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Nickel Allergies
Nickel Allergies
On The Rise
...Nickel
is a metal often present in certain jewelry components. Nearly
15% of the US population suffers from an allergy to nickel. This
figure is up from 10% in the 80’s, due, it is believed,
to the increased popularity of body piercing.
Symptoms
...People suffering from allergies to nickel have symptoms ranging from slight itching and redness of the skin to blisters at the area of contact. Actually, it is the nickel salts formed when the metal comes in contact
with perspiration that cause the allergy. Once an allergy to
nickel has been acquired, it is usually lifelong.
Ban
On Nickel
...This
problem is so prevalent that, since January 2000, the European
Union has imposed a nickel ban on all jewelry sold there. The
European nickel free standard states that items labeled “nickel
free” may contain no more than 0.05% nickel (no more than
1 part in 2000 that is nickel.)
Surgical Steel
...Surgical steel, often used in earring wires and advertised as hypo-allergenic, is NOT nickel free, usually containing 8% nickel. People with a slight nickel allergy may tolerate surgical steel earrings for a few hours or maybe even all day. But they may be so sensitive that even the buttons of their jeans cannot touch their skin. Why chance it? Unless specifically stated otherwise,
ALL OF OUR JEWELRY IS NICKEL FREE. 
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