Allergy to silver - could it be, what are the symptoms?

Allergy to silver is a rare occurrence. A negative reaction in the body is usually caused by impurities of various metals in jewelry. They are added to give products strength and additional shine. The metals used to make silver items are as follows:

lead;
zinc;
aluminum;
copper;
nickel.

Most often, an allergic reaction occurs in girls who prefer rings, earrings and other jewelry made of silver.

Causes of allergies to silver

999 silver (pure) is not considered a highly allergenic substance, therefore it creates almost no immune responses. The allergy occurs due to the addition of nickel to silver, which is called “nickel silver”.

Thanks to this microelement, silver is stronger and shinier; moreover, without the addition of nickel, jewelry will be too soft and the value of silver products will decrease.

Reference! In allergy sufferers and people with reduced immunity, nickel is perceived as an antigen, as a result of which a hormone is released into the blood - a histamine substance that acts on H1 receptors and provokes an immune response. After contact with the nickel catalyst, an antibody-antigen reaction begins, in which immunoglobulins fight against a foreign object.

Hypersensitivity to the allergen is expressed immediately after skin contact with the jewelry. However, sometimes the symptoms of hypersensitivity do not appear immediately - it happens that an allergy occurs after decades of using silver.

Decreased immunity is manifested by skin inflammation due to interaction with a foreign substance because the nickel alloy is leached from the silver and the immune system responds negatively to the antigen.

Why a wedding ring irritates the skin: signs and psychology

Some people wear wedding rings that they found or bought and, wondering why the finger under the ring itches, immediately associate it with superstitions.

Irritation from a wedding ring

In Orthodoxy, regarding protection with closed coils or circles, there has long been a sign that a ring (especially made of gold) has the property of being a talisman for the family from evil glances.

The ring finger is considered the outlet of energy on both the left and right hands. Based on this belief, the ring must be removed upon arrival home , otherwise it heats up energetically and causes itching, thereby depriving the person of strength. Thus, at home you should not protect yourself from the outside world with a wedding ring.

To solve the problem, you can try wearing the ring on your other hand or choose a different metal. Do not also forget that the habit of fiddling with the ring also often causes irritation.

Most wedding signs are associated with wedding rings, but the beliefs of ancestors cannot always be considered reasonable. There is an opinion that with a stolen ring, a stranger has the power to take away family happiness. Others believe that by looking at their husband through the ring, they can easily get him back in the event of a breakup.

Among such beliefs there is also a sign about irritation under a wedding ring. It says that the marriage will not be strong if a skin rash appears under the metal. In ancient times, a spare pair of rings helped restore harmony to a superstitious couple.

The role of the wedding ring in family relationships

Symptoms of a silver allergy

If a product made of a precious metal causes hypersensitivity, the severity of the allergy is noticeable in the areas where the jewelry comes into contact with the epidermis:

fingers - rings;
ears - earrings;
hands - bracelets;
neck - necklaces;
navel - piercing;
ankle area - ankle bracelets.

An individual immune response occurs instantly or after some time.

What to do if you are allergic to silver?

Allergy symptoms are expressed by inflammation of the skin with the following signs:

It itches severely where the precious metal comes into contact with the skin;
Hyperemia;
Swelling and inflammation of the epidermis;
Rashes - small pustules with exudate inside;
Formation of scabs due to drying of pus at the site of burst or scratched pustules;
Increased body temperature;
With severe skin defects - erosive formations, cracks with subsequent scarring.

Attention ! Typically, the above symptoms occur in this order, but with severe allergies, the symptoms occur simultaneously. Rapid type allergies are fraught with the development of Quincke's edema and complications of angioedema - anaphylaxis with attacks of suffocation. At the first sign of an immediate allergy, you must immediately call an ambulance, otherwise the condition can be fatal.

Instant allergy occurs in rare cases, and antigen recognition is limited mainly to contact dermatitis. However, an allergy sufferer must be treated, because allergies cause unpleasant sensations, manifested by physical and mental discomfort.

Where the silver touches the skin, it itches and when scratching, infection and an inflammatory process on the epidermis are likely to occur.

Allergy to silver in the form of urticaria

Precautionary measures

If you decide to work with chemicals:

work in a well-ventilated area, preferably in the yard or on the balcony;
wear rubber gloves;
allocate separate dishes for this purpose;
If rinsing is required after chemical cleaning, rinse in a separate strainer over a technical container or outside. Don't flush chemicals down the sink.

If you need to process thin, openwork parts or there are inserts and inlays, very carefully clean in weak spots and in the area where stones are attached. If you bend the metal a little, the appearance will be ruined; the fastening of the inserts may be weakened. Repairing such damage is not cheap.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of allergies is carried out using a skin patch test. For people with allergies, an epicutaneous skin strip containing provoking substances is glued to the back.

After 48 hours, the patch test is peeled off and attention is paid to how the patient reacts to a foreign object. If hyperemia or swelling is noticed at the site of contact with the provoking substance, an allergy is identified.

Important! Manifestations of allergies cannot be treated independently; to diagnose the condition, consultation with a specialist is necessary. Based on research and the individual characteristics of the patient’s body, the doctor will prescribe an effective treatment, since contact dermatitis is most often caused not by silver, but by the composition of various samples.

In some cases, allergies are provoked by a combination of metals; for this, a more detailed study is performed.

Related article: Allergy to gold from wearing jewelry

Impact of dark forces

Since ancient times, silver has been considered a symbol of spiritual beauty and purity, which is why church attributes were made from it. If you believe the legends, then with the help of noble metal you can fight evil spirits. Even today, it is believed that this unique alloy is a natural talisman against negative energy and protects against damage, love spells, the evil eye, and evil and envious people.

