Nickel Allergy News

Whether you are shopping for Mom, your wife, a Grandmother or any woman in your life - unique, handmade jewelry is certain to please. We know online shopping has become the norm now more than ever in the past year. So, let AthenaAllergy.com be your one stop shop for a beautiful pair of nickel free earrings or a show-stopping pendant. Let us make your life easier.

Athena Allergy is a small, family owned business. We take pride in exceptional customer service. We pay attention to the personal touches to make your gift special. We can include a handwritten note to accompany the gift. Mom will be delighted! Your thoughtfulness in selecting a Certified Nickel Free™ Jewelry item will be appreciated for a lifetime! Our jewelry is guaranteed for life to never test positive for nickel. No nickel means no more itchy, allergy rash – your thoughtfulness will make mom proud!

Need inspiration? Let us show you around a bit. Our top choice would have to be the dichroic glass dangle earrings. These earrings are handcrafted by local artisans in Athena Allergy’s home state of North Carolina. We think Mom will delight in these dazzling designs with vibrant hues!  Just the name will bring a smile, but take a look at the color in Merry Waterfalls Nickel Free Earrings.  From red to magenta to silvery pink, the colors in these earrings make them the perfect accent piece to any wardrobe.

We always think of lavenders and pinks for Spring, so Queen Falls Nickel Free Earrings are ideal for two reasons! They offer those stunning soft colors will make certain Mom feels like Queen for the Day!

Cascade Earrings in Rainbow Red – these earrings have been top sellers for years and we think it’s due to the incredible mix of color from the artisan created dichroic glass. With all the colors of the rainbow, these earrings will go with everything!

Interstellar Post Earrings – gaze into the depths of these cranberry red dichroic glass posts, you’ll see new hints of color and sparkle each time! What you won’t ever see is that itchy, red rash from nickel allergy!

We have a couple of earrings inspired by beautiful North Carolina coastal towns. Cape Hatteras Earrings are a glamorous combination of black and silver, while the rose/coral coloration of Sunset Beach Earrings will have mom thinking about the beach! 

Rodanthe Nickel Free Earrings are named after a charming and romantic NC town. The beautiful black cherry red Czech glass is accented with silver wire and matching faceted beads for a stunning look in a nickel free dangle earring.

Perhaps a necklace and earring set are in order for that very special someone; if so, the Jasmine Necklace and Earring Sets are ideal. We love the incredible sparkle of the Jasmine Set in Blue! Take a look, but trust us that photos can’t do justice to this amazing dichroic glass sparkle!

Our beautiful nickel free dichroic glass necklaces make exquisite gifts. The amazing depth of colors light up the room! But our top choice for this special holiday would have to be the Jasmine Rainbow Red Necklace!

We hope you are feeling inspired. Those are only a few of the choices available today at AthenaAllergy.com. For the complete collection, just click on the jewelry link here: Nickel Free Jewelry!

It’s been a tough few weeks. If you’re like us, we are looking for simple ways to add a bit of cheer to our lives and those around us.  

With Easter just around the corner, our current stay-at-home order makes online shopping a necessity for many items, especially those that are Certified Nickel Free™. We have some amazing hypoallergenic jewelry that we’re sure will bring a happy heart to the wearer.

Our dichroic glass earrings are just so full of sparkle and reflective colors, photographs and descriptions will never do them justice. But take our word for it, these little gems are mesmerizing. My personal new favorite pair of dangle earrings is the Looking Glass Falls Lilac Earrings. So perfect for Spring, these nickel free dangles fall only one inch but the shimmering color is huge! The flowery color combination of these earrings make them perfect to tuck into Easter baskets!

Have you been noticing the violets peeking up all around? Purple hues have long been associated with Easter and the spring season. So keeping with that tradition, take a look at these dichroic glass posts, the Supernova Post Earrings are glorious with color! While they are predominantly lilac in color, there are also hints of green, yellow, and pink…probably more! Our photographer did an amazing job making these pretty posts glimmer.  All that color makes them indispensable as a daily accessory, and like all our earrings, they won’t ever cause a nickel allergy rash!

Maybe an anticipated beach trip had to be postponed, so let her know you haven't forgotten by giving her one of our coastal themed earrings. Topsail Island Earrings are a perfect reflection of the season, with the robins’s egg blue Czech glass ovals taking center stage, then the translucent sand-colored faceted accent beads melding together to bring the seashore to her.  

