Nickel

You may have nickel allergy if earrings make your earlobes itch or your necklace leaves a around your neck rash. It’s one of the most common skin allergies, in portion as nickel is used in all from jewelry to coins, zippers, and eyeglass frames.

Nickel Allergy Symptoms

After you’re exposed, you’ll generally see symptoms 6 to 24 hours. They comprise itching, redness, rash, dry patches, and skin swelling, occasionally followed by blisters. The blisters may break, leaving crusts and scales.

Your skin may develop dark, leathery, and cracked if left untreated. Typically the rash is solitary on the skin part in straight interface with the nickel. In grave conditions, the rash may extent. Sweating might make it worse.

Test and Treatments

Often your doctor can do a nickel allergy diagnosis by looking at your skin and enquire if you’ve touched anything metal. A dermatologist likewise can do a simple skin patch test. The doctor puts minute nickel amounts and additional allergens on patches, which are smeared to your higher back. The patches need to stay on for 48 hours. Your skin will perhaps display a reaction after 48 hours if you are nickel allergic. In certain circumstances, you’ll require more tests.

When a nickel allergy develops, it a lot takes your total life. Nevertheless there are means to ease your symptoms. The most vital thing you can do is evade objects contact that can cause a reaction. A hydrocortisone cream and antihistamine pills you can buy at the drug store, could help for slight symptoms.

You doctor may prescribe a steroid cream, and steroid or antihistamine pills, for more severe symptoms.

If your skin is cracked or blistered, you must take off any metal jewelry right away and see your doctor for treatment to prevent infection.

Here are instructions to elude a nickel allergy:

  • If you have your ears or additional body parts pierced, have it done with a stainless steel. Make assured that your jewelry is stainless steel made or any 18- or 24-karat gold.
  • Purchase clothes with buttons, snaps, rivets, or fasteners that are made of plastic or else are plastic-coated or painted metal. Change to plastic or plastic coated if your clothes have nickel items.
  • Look for jewelry that is hypoallergenic, made of stainless steel, at least 14-karat gold, pure sterling silver, or polycarbonate plastic. If you need wear earrings that have nickel, add plastic covers made specifically for earring studs. Buy eyeglass frames that are nickel-free.
  • If good jewelry piece that you wear daily, such as a wedding ring, causes a reaction, ask a jeweler about having it less allergic metal plated, such as platinum.
  • If you are exceptionally nickel sensitive, you may also require avoiding nickel-rich foods such as fish and chocolate.