How to Identify Silver Allergy Symptoms

Very few people suffer from a silver allergy, but for those who do, the experience can often be a discomforting or even painful problem. There are two types of silver allergies. The first is one in which you are actually allergic to the silver itself. This type of allergy is very rare. The second type of silver allergy is not actually an allergy to silver at all--but to nickel which is used during the jewelry making process to strengthen the silver found on chains, rings, and other items of jewelry. This second type is the more typical "silver" allergy, even though it has nothing to do with the silver at all.

The most common silver allergy symptoms include contact dermatitis or a painful spot on your skin where the silver touched you. Generally, a rash will form at the place where the jewelry came in contact with you. This rash can assume a variety of forms, but most commonly, you will find that the spot will turn red and become dry over a period of a few days. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to diagnose a silver allergy, as the rash may not appear for several days after you came in contact with silver, making it difficult to determine if silver was, indeed, the culprit for your discomfort. Those with severe silver allergies will experience a much more painful rash and possibly a fever or prolonged discomfort.