I can't remember what was said about gold and copper, but unless you're
covering yourself daily with them, shouldn't be a problem?

Interesting subject though.
There's a can of worms you've opened. Because apparently some topicals or
eyedrops have had some form of silver in them for years.
Silver nitrate in eyedrops causes irritation in newborns
http://health.discovery.com/diseasesandcond/encyclopedia/2717.html
The silver nitrate drops put in newborns' eyes to prevent infection can
also cause mild irritation. This goes away by itself in a day or two
without lasting damage.
http://www.henryfordhealth.org/12556.cfm
Because of the significance of neonatal conjunctivitis, all hospitals
(most required by State law) routinely use silver nitrate or antibiotic
drops, such as erythromycin, in the newborn´s eyes to prevent disease.
Silver nitrate is no longer commonly used and has been mostly replaced by
antibiotic eye drops.

Next topicals
http://www.medbc.com/annals/review/vol_15/num_3/text/vol15n3p116.asp
COMPARISON OF SILVER SULPHADIAZINE 1 PER CENT

http://yalesurgery.med.yale.edu/surgery/sections/plastics/Core%20Curriculum%20Pa
ges/Burns%20Page/BurnAns6.html>

What are the advantages and disadvantages of sulfamylon, silvadene, and
silver nitrate?
Silver sulfadiazine: the most frequently used topical agent. It was
introduced in the early 1970's by Fox. It is supplied in a water-soluble
base at a concentration of 1%.
Silver nitrate (0.5% solution): Silver nitrate solution is not toxic in a
0.5% concentration, but it has a significant antimicrobial effect. It was
introduced in 1965 by Moyer. It is a broad-spectrum agent; development of
resistance to the silver ion is distinctly uncommon

http://www.internurse.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/contents.html?uid=921&journal_uid=10

( can't read the pdf, but there's a shrrt version there
British Journal of Community Nursing, Vol. 6, Iss. 8 (Silver Suppl 1), 03
Aug 2001, pp 3 - 8
While silver and its compounds have been medically used for thousands of
years, the recent research focus on this element has led to a resurgence
in interest, particularly in the field of wound care product development.
The increasing problems of antibiotic resistance, combined with concerns
over the safety and toxicity of topical antiseptics,

http://www.burnsurgery.org/Betaweb/Modules/silver/section7.htm
Recent clinical experience with the use of a pure silver delivery system,
which can maintain both anti-microbial control and provide an ideal wound
healing environment, have been very positive, especially when compared to
the use of the topical antibiotic cream, silver sulfadiazine (or
antibiotic solutions)

There's a bit here about how the FDA says that the % of colloidal silver
could be dangerous (I think that's "altie")
http://www.internationalrosaceafoundation.org/nonprescription_3.html

The Role of Topical Antibiotics in Dermatologic Practice
... infection rates of traumatic wounds sutured in the emergency room, use
of topical
antibiotics (bacitracin zinc ointment; TAO; silver sulfadiazine cream ...
www.medscape.com/viewprogram/2501_pnt  (I don't subscribe to Medscape -
just showing a different silver ....sulfadiazine).

So anyone's skin gets worse with bandaids or creams, maybe look for
patterns of ingredients and avoid the ones that have common ingredients?
J

I have a joke for you. -speaking of patches and bandaids....

During a patient's two week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist,
he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with one of his
medications.
Which one?" I asked. The patch. The nurse told me to put on a new one
every six hours and now I'm running out of places to put it!" I had him
quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see. Yes, the man
had over fifty patches on his body! Now the instructions include removal
of the old patch before applying a new one.

Well, my only response has to be that I am allergic to Band Aid brand
bandages and many other adhesives....

Leslie

Silver and gold are considered non-reactive metals that is why they use them
in dental work, etc. But I have no clue why they would use them in bandages.
I have had lots of luck with Nexcare bandages. Weird little things. My GD
likes the ones with the Cinderella or Barbie stuff on them - I like the
mice. LOL At least they are not eating my skin away.
Bev

I am allergic to silver and base metals.  So no silver bandaids for me.
Unfortunately, I also have a latex allergy so I use cloth, or latex free
bandaids. Wende

Several brands of water filter cartridge over here remove the chlorine
etc, and add a small amount of silver to keep the water bug-free
(according to the words on the packet)