Nickel (Jewelry) Allergy
If earrings make your earlobes itch or your necklace has left a rash around your neck, you may be suffering from a nickel allergy.
Nickel is a silver-white metal that is found in nature and often mixed with other metals to create an alloy. It is commonly used in costume jewelry, earring posts, watchbands, eyeglass frames, hairpins, snaps, buttons, zippers, and many other items we have contact with daily.
Causes of Nickel Allergy
A nickel allergy is a skin reaction that develops after exposure to nickel or items containing the metal. The exposure required to develop an allergy varies, depending on the person's sensitivity; an allergy may develop after repeated or prolonged exposure, or even after just a brief exposure.
A nickel allergy can occur at any age and typically shows up a few days after first contact with the metal. As body piercing has become increasingly popular, cases of metal allergy have risen dramatically, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. After poison ivy, metal allergy is the most common form of allergic skin reaction, often referred to as contact dermatitis.
Symptoms of Nickel Allergy
Symptoms of nickel allergy, which usually begin between six and 24 hours after exposure to a nickel-containing item, include itching, redness, and swelling of the skin, possibly followed by the development of blisters. The blisters may break, leaving crusts and scales. Later, the skin may become dark, leathery, and cracked. Usually the rash is confined to the area of skin in direct contact with the nickel; however, severe cases may extend beyond the contact area, especially if you touch nickel with your fingers and then touch your face, eyelids, or genitals. If you are sensitive to nickel, sweating may make your reaction to it worse, because sweat allows the metal ions to be more readily absorbed into the skin.
Test and Treatments
If you develop symptoms after contact with metal items, a dermatologist can perform a simple skin patch test to determine if you have a nickel allergy. To perform this test, your doctor uses hypoallergenic tape to apply tiny quantities of several suspected allergens to the skin of your upper back. The tape must stay on your back undisturbed for 48 hours until you return to the doctor's office to have the contact sites evaluated. If you are allergic to nickel, your skin will likely show a reaction after 48 hours; however, sometimes further examination is needed.
Once a nickel allergy has developed, it often is a lifelong condition; however, there are ways to avoid the discomfort an allergy causes. A topical corticosteroid cream may be helpful and must be used as directed by a doctor. If your skin is cracked or blistered, you should remove the nickel-containing item immediately and see a doctor for treatment to prevent infection.
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