Guess what? We even have some “gems” for the guys in your life! We’re thinking now is a great time to give the gift of nickel free, metal free carbon fiber belts. These belts will be enjoyed for their novelty and their functionality! Carbon fiber is a metal free substance that has been used in aerospace, automotive, and sporting goods industries for years. Our carbon fiber buckles are stitched to a solid handcrafted leather strap so there is no chance of metal touching skin. With no metal, these belts are also ideal for anyone who works in nuclear power plants, courthouses, or who routinely goes through metal screening. Actually, you will be the gem for thinking of this great Easter gift! We now offer our Carbon Fiber Belts in black, several shades of brown, or gray leather. The buckles come in several styles as well, so there should be something for every taste and occupation.

We are sure you can find something for everyone in our Nickel Free Collection. We offer sizes from kids’ to big and tall, with collections for men, women, children, and teens! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, let us know!

Athena Allergy, Inc. has a long reputation for being The Nickel Allergy Experts.  Trust us for all your nickel allergy needs!

We love the colors and styles that come with the anticipation of cooler temps! We think you’ll agree that our fashion picks will not only look great over the coming months, but we promise they will never cause a nickel allergy rash to interfere with your Fall Fun!

The warm tones of brown leather belts make these our ultimate pick for fall wear. We have so many shades of brown, we know you’ll find the perfect match for your wardrobe. Today let's start with tan, and we have several belts in that trendy shade. Our newest offerings include The Entrepreneur Titanium Tan Belt featuring an ultra-durable, non-allergenic titanium buckle with a stitched leather strap and the Silver Square Tan Belt, a classic belt in a popular hue.

Moving to a medium brown, we have a limited edition Silver Square Cappuccino Belt  featuring a stylish thin strap and The Specialist Brown Belt  that showcases a carbon fiber pin buckle! For dark brown belts, take a look at the Cold Mountain Brown Belt  with a nickel free bottle opener buckle or Thunderhead Mountain Chocolate Crackle Belt.

If those aren’t enough choices, we also have many nickel free distressed brown leather belts including the customer favorite, Roan Mountain Distressed Leather Belt!

This fall, be sure to add a pop of color to celebrate the season. The changing colors of fall inspire these beautiful handcrafted earring creations:   Window Waterfalls – Rainbow Red and Cascades – Rainbow Red.  The colors of our Kaleidoscope Earrings could also be the accent you’re wanting for an autumnal look– take a look at Firewater Falls – Kaleidoscope Earrings to see what we mean!

These are just a tiny sampling of all the nickel free accessories offered by Athena Allergy. If you haven’t visited our online store lately, it’s time to see all the things we’ve done both with the site and with our new products! Oh, holiday shopping is just a few short months away – we have tons of great gift ideas, so get a head start and impress your friends and family!

We’re hoping Spring is just around the corner and we’re here to help you get ready! Winter clothes can cover up those unsightly and extremely uncomfortable nickel allergy rashes, but now is the time to prepare for warmer weather!

The cold weather months have had us hard at work as you’ll see with the introduction of a lot of new products and trendy new budget-friendly belt line.

Here’s a quick rundown on what you may have missed since the last time you visited!

New Nickel Free Dress Belts! Head uptown with Uptown Black, Uptown Brown, and Uptown Tan Dress Belts. Our long-time favorite belts the Black Dress Belt and Brown Dress Belt have gotten leather upgrades and now are offered in two trim-to-fit sizes, Regular which fits up to size 44” or Extra Large for big and tall sizes up to 50”.

Nickel Free Work Belts! We’ve changed out the leather on two of our Signature Series Work Belts, so take a look at the Titanium Work Belt II (Brown) and the Titanium Work Belt II (Black). Then we added a third choice, the Titanium Work Belt (Distressed Gray). Each of these belts has a pure titanium buckle and full grain leather straps that have been handcrafted in the USA. These belts are so strong and durable they have a lifetime guarantee.

Metal Free Carbon Fiber Belts! Yes, we have even more! These great-looking belts are so popular with frequent fliers and those with high security jobs, that we’re always adding more to this collection! Plus, anyone simply looking for trending style in a lightweight buckle will love these.

Blue Leather to match your denims? Yes! These are limited editions, so if this suits your warm weather attire, better buy these nickel free blue leather belts today! Bluerock Distressed Leather Belt and Blue Ridge SWP Leather Belt are perfect for spring and summer wear!

Nickel Zero®? This is our new economy belt line developed with the idea to have something for everyone. There are many people who wear the same belt every day, making a more expensive and durable belt the perfect choice. But there are just as many who like to change around based on their wardrobe and mood of the day! So, Nickel Zero is a lower cost option! Starting with three casual belts, the Pathfinder, the Outback, and the Peacekeeper and one dress belt, the Slick City Black Belt, Athena Allergy plans to add more of these belt throughout the year.

