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Jewelry and sensitive skin: avoiding green marks and reactions

It's usually the base metal, not the gold. Here's what to look for.

Short version: Green marks and itching come from base metals — mostly nickel and copper — not from gold or silver themselves. Choose hypoallergenic metals and you avoid both.

What causes it

Green skin is a harmless reaction between copper alloys and your skin's acidity/sweat. Itching and rashes are usually a nickel allergy, one of the most common there is. Cheap "gold-tone" pieces often hide both.

Safer choices

Surgical/316L stainless steel — tough, cheap, nickel-safe for most.
Titanium — inert and light; great for piercings.
Solid gold (14k+) and platinum — minimal reactive alloy.
Sterling silver — usually fine; can tarnish but rarely reacts.

Avoid unlabeled "alloy" and plated pieces for daily wear. Check the metal in the listing before buying.

Compare hypoallergenic earrings →

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