Metal Allergy: Signs, Symptoms & Solutions
It’s essential to be proactive in managing a metal allergy
Nickel is a common (but not only) cause of Metal Allergy!
The most common cause of allergy (contact dermatitis) from metals is to Nickel. It can cause an itchy rash that appears where your skin touches the usually harmless substance.
Nickel allergy is often associated with earrings and other jewellery. But nickel can be found in many everyday items, such as coins, zips, eyeglass frames, cosmetics, detergents, and even some electronics, including cell phones and laptops.
It may take repeated or prolonged exposure to items containing nickel to develop a nickel sensitivity. Once you develop a nickel allergy, however, you’ll always be sensitive to the metal and need to avoid contact. Treatments can reduce the symptoms.
What might Symptoms of an allergy look like?
An allergic reaction (contact dermatitis) usually begins within hours, but may take days, after exposure to the allergen. The reaction may last for 2 to 4 weeks and tends to occur only where your skin encountered the metal, but sometimes may appear in other places on your body.
Signs and symptoms of an allergy include a rash or bumps on the skin, itching, which may be severe and redness or changes in skin colour. Sometimes patches of skin that may resemble a burn or blisters in severe cases.
Contact me and discuss a low allergenic or metal-free piece of jewellery as a special order, or to arrange alterations on existing designs.
Sources of Exposure: Some are common, but others are unexpected
You may be exposed to the metal through body piercing jewellery, rings, bracelets, necklaces, clasps, and watchbands. Other items include belt buckles, zips, press-studs, and bra hooks.
Common items that may contain metals including nickel and trigger your allergy, are eyeglass frames, coins, metal tools, keys, medical devices and even cell phones, laptops, and tablets.
Even chalk and E-cigarettes can cause a problem and some extremely allergy sensitive people may be affected by nickel-containing foods such as soy products, peas, canned foods, cocoa powder, clams, and cashews.
Metal Allergy: How to Limit Exposure
Create a Barrier: If your hands must touch a metal you have an allergy to, wearing gloves may help or try covering tool handles with duct tape.
Buttons, studs, zips etc can be covered with tape or a clear barrier such as nail polish to prevent your skin from touching the metal.
Nail polish can also be added to ear-wires and clasps etc. It won’t last forever, but it can be reapplied as needed and be sure that your earring backs also are made of hypoallergenic materials.
Some metals may cause less allergic responses than others
Hypoallergenic Alternatives: 100% pure Silver and gold are hypoallergenic but are very soft and not suitable for most jewellery applications.
Stainless steel (or surgical steel) is hypoallergenic and tarnish resistant, it is strong and does not cause any allergies. It is a great choice for jewellery. Some surgical steel may contain small amounts of nickel, but it’s generally considered hypoallergenic for most people with an allergy to metals.
Copper and brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) are hypoallergenic but do tarnish. Copper tarnish leaves a green colour which some think is an allergic reaction, but the tarnish does not affect your skin. You cannot have an allergic reaction to copper, brass, or it’s green tarnish.
Brass and copper jewellery can also be plated with a thin layer of pure silver. This, if done without nickel, it is hypoallergenic.
Platinum, Titanium, Rhodium and Niobium are all other alternatives for people with allergies.
Do you have an allergy to nickel or other metals? Have you tried other solutions?
A small percentage of people cannot handle any of these alternatives, so styles of jewellery such as stretch bracelets or knotted necklaces without clasps, or with slide clasps from leather or cord may be a solution.
Do you have an allergy to nickel or other metals? Have you tried other solutions?
