Hypoallergenic and Nickel-Free Jewellery: What to Look For

Not always, and that is the important catch. Hypoallergenic simply means a piece is unlikely to cause a skin reaction, but it is a marketing term, not a legal guarantee, so the word alone does not tell you what the jewellery is actually made of. Since nickel is the usual cause of jewellery skin reactions, what really matters is whether the metal contains nickel, not whether the label says hypoallergenic. The safest approach is to look past the word and ask what the piece is genuinely made from. Solid gold, platinum, implant-grade titanium and niobium are reliably safe choices because they contain little or no nickel. If a seller cannot tell you the actual metal, treat the hypoallergenic claim with caution. In our Coquitlam studio we are always happy to tell you exactly what a piece is made of.

The kindest metals for sensitive skin are platinum, high-karat solid gold, implant-grade titanium and niobium. Platinum is naturally nickel-free and very stable, so it rarely troubles anyone. Solid gold is a good choice, and the higher the karat the better, because more pure gold means less alloy, so 18k tends to suit sensitive skin better than 14k, though 14k is fine for most people. Implant-grade titanium is nickel-free and biocompatible, which is why it is the standard for fresh piercings, and niobium is similarly hypoallergenic and often used for sensitive ears. Sterling silver is usually fine too, as it is silver with copper rather than nickel, but it is worth confirming a piece is nickel-free. If you know your skin is reactive, tell us and we will point you to pieces you can wear comfortably.

It can be, but white gold is the one to check, because it is sometimes alloyed with nickel to give it its white colour. For people with sensitive skin or a known nickel allergy, that nickel content can cause a reaction, particularly with prolonged contact. The good news is that nickel-free white gold exists and is widely available: it uses palladium instead of nickel to achieve the white colour, and it is a safe choice for reactive skin. So if you love the look of white gold but your skin is sensitive, simply ask for palladium white gold rather than avoiding the metal altogether. Higher karat white gold also contains less alloy overall. When you shop with us in our Coquitlam studio, tell us about your skin and we will make sure any white gold piece is a nickel-free version.

A fresh piercing is the most sensitive situation of all, because the jewellery sits in an open wound while it heals, so material really matters. The safe choices are implant-grade titanium and solid gold of 14k or higher, both of which are nickel-free enough to suit healing skin. Implant-grade titanium is the usual recommendation because it is lightweight, biocompatible and nickel-free. Avoid plated jewellery, low-quality steel and anything you are unsure about during healing. It is also worth remembering that we sell piercing jewellery but do not perform piercings, so for the piercing itself you should see a professional piercing studio, who will also advise on the right starter jewellery. Our nickel-safe piercing metals page goes into more detail, and we can help you choose safe titanium or solid gold jewellery to wear once you are ready to change it.

Two different things are usually going on. Costume and plated jewellery is often built on a base of copper or a nickel-containing alloy under a thin decorative coating. As that coating wears, your skin meets the base metal: copper can react with skin and sweat to leave a harmless green mark, while nickel can trigger the itchy, red allergic reaction that nickel is well known for, since it is one of the most common causes of allergic skin reactions. Moisture, heat and friction speed this up, which is why reactions often appear in summer or with rings worn daily. The fix is to choose solid metals, solid gold, platinum, titanium or sterling silver, that are the same material throughout and have no plating to wear off. If a piece keeps irritating your skin, bring it in and we will tell you what it is likely made of.