11 - Metallic Attraction

Gold? No thank you!



     Dances were a highlight of Porcelain's school life. They happened at night, she could wear the most beautiful dresses that was just right, her favorite designer heels, and jewelry. She would shine in all her Gothic Victorian glory at every dance. She looked forward to these dances every year,  but the last two years of high school were different. Prom was a very big deal.

     Porcelain spent hours looking at catalogs and perusing the mall's pop-up dress stores for the season. She wanted to get a really good idea of the design she liked. She would take notes and show her mom everything she wanted in her dress. The highlight would be knowing her dress would be one-of-a-kind. Most Goths in the 80's and 90's were DIYing their clothes because not many stores catered to their styles unless you were in a metropolitan area. The closest thing Porcelain had was Hot Topic and Spencers!

     After looking over everything she had gathered for her Junior prom, her mother helped her take a simple, deep royal blue dress and make it into something fantastic! She danced the night away with her friends because she wasn't allowed to date. Not even the boys in the family were allowed to date until they graduated high school. Her family believed in education first, relationships later. It helped her learn how to be friends with boys first.

Fast forward to Senior year!

     Porcelain didn't DIY her dress this year. Her mother found an antique Hollywood style, black velvet, off-the-shoulder dress with black ostrich feathers lining the neckline. She fell in love with it! The best part? It fit her like a glove. It was truly meant to be! Porcelain paired it with a pair of 6-inch black heels and nearly black pantihose. Her look was complete with grey pearls, long gloves, and a lace shawl to drape over her elbows. She thought she resembled Morticia Addams and she couldn't be more thrilled!

     The only thing that stood in her way of having the perfect outfit for her Senior prom was the jewelry selection. The necklace-bracelet set was pure gold. She was so thrilled, with gorgeous black pearls and silver accents on a real gold chain, that she couldn't wait to try it on. She wore it for a full day a week before the prom, unfortunately getting a nasty rash under it, and the necklace made her skin turn an off color. At first she thought it wasn't real gold. They took it to a jeweler and confirmed it's authenticity.

It was official. Porcelain was allergic to real gold.

     Oh no! It was the end of the world! How would she find jewelry that would fit her dress so quickly for the prom! Not to mention the nasty rash on her skin! Her mom thankfully had an herbal cream made of lavender bee balm. It calmed her skin and healed it just in time. They looked through heirloom jewelry to find just the right set to match her dress. Jackpot! Her prom was saved! Of course, to a 17 yr old girl, that was literally the center of the universe at the moment.

     Metal allergies can be a pain. Here are symptoms to look for within 12 to 48 hours after you come into contact with the offending metal: Itching, redness, rash, dry patches, discoloration of the skin, and swelling. It is rare to be allergic to pure gold (with no nickel alloy), but it is possible. As far as science knows, it is not a genetic allergy, but just "happens".



No matter who you are, meltdowns are universal!




Links for your viewing pleasure:
More information on metal allergies:

My Gemologist: What to do when your ring irritates your skin. (also confirms people can be allergic to pure gold)
https://www.mygemologist.com/learn/general-info/what-to-do-when-your-ring-irritates-your-skin/

From India: Real pure gold can cause allergies.
https://www.dnaindia.com/health/report-pure-gold-can-cause-allergy-1077216

Metal allergy testing:
https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/joint-surgery/candidates/considerations/metal-implant-allergies.php