When you put on a nice pair of earrings, do your earlobes turn red and start to itch after a while? Or when you put on a new watch, do you get a rash around them? Maybe the place where the buckle on your jeans hits your stomach is always red and itchy? The reason for this could be a very common nickel allergy that you may not even know about. This is a problem that many people have. So let's talk about it all in a simple and clear way today.
Simply put, what is nickel allergy?
Nickel allergy is an allergic skin reaction that occurs when the metal nickel comes into contact with your skin. To be precise, this is an allergic skin disease caused by contact . In medical terms, we call this `(Allergic Contact Dermatitis)`.
Think about it this way, nickel is actually not a harmful substance in general. But your body's immune system, which is our body's defense system, mistakenly identifies the metal nickel as an "enemy." It then starts to fight against that "enemy." As a result of that fight, your skin becomes itchy, red, and flaky.
Among the metal allergies, nickel allergy is the most common . It can occur at any age. Sometimes it can be present since childhood, or it can suddenly appear after adulthood. Once this allergy occurs, it is usually lifelong. But there is nothing to worry about, it can be best controlled by staying away from things containing nickel and, if necessary, using medications prescribed by a doctor.
What kinds of things contain nickel without us realizing it?
You might be thinking, "I don't use nickel." But actually, many things we use every day contain small amounts of nickel. Let's take a look at what it is.
| Type of things | Examples |
|---|---|
| Jewelry and clothing | Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watch bands, earring backs, especially in imitation jewelry. |
| Metal parts in clothing | Buttons and zippers on pants, belt buckles, bra hooks. |
| Things used daily | Keys, coins, eyeglass frames, razors, scissors, paper clips. |
| Electronic devices | Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and their batteries. |
| Medical equipment | Dental braces, some medical implants. |
| Types of food | Soy products, chocolate and cocoa, oats, some nuts, beans, lentils, some shellfish, and some vegetables such as cabbage and spinach may also contain small amounts of nickel. |
When you see this list, you can probably understand how difficult it is to completely avoid nickel. But not everyone is allergic to all of these. It varies from person to person.
What are the symptoms of a nickel allergy?
Symptoms usually begin to appear between 12 and 72 hours after exposure to nickel. These symptoms can range from mild to severe.
The important thing is that most of the time, symptoms only occur where the nickel metal comes into direct contact with the skin . For example, if you wear earrings, you will only experience symptoms in your earlobes, or if you wear a watch, you will only experience symptoms in that area of your wrist.
Let's see what these symptoms are.
| Type of symptom | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Common skin symptoms |
|
| Severe or widespread symptoms | These are caused by eating a diet high in nickel or having something containing nickel implanted in the body. These are not common.
|
How do you know exactly if you have this allergy?
If you have the symptoms mentioned above and suspect that they may be aggravated by using something containing nickel, the best thing to do is to see a doctor .
The doctor will ask you things like:
- What are your symptoms and when did they start?
- Does anyone else in your family have allergies?
- What other medications do you take?
- Do you have any new jewelry, clothes, or creams that you've used?
After this information, if the doctor suspects that this is a nickel allergy, he will perform a special test to confirm it. It is called a patch test .
What is this patch test?
This is a very simple, painless test.
1. First step: The doctor will apply small patches (like plasters) containing very small amounts of various allergens (including nickel) to the skin on your back.
2. Step 2: Keep the patches on your back for about two days (48 hours). During this time, it is not recommended to shower or let water get on your back.
3. Step 3: Two days later, when you go back to see the doctor, he will remove the patches and examine them. If the skin where the nickel was applied is red, itchy, and shows an allergic reaction, it confirms that you have a nickel allergy.
How is it treated? Can it be prevented?
As we mentioned earlier, there is no cure for nickel allergy, but there are many things you can do to manage symptoms and prevent the allergy from occurring.
The best treatment is to avoid nickel-containing products as much as possible .
But since this is not always possible, the doctor may prescribe the following medications to be used when symptoms arise:
- Corticosteroid creams: These help reduce inflammation and itching of the skin.
- Other creams (Nonsteroidal creams): Help reduce itching.
- Oral antihistamines: These are given to reduce itching felt throughout the body.
- Oral corticosteroids: If the allergy is very severe or has spread to a large area of the body, oral steroid tablets may be prescribed.
All of these medications should be used only under the advice of your doctor . Do not buy any creams you like from a pharmacy and apply them. Sometimes, they can make the condition worse.
In some severe cases, if it is difficult to control with medication, a treatment called phototherapy may be used. This involves directing ultraviolet (UV) light at the skin.
What can you do at home to relieve symptoms?
- Apply moisturizer to your skin: If your skin is dry and cracked, applying a good moisturizer several times a day can provide relief.
- Wash with oatmeal: Washing the itchy area with cool water mixed with a little oatmeal will reduce itching.
- Cold compress: Soaking a clean cloth in cold water and placing it on the affected area for a few seconds can reduce inflammation and itching.
Important: Do not scratch when you have an itchy skin. Scratching can damage the skin, which can lead to bacteria entering and causing infections.
Practical tips to prevent nickel allergy
While it's difficult to stay away from nickels completely, taking care of the little things can make a big difference.
- Be careful when choosing jewelry:
- Choose jewelry that is labeled "hypoallergenic."
- Wear jewelry made from nickel-free metals. Examples: Surgical-grade stainless steel, titanium, platinum, 18- or 24-karat yellow gold. (White gold may contain nickel.)
- Think about clothes:
- If the buckle on your jeans hits your stomach, wear a dress or vest underneath. Or, apply a band-aid to the buckle.
- Choose clothes with buckles and buttons made of plastic or other non-metallic materials.
- Watches and glasses:
- Use watches with leather, fabric, or plastic straps.
- When choosing eyeglass frames, choose plastic or titanium frames.
- Electronics:
- Put a protective cover on your phone or laptop.
- Nickel testing kits: These kits, which can be purchased online, allow you to test for nickel in an item yourself.
When should you see a doctor immediately?
Nickel allergy is usually not a serious condition. However, sometimes a bacterial infection can occur through the broken skin. This is called ``Cellulitis''. If you have one or more of the following symptoms, see a doctor immediately or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
- Fever.
- Increased pain at the site of the rash.
- Redness of the skin may spread or the skin color may darken.
- Pus draining from the rash.
- The rash appears around the eyes.
Symptoms like these indicate a skin infection, and it is essential to seek treatment immediately.
Take-Home Message
- Nickel allergy is a very common, contact-induced skin condition. Although it is not life-threatening, it can persist throughout life.
- The best solution and treatment is to identify and avoid nickel-containing items (jewelry, metal parts of clothing, some foods) as much as possible.
- If you suspect you have a nickel allergy, always see a doctor to confirm it and get proper treatment.
- If you have a skin rash or itch, avoid scratching it. It can cause injury and infection.
- If you develop signs of infection such as fever, severe pain, or pus, seek medical advice immediately.
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