Here’s an important note: as temperatures rise, so do incidences of nickel allergy rash. The reason is simple, perspiration allows the nickel from your metal products to be more readily absorbed by your skin. Don’t cut corners, trust Athena Allergy - every product is guaranteed for life to never test positive for nickel. If there is no nickel, there can be no nickel allergy rash!

Cure those winter blues by planning your springtime wardrobe, or maybe go ahead and buy for all those upcoming occasions when a nickel free gift would really be appreciated! Happy Nickel Free Shopping!

It seems the months of October and November have really stepped up in their activity levels. Soon, we’ll all be in full mode holiday frenzy.

Before that happens, take a deep breath and enjoy all the beauty and special family times that autumn has to offer.

Here at Athena Allergy, we want you to know that we consider you as part of our family! The Athena companies got their start here, at the mothership! Many of you have been with us through those years, while some of you may just be learning about us today. Whatever your situation, we are so glad you are here.

If you’re not already aware, we got our start about fifteen years ago when we came to the disheartening realization that it was nearly impossible to find truly nickel free goods. We wanted to offer a brand our customers could trust and a guarantee that we will always honor. Nickel Smart® products are now known around the world and are relied upon to never test positive for nickel. That’s our guarantee to you!

As a special pre-holiday gift, we are offering Free Shipping for our US customers!  (No discount codes necessary!)

We think you’ll find some of our latest belt and jewelry styles will be coveted gifts for years to come! Pictured here is our Cold Mountain Gray Distressed Leather Belt. The nickel free bottle-opener buckle is sure to bring a smile, while the belt itself has an amazing look and comfortable feel.

One of our belts that has been with us since near the beginning of our time has recently gotten a leather upgrade, our Black Wide Pin Belt II now features a full grain leather strap.

For a special holiday gift, you can’t go wrong with one of our metal free Carbon Fiber Belts. We particularly love the way the 100% carbon fiber buckle accents the rippled brown full grain leather strap in our Carbon Fiber Wide Pin Brown Belt! Versatile and trend-setting, this zero metal belt will make security clearance a breeze!

We hope this season finds you happy, healthy, and living the nickel free life!

Cheers!

Just when you thought you were swimsuit-ready, an unsightly and uncomfortable red rash appears on your abdomen.  Why does this happen every year?  It's not coincidental - as temperatures rise, so do problems with nickel allergy symptoms.

The reason behind the symptom surge is simple- nickel salts transfer more readily with moisture, so increased perspiration in the summertime heat will escalate your chances of a nickel allergy reaction.

The solution is just as simple - protect your skin from nickel with Certified Nickel Free™ products! Athena Allergy has nickel free belts to suit every style and budget and an amazing assortment of nickel free jewelry. 

If you haven't visited this site in a while, you may be very happily surprised with all the new additions. The nickel free distressed leather belts are hugely popular this year, with Cold Mountain Distressed Gray Leather Belt being an obvious choice!

Whether cotton, silk, or even crochet - all warm weather dresses scream for fantastic dangling nickel free earrings to complete the look. For unique color combinations that spell summer, check out the Made in the USA hypoallergenic earrings! 

The most vital summer survival tool for nickel allergy sufferers has to be Nickel Solution™! Before your skin suffers through another nickel allergy rash, test those metal items for nickel and then either replace them or protect yourself with Nickel Guard™.  Testing with Nickel Alert™ is not only easy and fast, it is extremely accurate in detecting minute traces of nickel. 

A purchase from Athena Allergy allows you peace of mind, knowing that every product has been batch-tested before it is offered for sale. In addition, every product comes with a lifetime guarantee to never test positive for nickel! If you need even more assurance that your purchase will stand the test of time, take a look at the Signature Series Products -- these titanium products are backed with a full lifetime guarantee - no nickel, no defects, and no breakage! 

Don't let nickel allergy symptoms interfere with all the fun that summer has to offer! Come on in and take a look around.  You have a lot to gain and a nickel allergy rash to lose!

Note: Parts of this article were previously published. We just felt the information was important to share again, with updates of course! 

Springtime offers many opportunities for gift-giving – whether for the girl grad, a wonderful woman in your life, bridesmaids, hostess or birthday gifts.  Just be sure to consider that a growing percentage of women in the United States are allergic to nickel! Unfortunately, nickel is found in an astonishing amount of jewelry – even fine jewelry. Nickel is popular with manufacturers for its luster and durability, but can cause extremely uncomfortable and long-lasting symptoms for those who are allergic. Once a person has become sensitized to nickel, the allergy will be lifelong. Current statistics estimate nickel allergy to affect approximately 20% of women in the United States.

