Is it possible to be allergic to gold???

[santabops]

Had an awful rash that has been coming and going for at least 6 months, on my wedding ring finger. Every time it clears up I replace my wedding ring and then it reappears a week or so later.
Finally went to the doctors today and he suggested that I had an allergy to gold?!

How can this be I have been wearing both rings for 6 years prior to this happening. Also they are 18 carat gold, which I thought was nickel free.

Anyone heard of this?

DH is not going to be happy if he has to buy me 24 carat gold rings to replace them!

I get something similar but I think it is the soap getting trapped under the rings when I wash my hands, as it only happens on workdays.

im allergic to gold. also silver and surgical steel! i cant wear 24 carat either. a friend told me to paint it with clear nail varnish so the metal doesnt touch the skin. i wore earrings for ages before i became allergic, it just seemed to happen overnight for no reason

Apparently.

My some of DP's family can only where 24carat stuff.

Or so they say

I have this at the moment. A nasty rash flared up under my wedding ring for the first time. I hope it's just soap because I want my ring back!

Do you wear any other gold, necklace etc? I have a reaction to my rings but it is water sitting under them rather than the rings themselves. I can wear them during the day but take them off as soon as i get home and leave them off over night. My fingers can just about cope with this, oh and generous dollops of handcream used over night.

I've been allergic to my wedding and engagement rings for years. My dh speculates that if your two rings are slightly different metals there is actually a very mild current between them which would increase the amount of metal rubbing off on your skin (all a bit speculative but he's not a nut - he does know a bit about this sort of stuff). I find a get a milder reaction if I only wear one of them but i do still get one. Keep dropping hints to DH that I want him to take them to a jewellers to see if they can line them with something

I've developed an earring allergy over the last few years. Very bad if I put gold ones in. Ear lobes become hot, swollen and itchy.

My rings have been fine, but my ears are allergic to everything (swell up and drip puss within minutes!)

I thought it was just the soap/water being trapped but doctor seemed quite sure it was an allergy.

Come to think of it. A couple of years ago my pierced ears did swell up and were oosing pus (sorry). Since then the only jewellery I have worn are my wedding, engagement and eternity ring. All 18 carat gold.

I'm going to be gutted it I can't wear them. May try wearing them on a gold chain and see what happens. It might prove the wtaer/soap trapped under the rings theory.