Dorothy FarrarSilver allergy
A silver allergy is an allergic reaction of the body to the precious metal silver, which usually occurs in connection with silver jewelry. Hypersensitivity to pure silver (fine silver) has hardly been proven. If there is talk of a silver allergy, the skin usually reacts allergically to the metal compounds contained in silver jewelry. These are referred to as alloys (e.g. nickel). Upon skin contact, characteristic allergy symptoms may occur, including itchy, reddened skin, blistering at the site of contact or swollen mucous membranes.
What is a silver allergy?
The precious metal silver has been used by humans for jewelry for thousands of years, but it also has applications in industry. It is considered very well tolerated, which is why silver jewelry is recommended for people with sensitive skin or for freshly pierced piercings. In fact, silver jewelry is usually not pure silver, but an alloy – this means that other metals are added to the silver to improve its properties or make it easier to process.
In the case of silver allergy, a distinction must be made between a reaction to the silver in a piece of jewellery and other metallic components. Nowadays, silver jewelry is often rhodium-plated so that it does not tarnish, against which reactions can of course also occur. In the past, supposed silver jewelry with nickel was a problem, nowadays even costume jewelry contains only very small amounts of nickel.
Causes
An intolerance to the chemical element silver (Ag) in its pure form (fine silver) is extremely rare. Silver jewelry usually contains an admixture (alloy) of other metals (e.g. copper, nickel, zinc, palladium) to better process the jewelry and e.g. to prevent oxidation (“tarnishing”) of the silver.
A silver allergy is therefore usually a hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to contact with the alloys. As a rule, the allergy is not congenital. Rather, the immune system develops a hypersensitivity (sensitization) to silver jewelry and the metals it contains.
Silver allergy is usually a so-called contact dermatitis, which occurs when the skin comes into contact with the allergy-triggering element (allergen). Nickel (nickel allergy) is one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis.
Symptoms and course
Typical symptoms:
- Blistering on the skin
- Swollen mucous membranes
A silver allergy triggers very similar symptoms and complaints as any other form of contact allergy. At the point of the skin where the silver had direct contact, there is visible redness. The skin forms blisters and itches, the blistering can also be accompanied by pain, depending on the severity of the allergy. The symptoms of silver allergy usually improve quite quickly if the person concerned removes the piece of jewelry or replaces it with another, non-silver-containing piece. However, if the silver continues to be worn, there are also permanent symptoms of the silver allergy. The skin does not swell again and the blisters are preserved.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing a silver allergy works like any other allergy test. The only difficulty is that those affected recognize the symptoms as allergies at all. It may well happen that the skin reacts sensitively to a piece of jewelry that has been worn for a long time without serious causes. The allergist will mark a small spot on the patient’s skin and then bring it into contact with silver.
The patient must not wash this marked area of skin for some time, otherwise the result could be falsified. After this time, the allergist examines the skin in this place and determines whether an allergic reaction has occurred or not. If it comes to the typical symptoms of a contact allergy, the diagnosis is considered confirmed. In addition, blood tests can be ordered to be sure. In addition, it is excluded at the same time that it is other substances that could be contained in silver jewelry.
Treatment and therapy
Unfortunately, there is no treatment or therapy against the silver allergy. The person concerned is dependent on avoiding silver or the allergenic admixtures (e.g. nickel) as much as possible.
In fact, the vast majority of silver jewelery contains a small proportion of other metal compounds. When buying jewelry, you should explicitly ask whether and how much alloy (e.g. nickel) is contained in a piece of jewelry.
Another alternative would be hypoallergenic jewelry made from materials such as titanium or surgical steel. These can be made to look very similar to silver, but there is no risk of an allergic reaction. Gold jewelry is also a good, albeit not cheap, alternative.
Prevention
The development of a silver allergy cannot be prevented. Most people tolerate silver very well, which is why first piercings are often done with silver – this only rarely causes problems. If you have a known silver allergy, there is no way around avoiding silver in the future. Either jewelery is no longer worn at all, or one finds out about the silver content in various alloys.
Individuals who must avoid silver jewelry due to a silver allergy may consider alternatives such as steel or wood. Everyday objects that contain silver must also be avoided. However, this usually only affects members of certain trades.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.