Gold is a metal which is commonly used as a metal in jewellery, like rings, earrings and piercings.

Gold allergy has also been noted after procedures to have dental gold used in fillings.

24 carat gold jewellery has less than 0.1% other metals in the alloy. The amount of other metals increases with decreasing carat level, 18 carat gold has 25% other metals, 12 carat gold has 50% other metals and 9 carat gold is made up of more than 60% other metals. An allergy to a lower carat gold may be to another metal present.

If you suffer from contact dermatitis due to gold you may also need to avoid things labelled as containing gold sodium thiosulphate (GST), this is used as a medication for arthritis and in electronics and some medical devices.

White gold is made by mixing gold with other metals, often nickel, which is a metal more commonly associated with contact allergic reactions. Rose gold jewellery is made by mixing gold with copper and/or silver, which could account for allergic reaction to this type of jewellery but not to classic gold.

Gold allergy is most strongly associated with allergic contact dermatitis.

Cross reactivity to cobalt and nickel is commonly seen in patients who are allergic to gold.

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