Luckily, there is good news for all those who suffer from nickel allergy symptoms! Athena Allergy, Inc. has new lines of hypoallergenic jewelry that come with a lifetime guarantee to never test positive for nickel. If there is no nickel to contact the skin, there can be no nickel allergy symptoms.

The latest additions to the Nickel Free Jewelry Collection are nickel free dichroic glass pendants and necklaces. The dichroic glass in pieces such as the Nickel Free Ivy Pendant in Lilac or the Jasmine Necklace and Earring Set in Silver is simply mesmerizing; viewing in person is essential to see the depths of color and sparkle. These artistic creations are the purest form of Made in the USA Jewelry. The dichroic glass has been designed and fired multiple times in the artisans' studio to achieve the desired look, the jewelry artists then cut the glass into their original designs. 

Athena Allergy, Inc. has also introduced the Hypoallergenic Fashion Dangle Earring Collection within the past year. These handcrafted, eclectic designs range from mixed metals to silver dangles – all are dramatic and eye-catching.

The long-loved favorites – the Dichroic Glass Posts, the Dichroic Glass Dangles, and the Beaded Dangles are proven picks. These earrings are all guaranteed nickel free, with colors and designs to suit every taste. 

Shop at Athena Allergy today for all your nickel free jewelry gifts! Your loved ones are sure to be happy you did!

My battles with nickel allergy rashes started in my early teens, with my first ear piercing. Almost immediately, I noticed itching and burning, but I discounted those symptoms until small blisters formed.  After removing the earrings and allowing my ears to heal, I avoided piercing again for quite a few years. However, in the interim I became sensitive to the metal in my watch and sunglasses. Once again, intense itching and a red rash were the symptoms. Nickel allergy was becoming a little better understood at this point in time, so I educated myself and tried to avoid any jewelry with nickel, opting for leather watch bands with 14K gold cases and clasps (not easy on a young professionals budget!) and plastic sunglasses. It was much later than I discovered a much simpler solution – Nickel Solution!

Nickel Solution is a two-part kit that allows the user to first test metals to see if there is nickel in the metal and then to brush on a protective barrier to protect the skin from that nickel. Nickel Alert is the testing part; it is a dmg spot test for nickel. It is formulated by Athena Allergy, Inc. to be a highly accurate and uncomplicated at-home test.

While it is so helpful to be able to determine if an item has nickel before I wear it, my favorite of the two-part kit is probably Nickel Guard! I use this lacquer a lot! I love fun costume jewelry and oftentimes it does contain nickel. Brushing Nickel Guard on the wires, posts, or backs of earrings solves that problem easily!  I use a bit of wax paper underneath the jewelry as it dries, just in case I get a little overzealous in my application. For me, Nickel Guard provides a lengthy protection period. It likely depends on the use of the jewelry item and possibly on the severity of the nickel allergy.

Luckily, Athena Allergy is also making my love for bright and fun jewelry a no-brainer. They are now offering gorgeous dichroic glass nickel free earrings that are amazing to wear. The sparkle and glitter of this jewelry is astounding! Even better, I don’t have to test this jewelry because Athena Allergy has already done it for me! No more painting lacquer either, these pieces are guaranteed for life to never test positive for nickel, so no more worries and definitely no more rash!

Trust me, you are going to be so glad you heeded this advice! Buy Nickel Solution (and maybe a great new pair of earrings) today!

Let the shopping begin! Nickel free shopping at Athena Allergy has gotten so much easier and lots more fun with the addition of countless belts and earrings that have the added allure of being handcrafted in the USA!

If you are looking for gifts that will show your friends and loved ones that you really care, then show them that you remember that their nickel allergy creates a valid concern for them. They simply aren’t able to wear those earrings that cause an unsightly as well as extremely uncomfortable nickel allergy rash. Or, perhaps the guys on your list don’t even recognize that their nickel allergy or metal allergy has created the abdominal rash right around their belt buckle. Be the hero and buy the gift that saves the day!

Nickel free earrings are always appreciated. We’ve discovered even our non-allergic friends love getting these sparkly dichroic glass or beautifully beaded earrings. Perfect for holiday wear, the red Interstellar Nickel Free Posts and Rodanthe Nickel Free Dangle Earrings are showing up at lots of holiday gatherings.

