Gold allergy - how common is it?

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#16
While it is possible to have an allergy to gold, it is rare - far more rare than reactions to metals like nickel used in white gold alloys, for example. They used to almost always use gold to cap teeth with because it is typically non reactive. My skin eats gold plating away and alloys under 14K discolour on me, but they do not irritate my skin.

CAN an allergy develop? I suppose it could, but then again, you COULD develop an allergy to the fabrics in the clothing you wear, the detergent you use to wash, the perfume you wear, the cosmetics you use, or any pets you might have. In other words, a metal allergy is not any more or less likely to occur than any other reaction, and to fear buying gold when you have worn it without issue in the past is slightly irrational, IMO.
 
#17
Actually you can develop allergies to anything at any point of your life. With jewelry it will be a rash reaction. So yes you can develop one over time but I wouldn't be too worried. It has a lot also to do with where you are in your life hormonally and what not
 
#19
cupcake34 said:
Oh really? Have you always been allergic to it or did it develop over time?
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I think it happened over time, bec I could swear when I got my ears pierced I had yellow gold studs. My mom says no, they were stainless. I could swear I have worn yellow gold rings and necklaces in the past though I never left them on full time, so perhaps that is why. The skin reaction is that of "boiling skin". It takes very little time to start, and literally looks like my skin is starting to boil like water. It's gross and painful. And takes a long time to heal. It makes no difference if it's 24K or if it's 14K, white or rose or yellow.

I am allergic to a lot of stuff though, some food things, some chemicals, damn near every plant, tree and flower. I can't use a lot of cosmetics/lotions bec a lot have lanolin or castor oil in some form.
 
#20
It's because of potential reaction to gold that medical implants are typically available in both 24K gold (it's impossible for 24K gold to be completely pure and there will always be some contamination of other metals) and titanium which is the most non-reactive metal. It's also not uncommon for someone to have a gold implant for many years that their body suddenly develops a reaction to and rejects. At which point it has to be swapped out for a titanium one. So yes it is entirely possible to develop some sort of sensitivity to gold, even 24K.
 
#21
Ladies, I'm having a slight problem with my rose gold necklace at the moment. Ok, here's my situation:

The necklace hurts on my neck on one side; it feels a bit like I have sunburn. But there isn't anything red or anything - it just feels really strange. When I hold something cold against my skin, it feels like such a relief.

But the thing is, I'm wearing a RG love bracelet and don't have problems with that. FYI, the necklace is from Tiffany's, not sure if they use a different rose gold composition.

Is that an allergy or can it be something else? I've had this problem for a few days now, and cleaned the necklace a few times to make sure it isn't dirt or anything that is bothering me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
 
#22
If you're allergic to any alloy in the gold, you can always have the piece dipped in rhodium, platinum, palladium, etc. This will create a barrier between your skin and the alloy. Just remember over time it will wear off, and you will need to get the piece redipped. But this is only needed once every few years.
 
#23
If you're allergic to any alloy in the gold, you can always have the piece dipped in rhodium, platinum, palladium, etc. This will create a barrier between your skin and the alloy. Just remember over time it will wear off, and you will need to get the piece redipped. But this is only needed once every few years.
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Really? Is that possible? Do you know if Tiffany's would dip a diamond necklace in platinum?
 
#25
cupcake34 said:
Also, does anyone think my skin irritations are due to an allergic reaction against rose gold?
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I think the best way to determine that yourself would be to experiment. ie.

If you don't wear the necklace, does your skin get better?

If you wear a different gold hue with the same purity (eg. WG or YG), do you still have the same reaction as to the RG?

Do you have same or different reactions to RG by different brands? Given that in 18K gold, 25% of the piece is non-gold, there can be a lot of discrepancies between alloy compositions between brands.

HTH!

Ps, it'd totally suck to be allergic to gold! I've just got hayfever and that's already a pain during summer.
 
#26
I think the best way to determine that yourself would be to experiment. ie.

If you don't wear the necklace, does your skin get better?

If you wear a different gold hue with the same purity (eg. WG or YG), do you still have the same reaction as to the RG?

Do you have same or different reactions to RG by different brands? Given that in 18K gold, 25% of the piece is non-gold, there can be a lot of discrepancies between alloy compositions between brands.

HTH!

Ps, it'd totally suck to be allergic to gold! I've just got hayfever and that's already a pain during summer.
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To answer your questions:

1. Yes, I tried a yellow gold necklace and didn't have problems. Having said that, I sometimes have
problems with the RG all day and then, like today, I have little or no trouble. Can it be an allergy
then? On days when I have trouble it gets better once I take it off. Maybe it's because I'm wearing
a scarf most of the time and rubs against the necklace?

2. I've had this reaction to Tiffany's RG; Cartier's RG is still fine.

This reaction comes and goes... sometimes I have it all day, sometimes just for an hour, and sometimes not at all.
 
#27
You might just be reacting to whatever the alloys are in the Tiffany vs Cartier. If you were truly allergic to it you'd react consistently.
 
#28
You might just be reacting to whatever the alloys are in the Tiffany vs Cartier. If you were truly allergic to it you'd react consistently.
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I also don't rashes or anything.

Do you think it could be something else, like a scarf rubbing the necklace against my skin? Or maybe just a temporary sensitivity against an alloy?
 
#30
I think it's probably something else if it's not consistent. And I wouldn't plate it since you paid for RG. Can you return the chain? Or is this a necklace that's one piece?
 
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