Is Your Jewelry Poisoning You?

In a recent Instagram post, a young woman shared her alarming experience with cheap, fast fashion earrings that triggered a severe allergic reaction. This post was stitched by another creator who explained that the reaction was likely due to the hazardous materials commonly found in these low cost pieces.

So let’s delve into the potential health risks associated with wearing certain types of jewelry, how to spot the subtle signs of heavy metal poisoning, and what steps we can take to ensure we're making safer choices when it comes to adorning our outfits with our favorite accessories.

Why Are There Toxic Materials in Our Jewelry?

Jewelry is made with precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, which are often mixed with various alloys to enhance their color and durability. For example, gold, which (pun intended) is the gold standard for jewelry, is a very soft metal in its pure form. This makes it way too delicate for everyday wear, so it's often alloyed (mixed) with other metals such as copper, nickel, zinc, and tin to improve its strength and resilience.

However, these metals, which are often used to enhance the appearance and quality of pure metals, are, well, not so pure themselves. For example, nickel, a known allergen that causes visible skin reactions in some people, is a hard metal, which is why it's used as a strengthening component in metal alloys. But its durability can make it harder to shape, which is why lead is often added to the mixture as well.

Lead makes the base metal easier to shape and can also make the jewelry heavier and feel more substantial. This is why accessories sold by popular fast fashion brands may look elaborate, feel heavy, and appear higher end while still being super affordable and accessible, tempting many to purchase them without thinking twice.

This accessibility often comes at a cost to our health, as many of these cheap materials are known to cause allergic reactions and severe health issues.

Catching the Subtle Signs of Allergic Reactions

An allergic reaction is our immune system's response to a foreign substance it deems dangerous or harmful.

While many who have experienced an allergic reaction can quickly recognize the signs, this occurrence is not always immediately obvious and can sometimes take time to build up in our bodies before manifesting in a visible symptom.

Jewelry allergies, in particular, don't tend to manifest when the pieces have direct contact with our skin, which is why necklaces, bracelets, and anklets are less likely to trigger a reaction, and when they do, it's usually a mild irritation that looks like dryness, patchiness, and redness on the skin.

These signs are still a warning that the piece you're wearing is likely made with hazardous materials that your body deems a threat to your health and that you should probably stop wearing it, but they're more tolerable and likely won't require medical attention.

However, jewelry that has direct contact with our bloodstream during piercing (ear, nose, tongue) could cause more severe reactions, but interestingly enough, these symptoms can be more challenging to spot right away and usually take some time to manifest. This is because our blood has powerful antibody-scavenging agents that dilute, flush out, and neutralize potential allergens before they cause significant trouble.

But even our blood can only do so much when repeated exposures to allergens constantly challenge our immune system and spike it into overdrive bit by bit until months or even years later, symptoms such as swelling, rashes, and even permanent skin conditions such as eczema manifest on the skin.

While most initial reactions to hazardous metals in jewelry will be mild, there are ways to spot the signs early on. One of the most common ones is a white crust that forms around the point of entry, which means our body has identified our earrings or piercings as a threat to our health and has sent white blood cells that have died in the process of protecting us from further harm, forming the crusty substance.

Additionally, bumps that look like pimples under the skin but aren't painful and typically form behind the ear can be another sign of a brewing infection from underneath, as the accumulation of white blood cells has caused visible swelling.

Finally, dry, peeling, or itching skin only around the area that has direct contact with your earrings or piercing points can also be a warning sign of an adverse reaction to metal allergies.

Identifying these signs early on and taking the necessary precautions, such as removing the offending jewelry, cleaning the area with alcohol or salt water, and seeking medical attention if needed, can help prevent severe reactions and long-term health issues.

Poisoning: An Allergen's Evil Older Brother

Allergic reactions to jewelry are undeniably concerning and definitely something you shouldn't ignore, but they are arguably the milder symptom of hazardous metals found in jewelry. There's another, and even more sinister, long-term health issue associated with heavy metals in jewelry: heavy metal poisoning.

Heavy metal poisoning occurs when our bodies are exposed to high levels of toxic heavy metals that can accumulate over time and cause damage to our organs and bodily functions. Many of the same metals that can cause mild to moderate reactions in some can be the catalyst for heavy metal poisoning in others. For example, lead poisoning through wearing earrings or piercings that contain this hazardous metal can cause damage to the kidneys and liver, as it is cleared by these organs.

