For those who are allergic to WG...

[Tacori E-ring]

what reactions do you have? Have you always been allergic or did it develop over time?

 

[Trekkie]

Oh no! I hope you don't have a wg allergy! Your ring is too beautiful not to wear!

I've battled with allergies all my life. I generally ignore it and just load up on antihistamine.

A few months ago I got engaged and my honey proposed with a beautiful white gold solitaire. Right now as I'm typing this my ring finger is swollen and the fingers next to it are also slightly puffy. My right hand is fine. Logic tells me that I probably have a white gold allergy but there's no way I'm going to stop wearing my ring!

Actually, part of the reason I don't want to wear my ring is because of the icky mess that's underneath it. This is TMI, so if you're sensitive you should probably stop reading here.

Underneath my ring my skin is peeling. It's not too bad, my finger doesn't look like it's about to fall off, but if you look closely, you'll see an angry red ring of peeling skin. It looks utterly yuck.

At some point I'll have to take my diamond in to be reset, but I don't want to do that. I'm hopelessly sentimental.

If anyone has any advice, I'd be grateful!

 

[MonkeyPie]

Ouch, Trekkie. Can you plate in platinum? Is that an option?

Tacori, I have a friend that had a white gold wedding set, no problems. A year later she went and got her ears pierced a second time, all was well. Then when she swapped out earrings for a pair of white gold studs, all hell broke loose. Suddenly everything white gold that touched her skin - anywhere! - made her skin turn red, rash, and eventually peel if she didn't remove the offending metal. No idea what caused it, but now she can only wear stainless steel or platinum.

Do you think you have this?

 

[Trekkie]

I never thought of plating in platinum! I wonder if that'll work?

Thanks so much - when I'm in the city next month I'll be sure to ask my jeweller!

 

[reader]

Have you considered coating your ring with clear nail polish in the mean time? (I can't wear stainless steel earrings and that helps)

 

[Tanzigrrl]

My first wedding ring set was WG and about 3 years into wearing it, I suddenly developed a welt-like red rash (that looked like a burn) all the way around my left finger. I thought that maybe I had gotten soap under it or something so I took my set off, let it air out, and went about a week until the red mark vanished. I went back to wearing my set and about 20 minutes into it the red rash reappeared. It was itchy and swollen and kind of started to ooze, not to be gross. So, I went to a dermatologist and a jeweler and both confirmed that it was a typical nickel allergy to WG. So, I had the jeweler take my ering stone out and make it into a pendant and bought an all new platinum band with 5 diamonds. Now it is the case that all of my rings have to be platinum (oh, darn, right?) So, here I am with my 5-stone platinum band and someday for a big upgrade, I'd like a new ering in platinum, too. I can wear WG earrings, for short periods of time, like to work or out in the evening, but never ever overnight. My 18kt white gold chain is okay, but chains move a lot and it doesn't have so much contact with the skin on my neck the way that a ring has constant contact with your finger.

 

[steph72276]

I'm allergic to 14k WG, but not 18K WG. Something about the alloys used (more nickel maybe?) I break out in a rash and the finger gets really itchy. That was the reason for my first reset and thus how I found PS.

 

[february2003bride]

I have a confirmed nickel allergy. I had the metal allergy test done and nickel was a positive. My rings are now platinum again and will stay that way. I can also wear yellow gold.

When I wear white gold I get a bit of dried skin on my ring finger. The rest of my hand takes the hit of the allergy. Horrible eczema on my palms (I have to test my laptop as it may have nickle where my hands rest while typing) and other fingers. Right now my palm and two fingers are having a reaction, partly I'm sure b/c of my lap and because I wore a white gold ring two weeks ago for a few days (before my reset).

I can't wear wg earrings (my ears get discharge) or necklaces (eczema on my chest) either. Surprisingly, nickel in buttons don't bother me (i.e., jeans).

Go to a dermatologist or allergist who will test you. You wear the patch on your back for 5 days. I saw my derm. 3 times during that week to monitor it. It sucked but was necessary to know 100%. Other things trigger my eczema (fragrance in soaps for example) but nickel was a definite.

ETA: My current treatment plan is a topical steroid and once the eczema is gone, protopic as a maintenence. I was being stubborn two weeks ago and really wanted to wear my ering (which was in white gold) and now I'm paying the price. I'll never do that again because my derm. has already said that if the topical creams don't work, an oral steroid is next. I really don't want that- no bling is worth it!

 

[TravelingGal]

I never had issues with it before, and am not sure if I have issues with rings. But in my ears I can't ear it...bleeding, discharge, the works.

I am hoping I don't have any issues with my WG necklace...doesn't seem so. But it is higher K WG, so like Steph says, maybe that's a factor....

What happened Tacori?

 

[PinkTower]

I can't wear it with earrings. I have all my rings made in platinum now. Before that I switched them from one hand to the other a lot.

I had one plated in rhodium. Careful who you use for this, because the quality varies. I live in Georgia, but I had it done in the jewelry district in Philadelphia. It is worth it to have it shipped off to some place that does a good job. They are on Sansom Street, called something like Rubitone's. They have a website. If you need it, I will get the exact name for you. The rhodium can help a lot.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your experiences. Luckily my wedding set is PLT so that's not an issue. I have worn WG in the past with no issues but notice when I wear earrings (a rare thing these days) my lobe feels really hot, itchy, and I feel burning. I have a small bump behind one of my lobes. Maybe it is an only slight allegery...but I am confused and don't really want to reset them unless I am 100% sure.

ETA: no rash so maybe they are irritated for another reason...

