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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

Anyone have a nickel allergy?

43 replies

Boco · 08/10/2008 11:24

I'm having patch testing this week for a rash i've had for abut 18 months. Had a pretty instant reaction to one of the things, went for the first check today and one of the substances has caused a big reaction - very hot and red and itchy and swollen - and it turns out it's nickel.

I had no idea - dont' react to earings or anything - the rash is on my tummy and sides usually so i guess belts and buttons and underwire will be the cause?

Anyone else have this kind of reaction - what do you do about buttons on jeans etc?

And is nickel allergy only caused by actual contact or is nickel in foods as well?

OP posts:
misi · 08/10/2008 11:31

my sister has this, was a bit difficult at first as it was manily butoons, belts buckles etc that caused it. luckily she is a dress maker so she was able to adjust her clothes to suit quite easily. she does react to ear rings, and other jewelry too so can now only wear gold .
usually nickel problems are a contact problem as nickel is rarely found in foods and if it is, as it goes through the digestive tract, is often filtered out before it gets to the skin, but certainly nickel is usually a contact allergy.

BecauseImAWitch · 08/10/2008 11:33

I've suffered from a bit of contact dermatitis from certain metals, but not sure which ones. Most jeans are fine, but I did have one pair where the button cause my problems. I painted the back of it with nail varnish, which helped a little bit!

I still have a patch of dry, flaky skin on the side of my nose from a pair of sunglasses - now have to make sure that the frames and nose pieces are all plastic or titanium, which is bloody expensive!

I seem to suffer much less from it these days - so don't know if I was just going througha phase.

NorbertDentressangle · 08/10/2008 11:35

DP has a nickel allergy (or at least thats what he thinks it is as hes never been formally tested)

He tends to put a bit of gaffer/duct tape on the back of the button base inside the waistband and tries to buy jeans that don't have rivets on. Only downside is I keep finding the bits of tape in the washing machine as he forgets to remove it before putting them in the wash.

He also avoids keeping metallic objects in his pockets as if he gets hot or the things are in there for a while he tends to get a reaction, even through the pocket lining.

Other than that the only other thing is he has to wear a watch that has a stainless steel back and plastic strap and fastening

Original poster
Boco · 08/10/2008 11:39

Thanks for the replies - gaffer tape sounds like a good idea! Am very surprised to find this out - this rash has been a mystery and it looks so awful that i've been treated for scabies TWICE - weird to find out it's nickel.

OP posts:
heididrink · 08/10/2008 11:43

Yes I have it - it is the metal on umbrellas which I have to avoid - makes my fingers swell and itch.
Oh and I can only wear very very expensive jewellery

ninedragons · 08/10/2008 11:46

I have a terrible nickel allergy. Occasionally you come across jeans with copper buttons and rivets and you will learn to buy four pairs when you do!

You can buy a protective solution (probably Boots would be your best bet). It's like clear nail polish and coats things like rivets and buckles.

Original poster
Boco · 08/10/2008 11:48

Oh ninedragons thank you, brilliant.

it's going to be so brilliant to be itch free for first time in ages.

OP posts:
ninedragons · 08/10/2008 15:12

Weird that it hasn't been diagnosed before - it's not uncommon.

If you wear specs, when you order a new pair ask the shop to coat the arms in clear plastic or you'll end up with scabby ears (mmm, lovely image). Not all opticians do this so you might have to find a fairly large one.

BecauseImAWitch · 08/10/2008 15:44

My skin problem came from the clear plastic piece that sits on either side of your nose - even though it was plastic, the metal inside the plastic still affected my skin!

Original poster
Boco · 08/10/2008 15:57

Mine only started last year, never had a problem before, I didn't realise you could just develop a sudden allergy to something out of the blue. It's been treated with so many creams and steroids and antihistamine and scabies treatments - no one ever suggested it could be nickel. It didn't occur to me either - it's only on my tummy and sides and as I don't have contact with nickel on my sides I wonder how it's happening.

