What is uric acid?
Uric acid is a substance derived from a protein called purine, which is found in various foods. Uric acid is naturally produced by our body, so we cannot stop this process.
It is eliminated through sweat, and one of the precautions we should take with our accessories is to avoid using them for physical exercise (to prevent direct contact with sweat).
Elevated uric acid becomes a problem, but it can be controlled through a balanced diet and, in some cases, with medications prescribed by your doctor. Excess uric acid can cause several serious health issues.
The main causes of elevated uric acid are related to diet, such as excessive consumption of red meat and seafood.
How can excess uric acid damage semi-precious jewellery?
First, it's important to understand that all metals oxidize. The difference lies in the speed at which this happens. Gold and silver, for example, take much longer to oxidize than less noble metals such as iron or copper. Surprisingly, stainless steel also oxidizes, but it takes much longer.
The uric acid that we eliminate through sweat accelerates the oxidation of semi-precious jewellery. Therefore, people who produce excess uric acid often say that it darkens their pieces, but this is due to the oxidation process.
Source: Image taken from google
In some cases, the amount of uric acid eliminated is so high that it "eats" through all the noble metal layers (gold, silver, rhodium) of the semi-precious jewellery, reaching the copper alloy underneath. If the piece reaches this state, only a new coating can save it.
Does this problem have a solution?
Elevated uric acid can be cured through simple treatment. And with proper care and use, your pieces can last for many years. In addition, if you find yourself with very high levels of uric acid, seek medical advice.
Only a professional can indicate the most appropriate treatment for this case.
Make sure you use the appropriate cleaning products for your jewellery. You can find them here.
To conclude, remember that having elevated uric acid is different from being allergic to accessories due to a component like cadmium or even an allergy to noble gold.