coating can be applied again as and when necessary. In case you find high degree of reaction of the silver jewelry on your skin then make sure to consult a doctor. This is because the allergic reaction is dependant on the chemical makeup that makes silver react with the environment in an extreme manner.
Silver oxidizes in a periodic fashion and results in green staining for the skin. Pure gold does not cause any kind of allergic reactions because the amount of non-gold metals mixed in the alloy is very limited. Copper is therefore one of the main reasons for skin discoloration or green color for the same.
In order to make the jewelry heavy and less expensive substances like nickel, copper, and many more are used in an expensive manner. The only solution for avoiding skin discoloration or green color is to make sure that you understand the composition of the alloy used for making the jewelry and then make sure that it is of pure nature.
Let’s Recap What We’ve Learned in this Article:
1) The presence of copper in silver jewelry and its oxidation are the causes of skin discoloration and allergic reactions. Jewelry with a low purity of 925 silver will most likely lead you to responses like these. Why not purchase high purity Silver Chain Necklace?
2) Silver jewelry darken because of their effect with gas present in the air. This is called tarnishing and can make your skin turn green. Therefore, proper maintenance of jewelry will also help you prevent hypersensitivity reactions. Why not purchase high purity Sterling Silver Necklaces?
Silver Jewelry are essential to any collection. Enjoy them!
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