OP posts:
feetheart · 08/10/2008 16:02

Mine has got worse as I've got older though I've never been diagnosed.
Used to be just earrings and watches- that was OK as gold was fine and I just stopped wearing a watch! Then my cheeks went scabby and weepy when I got new metal glasses (had had plastic ones for ages) but Boots changed them for titanium ones quite readily. Doesn't seem to be much price difference but maybe I go for expensive frames
Last year my belly began to itch as I started to react to the metal in my belt buckle - getting a belt with a brass buckle sorted that one out but severely restricts my choice of belt.
Have been wondering what will be next, looks like buttons are a likely candidate!

wehaveallbeenthere · 08/10/2008 16:05

You may have a metal allergy with nickel just being the metal that you react to most.
As gold and silver have to have other metals added for strength you may also develop an allergy to gold or silver jewelry later.
In the US most gold jewelry is 14kt, you can sometimes find 10K which contains less percentage of gold and in other countries you can find 24Kt.
Try to wear the purest percentage you can find or limit your jewelry, especially earrings.
I have a metal allergy with nickel being exceptionally bad. I have developed an allergy to gold and a somewhat lesser effect with silver but it does become apparent with red or burning skin after prolonged contact.
You can try changing out your jeans closures with two sided closures (these are usually custom made but are like cufflinks for jeans). You can also use a cosmetic sealant, like you would under makeup to try to close off your skin to the outside effects. I found the latter limiting in my case as I developed allergies to the makeup.
You can also put a felt patch over the areas on the inside of your clothing where metal contacts your skin.

nooka · 08/10/2008 16:12

I'm allergic to most metals, but only strongly so in my ears. I get dry skin patches from rivets sometimes too, but I can't wear any earings at all. Even pure gold gets very itchy after a few minutes, and then my ears get very pusy (lovely!). I didn't think about glasses though. I guess I've had plastic frames for so long I've not thought about that. I don't wear a watch or belts.

Original poster
Boco · 08/10/2008 16:18

I've not found it with rings or earrings which seems very strange - although I don't wear them often and not for long - and maybe some of them are silver.

Do you think felt would work if even the underwire in my bra is giving me an itchy rash - it obviously still reacts even through fabric, or is felt stronger and thicker?

Jeans are going to be a pain aren 't they.

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 08/10/2008 16:24

Ooooh is this what caused the rash then?

ahundredtimes · 08/10/2008 16:26

But do you wear metal next to your skin?

It's that chain mail isn't it?

How exciting though to find a reason. That's good isn't it?

bonkerz · 08/10/2008 16:28

i have a nickel allergy. Was treated for exzcema for years then dr said actually its a nickel allergy after tests!!!!!!
i cannot wear jeans or trousers with studs or metal as i come up in a bumpy red itchy rash. Jewellery is difficult as can cause severe reactions, have to stick to gold. watched are really tricky and i have to have keyring watches as cannot find any watches with fabrick straps and backs wgere no metal touches my skin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ahundredtimes · 08/10/2008 16:29

ZIPS I bet. Do you think?

ahundredtimes · 08/10/2008 16:33

Do any foods have nickel in them?

[obsessed by Boco's allergy emoticon]

Original poster
Boco · 08/10/2008 16:33

Well I don't wear a watch, or much jewelery really so I guess that's why it wasn't very obvious. But it does make sense now I think about it - I get it a lot on my hip bones, the sticky out bits - and I just looked and there are studs right there on my jeans!

Yes is very very good to have solved it, very good, am relieved that there's an actual reason.

OP posts:
Original poster
Boco · 08/10/2008 16:34

Well I googled and apparently chocolate, porridge, beans and something else I forgot have nickel in.

I can live without porridge.

OP posts:
MarkStretch · 08/10/2008 16:34

Does this mean you will have to stop emptying the penny jar on the carpet and rolling about in the contents?

Original poster
Boco · 08/10/2008 16:35

I only do that on special days, everyone in the village does, it's compulsory, but maybe I'll try and cut down.

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 08/10/2008 16:36

Will you have to wear gloves when you handle money? That'll be quite creepy and excellent for freaking out local grocer person.

Oh am relieved actually. How nice to have a reason at last. I never liked the thought of you with scabies tbh

MascaraOHara · 08/10/2008 16:37

I have this..

Can't wear any jewellary unles sthe metal is pure.

If it helps, most watch backs are stainless steal now. I didn't find out until too late and can not wear earings as a result.

I used to react to belts, jean buttons, watches, any cheap jewllery as well as 'plated' stuff.. everything. Food is fine!

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