Skin reactions to jewellery are more common than most people realise. Redness, itching, and irritation around earring holes or where a bracelet sits against the wrist affects a significant number of women, and the cause is almost always the same — nickel.
Nickel is used as a hardening agent in many metal alloys, including some grades of brass and many fashion jewellery metals. It’s one of the most common contact allergens, and sensitivity to it tends to increase rather than decrease with repeated exposure. If you’ve ever noticed that jewellery that used to be fine is now causing irritation, nickel sensitivity developing over time is the most likely explanation.
The good news is that choosing jewellery for sensitive skin is straightforward once you know what to look for.
Materials that work well
Surgical stainless steel is the most reliable option for sensitive skin. The grade used in jewellery — typically 316L — contains a negligible amount of nickel, bound tightly enough in the alloy that it doesn’t leach onto the skin in meaningful quantities. It’s hypoallergenic for the vast majority of people with nickel sensitivity and is the material most commonly recommended by dermatologists for earrings specifically.
Titanium is even more hypoallergenic than stainless steel and is the material of choice for people with severe metal sensitivities. It’s less commonly found in fashion jewellery but worth seeking out if stainless steel still causes a reaction.
Wood is naturally hypoallergenic and an excellent option for earrings in particular. The material itself causes reactions in almost nobody — the caveat is to check that any lacquer or paint finish used on the wood is also skin-safe, which good quality wooden jewellery will be.
Clay is similarly hypoallergenic. Polymer clay jewellery, which has become increasingly popular for earrings, is generally very well tolerated by sensitive skin.
Natural stone and shell are both non-reactive materials. The consideration here is the metal components — clasps, ear wires, and findings — which should be in stainless steel or titanium rather than mixed alloy metals.
Materials to approach with caution
Brass is where it gets more complicated. Pure brass — an alloy of copper and zinc — doesn’t contain nickel and is generally fine for sensitive skin. However, much of the fashion jewellery described as brass contains other metals in the alloy, sometimes including nickel. If you react to brass jewellery, nickel content in the alloy is the most likely cause. High-quality brass jewellery from reputable sources is usually safer than very inexpensive brass pieces where the alloy composition is less controlled.
Plated metals are problematic for sensitive skin because the plating wears off over time, exposing the base metal underneath. If the base metal contains nickel — which it often does in very inexpensive jewellery — reactions develop as the plating thins with wear.
Practical tips for sensitive skin
Keep earring backs clean and change them regularly if you’re experiencing irritation — the back of the ear is a common irritation point that’s easy to overlook.
Apply a thin coat of clear nail varnish to the back of pendants or the inside of bangles that sit directly against skin — it creates a barrier between the metal and your skin and is a useful workaround for pieces you love but that cause mild irritation.
Give new earrings a trial period of a few hours before committing to wearing them all day.
At ako & sila we stock a range of stainless steel and wooden jewellery specifically chosen to be suitable for sensitive skin. All pieces described as nickel-free on our site and in our Bangkok shops have been selected with this in mind. If you’re unsure about a specific piece, our staff are happy to advise.
If nickel-free labelling is new to you, Nickel-Free Jewellery in Bangkok: What It Is and Why It Matters explains what it actually guarantees, and our shop lets you filter for nickel-free pieces directly.