We also don’t know any guys who haven’t appreciated the Cold Mountain Black Belt. This handcrafted belt strap features a functional Bottle Opener Buckle! If you’re a regular Athena Allergy shopper, then let us point you to a few new belts (and there are a lot this year!).  Topping our list of popular belts are the Carbon Fiber Wide Pin Brown and The Stealth Black Belts. Both of these belts feature supple handcrafted leather straps with non-metallic carbon fiber buckles. These belts are making life easier for frequent fliers, those with high security jobs, and anyone with nickel allergy or any metal allergy. They are truly zero metal belts, as the buckle is 100% carbon fiber and it has been hand sewn to the strap, eliminating the need for metallic snaps or closures.

Distressed leather remains super popular this year and now we are offering many belts in both black distressed leather (Smoky Mountain Distressed Leather Belt and Smoky Mountain Titanium Distressed Leather Belt) along with the more traditional brown distressed leather, for example the Roan Mountain Distressed Leather Belt or the Titanium Wide Pin Distressed Leather Belt.  We now offer distressed leather belts specifically designed for women: Distressed Rose Nickel Free Belt, and for children/tweens/teens: Child’s Roan Mountain Distressed Leather Brown Belt.

Obviously, we could go on and on, but we are confident that once you begin your holiday shopping at Athena Allergy, you'll find exactly what you were looking for! 

Preparing for some exciting travel adventures? Be sure to add our carbon fiber belts and buckles to your packing list! Not only assured to provide an ultra-swank look, these belts will also have you passing through airport security metal detectors with ease.

The 100% carbon fiber buckle is completely metal free. That means this buckle has the even more important advantage of being completely safe for anyone with allergies to nickel and other metals. 

If your goal is to travel light, these carbon fiber belts are literally the answer! Each belt is so lightweight you'll barely realize you're wearing a belt, plus the trendy style can take you anywhere you want to go! Now available with black or brown handcrafted solid leather straps, this look is one you'll love long after you return home. 

We know you're going to love this great new look, the added advantage of being metal free makes our carbon fiber belt collection irresistible. 

Good news for those shopping for larger sized nickel free belts – Athena Allergy is now offering big and tall nickel free belts in sizes up to 64 inches or 162 cm. Even better news is that the majority of these belts are handcrafted in the USA from full grain or top grain leather. Some big and tall belts are paired with nickel free titanium buckles to offer even greater durability.

Looking for shopping suggestions? We are always happy to share our favorites! Mt. Pisgah Distressed Leather Nickel Free Belt is handcrafted from full grain leather then paired with an incredibly strong titanium buckle. As a part of the Signature Series Collection, this casual belt has a lifetime guarantee and is currently available in sizes from 32” to 64”.  

Dressier options include our Silver Square Black Nickel Free Belt and the Silver Square Brown Nickel Free Belt. Both are now in stock in sizes up to 58” and are made with a top grain leather strap paired with an impeccably styled nickel free zinc buckle. Available separately or in a versatile nickel free belt set, these belts are great travel companions as they are perfect fits for almost every occasion.

These belts are all Certified Nickel Free™, a designation we take very seriously. Certified Nickel Free means the product line has been carefully sourced and tested to assure there is no nickel. This certification means every belt comes with a lifetime guarantee to never test positive for nickel.

There are conflicting views about whether sterling silver jewelry is truly nickel free so who better to address the issue than The Nickel Allergy Experts at Athena Allergy, Inc.?

Most jewelry allergies are caused by sensitivity to nickel, so detecting whether there is nickel in jewelry is always the place to start. In the case of sterling silver, the problem likely is rooted in its manufacture.  Silver is a soft metal that must be alloyed with other metals to be usable for jewelry-making.  Sterling silver is 92.5% silver that is typically alloyed with copper.  In some cases other metals, including nickel, may be used as an alloy. This is likely the cause of what is being reported as an allergy to sterling silver when in fact it is the more common allergy to nickel.

Often rhodium is used as an alloy to strengthen the silver as well as to provide tarnish resistance.  Rhodium is considered a safe, hypoallergenic metal that, along with platinum and titanium, rarely cause allergic reactions.  Since rhodium is often used as a plating for gold and white gold, once this plating wears thin, nickel that has been alloyed with gold can cause skin irritation.  So, once again nickel is a likely culprit when gold and white gold appear to be causing a skin rash.

The sterling silver post earrings offered by Athena Allergy have been tested to assure their manufacture has not included any nickel. They come with the guarantee to never test positive for nickel and to never cause those uncomfortable nickel allergy rashes.  In addition, these earrings are cute and stylish!