Similarly, cadmium poisoning, used in jewelry for its malleability, can cause changes in bones when accumulated in high levels in our bodies, while mercury, which is known for its toxicity to the nervous system, can also cause severe damage to our organs and bodily functions, including brain fog, memory loss, and even paralysis.

Some mild symptoms of heavy metal poisoning include headaches, stomach cramps, and muscle and joint pain. Some severe and more alarming symptoms include tremors, seizures, or gastrointestinal distress, which is more likely to happen if the offending jewelry is worn in areas where these particles can be ingested, such as tongue piercings.

Additionally, children can be exposed to heavy metals and experience heavy metal poisoning by potentially putting the jewelry they wear in their mouth and swallowing particles that may have come off the pieces.

Heavy metal poisoning in children can trigger behavioral issues, with some studies suggesting children who have been exposed to heavy metals like mercury portray symptoms of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and tics. Similarly, numerous investigations have revealed that children with ASD have greater levels of toxic metals in their system. It's worth noting that these investigations have brought to light how heavy metals found in food affect children, but it's safe to assume that directly ingesting these hazardous materials through some form of accessories could lead to similar outcomes.

How To Protect Your Health While Remaining Stylish

One of the most important ways you can prevent adverse reactions to your jewelry is to read labels and purchase jewelry from trusted, reputable brands that use safe materials. This may mean spending a bit more on your accessories, but it's an investment in your health and well-being that will pay off in the long run.

Another way is through proper maintenance of your jewelry, such as regularly cleaning it with non-toxic solutions like alcohol or soap and water, as well as avoiding wearing them for extended periods to give your skin and body a break from fighting potential allergens.

Furthermore, opting for hypoallergenic metals such as titanium, niobium, or even surgical steel can also help minimize the risk of allergic reactions while maintaining your style on a budget.

Ethical Jewelry Brands and Sustainable Options to Consider

Aside from protecting our health, another important factor to consider when purchasing jewelry is the impact it has on the environment and the workers involved in its production. Fast fashion brands, while offering affordable options, tend to use unethical labor practices and contribute to the unsustainable overproduction and waste in the fashion industry.

Instead, consider buying jewelry that not only isn't going to poison you in the long-term, but is also made from sustainable materials and through ethical practices.

Here are five jewelry brands that have made breakthroughs in terms of sustainability and ethical production while also portraying particular aesthetics, authenticity, individuality, and quality:

Agapée

Agapée is a Paris-based studio specializing in handcrafted jewelry that epitomizes Greek and Mediterranean aesthetics and infuses each piece with a touch of timeless elegance.

With their artisan-crafted designs, often inspired by nature and ancient history, Agapée exudes a warm, inviting vibe that celebrates beauty and individuality, making them a perfect choice for those seeking distinctive yet wearable accessories from the Mediterranean.

Catbird

Catbird is a Brooklyn-based jewelry brand known for its commitment to ethical craftsmanship and sustainable practices. Their pieces often feature whimsical designs combined with a vintage charm, encapsulating a playful yet elegant vibe that resonates with modern and conscious consumers.

Mejuri

Mejuri is your go-to brand if you’re a minimalist who prefers modern design and simplicity at accessible prices. Each of their designs is handcrafted with ethically sourced materials and always in limited quantities to maintain quality and exclusivity. From everyday essentials to statement pieces, Mejuri offers a wide range of options that cater to different styles and preferences.

Omi Woods

Omi Woods is a Toronto-based jewelry brand that beautifully combines heritage and aesthetics, creating pieces rich in cultural significance and craftsmanship. Their collection exudes a vibrant, contemporary vibe that celebrates individuality, making each accessory a statement of style and identity.

J. Hannah

Perfect for the curator of a classy, minimalist vibe that exudes elegance, authenticity, and timelessness, J. Hannah is a Los Angeles-based jewelry brand that focuses on handcrafted, solid gold pieces meant to be worn daily. While their designs are often priced towards the higher end of the spectrum, each piece is crafted out of quality materials and timeless natural gemstones with unique shapes, making it perfect for curating your personal style.

Ultimately, being aware of potential allergens in your jewelry and taking the necessary precautions can help prevent health issues while still allowing you to express your style through accessories.

So, the next time you go for that trendy piece at a fast fashion store that seems too good to be true, remember it probably is, as the piece was likely made with hazardous materials that could have long-term effects on your health.

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