Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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If you're allergic to nickel get it treated fast

I found out that I was allergic to nickel and it was from wearing belts and clothes with metal on them so I got this itchy rash so I went to the doctor and I got medicine and then I started to get another rash all over my body that everyone thought looked like scabies. So I went to the doctor again and they gave me medicine for scabies and it didn't work so I went to a dermatologist and I found out that it is a reaction from the nickel

Crystal W.
student - Renton, Washington
2004

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A very good point. Allergies go through different stages of development. The first stage is localised, when the alergic response is only where the allergen is in contact with the skin. This can develop into a sensitisation that results in a more severe response that can break out anywhere on the body when the body is exposed to the allergen. The third stage is when a very brief exposure to the allergen results in an extreme response. In some cases (not necessarily with nickel) these extreme responses can result in secondary allergic responses; a good example of this is an asthma attack that can result in respiratory failure. One problem with nickel itch is that it you cannot be "made better" by a medical treatment - the only surefire way of avoiding it again is to avoid coming into contact with nickel releasing articles. If you buy jewellery, you must get high karat gold or some other pure metal.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2004

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I found that I had an allergy to nickel several years back and have been very careful with what I wear in terms of jewellery and jeans.

However recently I broke out in a very severe itchy rash on my feet, I thought that it was mosquito bites at first which had got infected. Then after about a month it started coming out all over my feet, legs, arms and hands, which some looked like eczema. I went to the doctor and he said that it was dermatitis. However, the following week I started getting blisters on my hands and feet. I was referred to a dermatologist and he said that I was also allergic to Cobalt, which is used as a colouring in shoes. This then travelled through my system and broke out elsewhere. He said that this is a very common allergy amongst people who are allergic to metal. So just be aware.

Angela Stone
- Alicante, Spain
2005