I’ve always worn costume jewelry. It was easy to find and affordable. Plus, if I lost an earring or a necklace broke, it wasn’t the end of the world. In fact, the only “real” jewelry I own is my wedding ring, my engagement ring and my Outlander ring, all of which are made out of sterling silver.
Then, perimenopause arrived and suddenly my skin began to reject cheap adornments.
If I wore a stud or hoop made from base metals, my earlobe would redden. The skin would start to itch and I’d have to remove the earrings for fear of infection. My hands were no different. If I wore my real jewelry, all was fine. But if I donned a ring containing non-precious materials, the skin around my finger would swell and peel, like it was experiencing an allergic reaction.
And apparently, it was. After doing some research, I learned that the fluctuating estrogen levels sparked by perimenopause can increase the skin’s sensitivity to common allergens, like the nickel used in costume jewelry, and cause dermatitis. Which means from now on, I must wear sterling silver, platinum, surgical stainless steel or titanium jewelry — or nothing at all.
I expected gray hair, wrinkles and wisdom to come with old age, but who knew my skin would demand the finer things in life?
