Metal Allergies Tutorial
By Jean Campbell

• Rash
• Itching
• Redness
• Copper discolors skin for most people—that’s different than an allergy.
• Nickel and cobalt are the main culprits for allergies; both are often used as alloys in many other metals like copper, brass, sterling silver, and gold.

• If you have an allergy, some metals are better than others, but you can’t be sure. Check the metal content with the place you bought the item—a bead shop owner, online retailer, etc.
• If you have a slight allergy, try fine silver and 24KT gold plated items. You might be fine with them. Also consider painting your pieces with clear nail polish.
• If you have a regular allergy, use surgical steel and niobium.
• For a bad allergy use titanium.
• For severe allergies, don’t use metal at all.

• String on nylon-coated stainless steel flexible beading wire.
• Use pleather, ribbon, thread, silk, yarn.
• Do off-loom beadwork. If a steel needle is still a problem for your fingers, try one of those plastic dental flossers meant for cleaning under dental work.
• Button/clasp loop is very important technique to know.
• Make your own beaded beads with silver- or gold-lined beads to get a metallic look.