There are several versions explaining why silver on the human body turns black, many of which are associated specifically with folk superstitions. Since ancient times, it was believed that the alloy had miraculous powers and protected against negative influences, and silver items were used in religious rituals.

Let's work together to make the unique material even better, and after reading it, we ask you to repost it on a social network convenient for you. net.

Treatment of allergies to silver

If you have allergy symptoms, it is initially important to exclude interaction with the antigen - remove jewelry, take a cool shower to cleanse the skin. If there is a pronounced immune response, the doctor will prescribe antihistamines:

Erius;
Suprastin;
Tavegil;
Suprastinex;
Claritin;
Telfast and others.

But most often, local treatment is sufficient - treating areas of contact with silver with antiallergic creams, ointments, gels containing retinol - the antioxidant promotes the restoration of the skin:

ointments that stimulate the regeneration of layers of epidermal cells - D-Panthenol, Methyluracil, Spasatal;
antiallergic gels and ointments - Fenistil, Tavegil;
ointments that help minimize itching and burning - Protopic, Taktropic, Sinaflan.

Symptoms of an allergy to silver
Allergy to silver is expressed by various symptoms - taking into account the severity of the process and the individual characteristics of the allergy sufferer. Non-hormonal drugs are permissible for long-term use, however, if ointments, creams and gels do not cope with a severe allergic form, the doctor prescribes drugs based on glucocorticoids:

a group of hormonal ointments with low activity - Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Lokoid;
glucocorticoids with moderate activity - Afloderm, Belosalik, Deoxymethasone;
active glucocorticosteroids - Advantan, Elocom, Sinaflan, Cutivate;
highly active local drugs - Dermovate, Galcinonite.

Severe dermatitis is expressed by damage to the epidermis with the penetration of pathogenic microbes. To avoid infection, antibiotics are used:

Dexamethasone;
Akriderm;
Hyoxyzone.

Allergy to silver due to piercing
Self-therapy with glucocorticosteroids is dangerous for the deterioration of health, so drugs are prescribed only by a doctor strictly according to individual indications.

With exudative blisters, you should avoid scratching the skin - the epidermis is damaged and entails an inflammatory process with subsequent skin infection.

It is important to know! During the treatment period, you should not only treat contact dermatitis, but also adhere to a hypoallergenic diet. The diet for allergies requires careful correction to avoid cross-allergic forms.

To remove toxic agents from the body and to avoid food allergies, it is recommended to drink sorbents.

Modern medicine involves correcting the immune system with histamine, after which the body becomes immune to the antigen.

Traditional medicine therapy

Herbal remedies will not cure silver allergy, but are part of the treatment for silver contact dermatitis.

Article on the topic: Problems of development of allergies to shellac

Decoctions, lotions and compresses, freshly squeezed drinks help relieve painful symptoms and alleviate the condition.

Allergy tests for allergies to silver

Used to relieve inflammatory symptoms:

celery root decoction - 1 tablespoon before breakfast and dinner;
apple, carrot, cabbage juice - three times a day, half an hour before meals, a teaspoon;
adding viburnum decoction to tea - three times a day;
the use of compresses with the juice of apples, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes;
washing the affected areas with decoctions of oak bark and St. John's wort.

Preventing silver allergy

To avoid repeated negative reactions to silver or metal impurities, the following preventive measures should be followed:

if you are allergic to silver jewelry, refuse to wear precious metal, replace silver with gold, or wear silver only “when going out”;
If you have ever experienced an allergic reaction due to the use of silver, do not wear several pieces of jewelry at the same time to avoid an immune response;
buy silver rings, earrings, bracelets and other jewelry only in jewelry stores - to reduce the risk of low-quality products without unnecessary impurities;
if you are allergic to precious metals, you are allowed to wear silver coated with rhodium or palladium - to reduce the risk of allergies to nickel and other highly allergenic microelements;
remove jewelry at night, while cleaning, taking a bath;
it is permissible to wear silver that does not come into contact with the skin - cufflinks, brooches;
If you need prosthetics, warn your doctor about an allergy to silver.

Reference! If there is a risk of allergies in young children, you should not feed your baby with a silver spoon. An elimination diet helps reduce allergy symptoms.

Recommendations

For those who are not ready to give up silver, even if the body is “against”, the following tips will be useful:

You need to purchase silver products from responsible manufacturers and be interested in the chemical composition of the alloy;
take off silver items before going to bed;
do not wear silver jewelry in the shower or to the beach, or wash dishes in it;
give preference to items that do not come into direct contact with the skin - brooches, cufflinks;
When making a piercing, be interested in the material from which the needle is made (for an allergy sufferer it should be stainless steel), and do not insert silver jewelry into the punctures;
inform the dentist about your problems in preparation for dental treatment or prosthetics;
Be more attentive to your diet, include in your menu juices that help in the complex treatment of allergies - from apples, carrots, celery, cauliflower, parsley.

Summarizing

If you have doubts about the quality of the product, run a chalk over the silver - darkened jewelry indicates high-grade silver. If the jewelry is smeared with iodine, the color of the silver will not change, but the zinc jewelry will have a blue tint. Silver heats up quickly, so if you place the metal in boiling water, the jewelry will become fiery.

If you are sure that all causes of allergies have been excluded, and contact dermatitis does not go away, stop wearing silver items. Later, you can try again using jewelry, because often allergies are temporary and are caused by decreased immunity, stress, vitamin deficiency, and chronic fatigue.