Is Yellow Gold Hypoallergenic? And Which Forms of Yellow Gold are Most Likely to Cause Skin Allergies?

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Is yellow gold hypoallergenic?

Which yellow gold alloys are most dangerous for sensitive people?

And is yellow-gold-plated jewelry safe or not?

Learn it all right below!

Here’s an awesome quiz about yellow gold’s allergic properties. Take it after you’ve read my guide.

Is Yellow Gold Hypoallergenic? And Which Forms of Yellow Gold are Most Likely to Cause Skin Dermatitis and Allergies?
Is Yellow Gold Hypoallergenic? And Which Forms of Yellow Gold are Most Likely to Cause Skin Dermatitis and Allergies?

Is Pure, Yellow 24K Gold Hypoallergenic?

Yes, pure yellow 24K gold is hypoallergenic. 24K gold can’t cause allergic reactions even in most sensitive individuals.

However, 24K gold is never used alone when creating jewelry. Instead, it’s alloyed with other metals and these can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Is 14K Gold Hypoallergenic? What about 18K Gold?

Yes, 14k gold is hypoallergenic.

However, this doesn’t apply equally to all people.

While 14k gold is less pure than 24k gold, it still contains a high percentage of gold (58%). High percentage of pure gold makes it less likely to cause a reaction in sensitive people.

However, 14k gold is still an alloy and it can contain metals some people are allergic to. Good examples of problematic metals are nickel, copper and sterling silver.

18K gold is hypoallergenic. 18K gold is an alloy made up of 75% pure gold and 25% other metals. 18K gold is less likely to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions compared to 14K gold and other lower karat gold because it has a relatively low percentage of other metals in its alloy.

  • 8k gold isn’t hypoallergenic. It’s allergenic. 8K gold is likely to cause allergic reactions because of its high content of other metals. 8K gold is an alloy of 33.3% pure yellow gold and 66.7% other metals.
  • 9k gold isn’t hypoallergenic. It’s allergenic. 9K gold is likely to cause allergic reactions because of its high content of other metals. 9K gold is an alloy of 37.5% pure yellow gold and 62.5% other metals.
  • 10k gold isn’t hypoallergenic. It’s allergenic. 10K gold is likely to cause allergic reactions because of its high content of other metals. 10K gold is an alloy of 41.7% pure yellow gold and 58.3% other metals.
  • 12k gold isn’t hypoallergenic. It’s allergenic. 12K gold is likely to cause allergic reactions because of its high content of other metals. 12K gold is an alloy of 50% pure yellow gold and 50% other metals. 12K gold is less likely to cause a reaction than lower karat gold.
  • 20K gold is hypoallergenic. 20K gold is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction because it’s an alloy that has low amount of metals other than gold. 20K gold is an alloy that contains 83.33% pure yellow gold and 16.67% of other metals.
  • 22K gold is hypoallergenic. 22K gold is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction because it’s an alloy that has low amount of metals other than gold. 22K gold is an alloy that contains 91.67% pure yellow gold and 8.33% of other metals.

Is Yellow Gold Vermeil Hypoallergenic?

Yes, yellow gold vermeil is hypoallergenic. Yellow gold consist of a sturdy sterling silver base coated with a thick layer of yellow gold.

Some people are sensitive to sterling silver but in this case the silver is sealed by thick gold plate. So there’s no silver exposure unless the plate is severely damaged or thinned out.

In yellow gold vermeil gold used is usually 14K or higher. So there’s a small chance the gold plate will cause an allergic reaction in people who’re sensitive to metals found in gold alloy.

But it rarely happens and in general you have nothing to worry about.

For example, here’s someone who had a bad reaction to gold vermeil where the gold plate was made of 10K yellow gold. The same person says they had no problems with 14K yellow gold vermeil.

14K gold vermeil is safe for most people and won't cause allergic reactions
14K gold vermeil is safe for most people and won’t cause allergic reactions- source

Yellow Gold or Titanium- Which is More Hypoallergenic?

Titanium is more hypoallergenic than yellow gold. Pure titanium is hypoallergenic and titanium as a metal doesn’t contain any additional metals which might cause skin allergies in certain people

Pure, 24K gold is 100% hypoallergenic. 24K gold is never used alone in jewelry making and instead it’s alloyed with other metals for strength and durability and color corrections. It’s alloyed gold that can cause allergic reaction in certain people.

For example, gold alloyed with nickel will trigger a reaction in nickel-sensitive people. And gold alloyed with copper will cause a reaction in people sensitive to copper. And gold alloyed with silver will cause a reaction in people sensitive to silver.

Nickel is the biggest offender here because most people who’re allergic to common jewelry metals are allergic to nickel.

Nickel is the most common allergen found in precious metal alloys used in jewelry making
Nickel is the most common allergen found in precious metal alloys used in jewelry making- source

It’s possible to encounter fake titanium which can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

See below an example from a women who complains her daughter had a severe reaction from titanium earrings plated with yellow gold.

Fake titanium can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
Fake titanium can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals- source

Is Gold IRA-Approved Bullion Hypoallergenic?

Yes, gold IRA-approved bullion is hypoallergenic. IRA-approved gold is exceedingly pure and there’re no other metals there to cause an allergic reaction.

The only way to get an allergic reaction to gold IRA bullion is to be allergic to pure gold. It can happen, but is very rare.

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Is Yellow Gold Hypoallergenic? And Which Forms of Yellow Gold are Most Likely to Cause Skin Allergies? Conclusion

Pure (24K) yellow gold is hypoallergenic.

But, pure yellow gold is never used alone when creating jewelry. Instead, it’s alloyed with other metals and these can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Different gold karts are also more or less dangerous depending on the karat and the amount or pure gold in the alloy. Generally, the higher the karat, the lower the chances of having an allergic reacting to that jewelry item.

The same principle applies to yellow gold-plated jewelry and gold yellow gold vermeil.

References:

Nikola Roza

Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.

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