Can I be allergic to silver? This is a fairly common question. Let's figure it out in this article.
Silver is a precious metal. Already in ancient times, jewelry, coins were cast from it, and expensive dishes were made. The metal is said to have antibacterial properties and can be used to purify water.
Choosing Silver
Many people prefer silver jewelry due to its austerity and greater affordability compared to gold. However, a lower price does not negate the nobility of origin and sophistication of these jewelry. Until quite recently, everyone believed that allergic reactions could not occur when contacting silver products. But this opinion is still refuted by a large number of people's complaints about reddening of the skin and itching when wearing jewelry made of this metal. This is how silver allergy manifests itself.
Why do allergies occur?
The reaction to silver in its pure form is, in principle, a very rare occurrence, since this metalhas extremely low allergenic characteristics. They are predominantly due to nickel contained in silver jewelry. It is added in order to enhance the strength of the jewelry and shine, since silver itself is too soft.
People with poor he alth or reduced immunity perceive any foreign irritant (in this case, nickel is meant) as an element that harms the body. In this case, there is an active production of histamine in the blood, which causes a deterioration in the patient's well-being. Sensitization to silver jewelry does not always appear immediately. Sometimes it can take several years before the reactions make themselves felt. This allergic form manifests itself in the form of contact dermatitis, which occurs when the skin interacts with nickel in the process of its gradual leaching from a silver product. In addition, allergies to silver can be caused by other impurities, such as aluminum, zinc, lead, copper.
Features of the body's reaction
Sensitization by direct contact with silver jewelry develops as a result of an erroneous reaction of the human body to foreign elements - silver or other components contained in it. In this case, a failure occurs in the activity of the immune system, and instead of protecting against bacteria, infections and viruses, it perceives a substance that is completely harmless in other cases as a stranger and begins to attack it. Many people wonder if there is an allergy to silver.
Reaction evolution scenarionext: metal ions, in contact with the skin, bypass the epidermis and enter the blood, changing its composition chemically. At the same time, the body perceives a certain number of proteins of its cells as foreign agents and produces a response production of specific antibodies.
Modern science has not yet studied all the subtleties of the chemical processes that take place. There is only an assumption that they are laid down in humans at the genetic level. Even if such a reaction is a single case, the immune system will continue to perceive silver jewelry as a potential source of danger. Sensitization to both silver and other metals contained in jewelry can also manifest itself in case of intolerance to certain chemicals by the patient, and contact with them causes skin allergic reactions that are local in nature.
What causes an allergy to silver? Let's find out.
Does the quality of jewelry affect?
Instances of people getting skin irritations while wearing silver items have become more frequent recently. This is due to the fact that modern jewelry is of inadequate quality. To reduce the cost of the product, manufacturers mix silver with other alloys that provoke a reaction. This kind of pseudo-silver jewelry is made of lead, zinc or aluminum, which is coated with a silver coating.
How to distinguish a fake?
To understand if you have a fake or a real product, you can use the followingways: if you run white chalk over it or cover it with sulfuric ointment, real silver will darken. If you drop iodine on the jewelry, and it turns blue, then it is made of zinc. The product, which is made of real silver, has a clearly established standard in two places, mainly nine hundred and twenty-fifth. The causes of silver allergy can be very diverse.
Other rash factors
The list of reasons why silver sensitization is possible adds another factor: the fact that itching and rashes can be caused by contamination of a silver product. At the same time, dangerous chemical elements accumulate on its surface, which cause allergic reactions if the skin is highly susceptible.
In this case, the solution to the problem is quite simple - you just need to clean the silver item. If the jewelry has a complex relief, it is best to contact the jewelers. If the product is simple, it can be cleaned at home - with tooth powder, ammonia or soda, and then polish the surface with a soft, dry cloth. This will help eliminate unnecessary substances and give the jewelry its original shine and color. Cleaned products are worn only after the symptoms of irritation disappear. Only in this case it will be possible to assess with all objectivity whether it was really caused by pollution.
Signs of silver allergy
If silver sensitivity is suspected, symptomsare found in those places where jewelry is adjacent to the body, that is, on the fingers, on the wrists and hands, on the earlobes and in the décolleté, in the navel (if there is a piercing) and on the ankles (if bracelets are worn on the leg).
Signs of allergy when interacting with its source can appear immediately, and within a day, and sometimes even after a longer period. This is directly related to individual sensitivity. Silver allergy symptoms are listed below.
The most common manifestations are:
- unbearable burning and itching;
- redness of the skin at the site of interaction with the jewelry;
- skin inflammation and swelling;
- rash (can be either small, barely palpable when touching the skin, or large;
- temperature increase;
- appearance of small bubbles or large blisters containing liquid.
Child may be allergic to silver.
Skin changes
The skin becomes sticky and wet, and then flakes off. If the skin is damaged deeply, then scars, cracks and ulcers may appear. In most cases, these characteristics appear gradually, replacing each other, however, they can appear almost at one moment if the patient has an acute form. If the development is rapid, then anaphylactic shock and laryngeal edema are possible. However, this option, fortunately, is extremely rare, and allergic reactions to silver jewelry are limited to signs of contact.dermatitis listed above.
But still, mandatory therapy is required, since they cause both physical and moral inconvenience, the patient feels discomfort, and scratching the blisters can provoke a bacterial infection into a more serious infection.
Acceptable treatments
If the causes of allergies have been established, then the possibility of direct interaction with the allergen must first be excluded. The patient will have to stop wearing jewelry and jewelry made of silver. If the reaction appeared due to the presence of nickel, which is an integral part of the products, then all contacts with it must also be eliminated. It is worth noting that nickel can be found in a wide variety of alloys, such as hairpins, buttons, hairpins, etc.
After eliminating contact with the allergen, symptomatic therapy can be started to speed up the recovery process. Treatment can last from several days to several weeks. This is determined by the specifics of the body of a sick person, as well as the degree to which allergy symptoms appear. Effective "Tagansorbent" with silver ions from allergies. It improves immune tone. Absorbs harmful substances, toxins, allergens.
Drugs
Most often, topical agents are prescribed that help to disinfect and soften the skin, eliminate inflammation and itching. The number of effective drugs included: "Solcoseryl", "Gistan", "Desitin","Wundehill". If eczema develops that do not heal for a long time, the doctor may prescribe a short course of hormonal ointments, for example, Advantan, Prednisolone, Elokom. In the case of a systemic nature of allergic manifestations, you will need to take antihistamine-type drugs: Zirtek, Erius, Cetrin, Claritin.