 

[TravelingGal]

Tacori, that is how it started for me. My lobes felt like they were on FIRE. Fortunately, it's nowhere else but my lobes for right now.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

TGal...that's what I am afraid of. Before I buy any new jewelry I guess I should figure this out. Is it odd that I never had an issue before? I used to wear WG diamond studs daily...no issues. Kinda strange it is happening now.

 

[TravelingGal]

Age Tacori. I used to be able to wear anything. It happened to me in my early 30's.

 

[reader]

Please get the name and website of the jeweler in Philadelphia, I have a white gold ring that needs a dip badly.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

UPDATE: I tried to wear my studs today...kept them in for 5 mins before my lobes got REALLY itchy and were slightly burning Plus the little bump is still there. Not sure why it is only on one ear. So I have a NEW question....

For those allergic to WG earrings, can you wear WG rings or necklaces?

TGal, that does NOT make me happy.

 

[february2003bride]

UPDATE: I tried to wear my studs today...kept them in for 5 mins before my lobes got REALLY itchy and were slightly burning Plus the little bump is still there. Not sure why it is only on one ear. So I have a NEW question....

For those allergic to WG earrings, can you wear WG rings or necklaces?

TGal, that does NOT make me happy.

Ugh, so sorry to hear that Tacori! To answer your question, no I can't wear anything jewelry with nickle, rings (I've tried and always end up regetting it), necklaces, earrings and certain watches contain nickel too!

Try going to Claire's and getting the earring sleeves. I've read some women having luck with them. For me, it didn't and I ended up selling all of my white gold items.

Have you put any ointment on your ears to get the allergic reaction to go away?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Thanks Feb. My wedding set is PLT and my RHR RG so I guess I didn't notice my new allergy (?). I wear two silver bracelets with no issues. What kind of ointment? Earring sleeves? I have never heard of such a thing! I am hoping it is just earrings but who knows....

 

[TravelingGal]

UPDATE: I tried to wear my studs today...kept them in for 5 mins before my lobes got REALLY itchy and were slightly burning Plus the little bump is still there. Not sure why it is only on one ear. So I have a NEW question....

For those allergic to WG earrings, can you wear WG rings or necklaces?

TGal, that does NOT make me happy.

Tacori, I am not having any reactions to my pendant, which is 18K WG. Thinking maybe I don't have an allergy, I have some pearl WG earrings my brother got me. Within 5 minutes my ear itched and one ear itched for a day after even though I have my platinum ones in.

I don't have any WG rings so I don't know. But as of right now, earrings no, necklaces OK. I hope it stays that way or else I'm really SOL with my new pendant!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

TGal, I need to start wearing a WG ring again to test this out. I am so disappointed b/c I do love my studs (minus the setting) and didn't want to reset them until I was at my "forever" size. Seems like a waste if I am going to upgrade them. Plus I am going to be buying something new soon (hopefully) and was planning on getting WG.

 

[kelpie]

My jeweler just told me most white gold reactions are actually to the detergents, soap ect... trapped under the ring. He said tape a nickel on the inside of your bicep for a day or two, if when you remove it you have a nickel shaped red spot that is your allergy. He suggested seeing if a thorough cleaning improved comfort. I also think you need to dry your hands,ring, and underneath when you wash your hands or it gets kind of chapped feeling.

 

[CaliSun]

You know you've been in California too long when...
you see WG and think Wheat Gluten
Oh I'm so ashamed...

 

[reader]

Have any of you tried Palladium White gold?

 

[steph72276]

Tacori, I can't wear WG earrings. I actually haven't tried 18k wg earrings because I got my ears pierced twice and couldn't figure out what was going on and why they were getting like you described (itchy, hot) so I just stopped wearing them. I am trying to get brave enough to get them pierced again and wear platinum. I can wear 14k wg pendants and have never had an issue with that for some reason. And like I said before, I can wear 18k wg with no issues as rings. I would get tested for the allergy if I were you though, especially before you get anything custom made.

 

[PinkTower]

Please get the name and website of the jeweler in Philadelphia, I have a white gold ring that needs a dip badly.

It is right in the Jewelry district. Starts with an R. It is something like Rubertone's. I cannot recall. They may be wholesale only. An appraiser in the area should be able to tell you the exact name. It is a big mfg. place, not a pretty jewelry store, I recall.

 

[geckodani]

Aw Tacori, that sucks. I know that allergies supposedly go in 7 year cycles as far as new ones appearing etc. I became violently allergic to pineapple last year after having no problems with it my whole life. So strange. I hope you're able to figure it out!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

kelpie, I think I will try the nickel thing. Thanks! I don't wear WG rings regularly. I have noticed it with only earrings.

Gecko, life is strange. Maybe in 7 years I will have "grown" out of it. Odd about the pineapple.

Steph, where do you go to get tested? Seems to odd to request. I am surprise your holes closed. I only wear earrings once every few months since T was born and they have never closed.

Cali, funny!

Reader, I have not.

Pink, thanks for the info.

 

[february2003bride]

kelpie, I think I will try the nickel thing. Thanks! I don't wear WG rings regularly. I have noticed it with only earrings.

Gecko, life is strange. Maybe in 7 years I will have "grown" out of it. Odd about the pineapple.

Steph, where do you go to get tested? Seems to odd to request. I am surprise your holes closed. I only wear earrings once every few months since T was born and they have never closed.

Cali, funny!

Reader, I have not.

Pink, thanks for the info.

Tacori- I had a metal allergy test done through my dermatologist office. It's a very common test and either your derm or an allergist can do it.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Thanks Feb. I really hope I am not allergic b/c all my other jewelry is WG (of course).

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I currently have a nickel taped to me arm. Hope no one sees it. I tried to wear some YG earrings today and got a similar reaction. I wonder if it is just earrings that bother me, not the type of metal.