Why does nickel cause allergies

Choose jewelry carefully. Earrings, earring backs and watches are some of the biggest culprits; however necklaces, rings and bracelets containing nickel can also trigger symptoms. To avoid exposure, only wear jewelry that is nickel-free, hypoallergenic, or made from metals such as surgical-grade stainless steel, , , or karat yellow gold, pure sterling silver, or platinum.

In addition, wear watchbands made of leather, cloth or plastic. Check your clothing. It's also common for belt buckles, bra hooks, and metal buttons, zippers and snaps to contain nickel.

If your clothing has these, replace them with ones that are plastic or plastic-coated. You can also create a barrier between these items and your skin by coating the items with clear nail polish.

However, the nail polish will need to be re-applied often. Cover electronics. Recent reports suggest that some electronic devices, including cell phones, laptops, and tablets, may contain nickel. To avoid exposure, always use a protective cover on your electronic devices. Substitute household objects containing nickel with objects made of other materials. Examples include brass keys, titanium-coated or stainless steel razors, pots and pans with silicone handles, and titanium or plastic eyeglass frames.

Avoid foods containing nickel if you are extremely sensitive to nickel. The European Union standardized nickel release test EN measures how much of the nickel, once corroded, can be available to the skin to be absorbed and cause a nickel allergic dermatitis reaction.

This would be the potential amount of dermal exposure. Nickel within the article must first be corroded, which requires direct and prolonged contact with a medium such as sweat. The corrosion product must then be dissolved into nickel ions that can be absorbed through the skin to cause a nickel allergic reaction, since nickel particles do not pass through the skin or cause a reaction on their own.

It is therefore the nickel release, not the content of nickel in the material that is important. Some nickel-containing materials release very little nickel, if any, such as some stainless steels that are very corrosion resistant e. This is why these stainless steels are used for many applications. Nickel allergy cannot cause anaphylaxis. This is because it is a Type 4 "delayed reaction allergy".

Unlike some other allergens Type 1,2 and 3 nickel allergy is not life-threatening and cannot trigger anaphylactic shock. Nickel sensitization is not an inherited condition. It is related to intimate and prolonged skin contact exposure with materials releasing high amounts of nickel. To trigger NACD three simultaneous conditions must occur.

Direct skin contact with the nickel-releasing item, 2. Prolonged skin contact with the nickel-releasing item, 3. A sufficient amount of nickel must be released and absorbed into the skin to cause a NACD reaction. Cookies are used to enable us to anonymously analyze our website use and visitor numbers through the Google Analytics service.

The privacy policy of Google Analytics can be found here. We do not store or track any user identifiable data from your visit. You can withdraw your consent for the use of cookies at any time on our Privacy Policy page. What do you need to know about nickel allergy? Three simultaneous conditions must occur to trigger NACD:. Direct skin contact with nickel-releasing item. To learn more about NACD.

What is nickel allergic contact dermatitis NACD? How does nickel allergic contact dermatitis NACD start? What types of exposures cause nickel sensitisation? How many people are affected by nickel sensitisation and nickel allergic contact dermatitis NACD?

If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. A nickel allergy occurs when a person has an adverse reaction to a food or object containing nickel.

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when a red, itchy rash develops on skin that has touched an allergen. An allergy to nickel is among the most common causes of this reaction.

Rashes often occur on the earlobes or wrists, because many earrings and watches contain nickel. The reaction may occur immediately after contact, or it may develop after repeated exposure. When a person with a nickel allergy comes into contact with the metal, their immune system mistakenly believes that it is causing harm.

The immune system produces a hormone called histamine in response. This can cause a rash to develop, as well as other symptoms.

Here, we look into the everyday objects and foods that contain nickel and provide detailed information about the allergy, including symptoms, methods of diagnosis, and treatment options.

An allergic reaction usually occurs within 24—48 hours of contact with nickel. If a person with an allergy consumes food containing nickel, they may have similar symptoms, including:. A rash resulting from an allergic reaction tends to last 2—4 weeks.

Broken or wet skin is more likely to react. If an allergic reaction to nickel is very severe, it can cause inflammation of the nasal passages or an asthma attack. A person with an allergy may have to carefully read labels or contact manufacturers to ensure that these types of items do not contain nickel. People who work in certain industries are more likely to develop allergies to nickel. At particular risk are:. Anyone working in an industry that involves frequent exposure to nickel and other metals should notify their employer of an allergy.

There is no cure for an allergy to nickel. The best way to prevent a reaction is to avoid the allergen.