Anyone have a nickel allergy?

[Boco]

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?

also money is fine.. it gets worse when you are hot so or it's in contact with your skin for a period of time so for example I could wear 'costume jewellary' for a couple of hours - an evening maybe but if I slept in it I'd get the rash iykwim

That makes it sound quite cool actually, I can only wear metal that is pure. A bit princess and pea. I am so incredibly well bred that anything tainted will make me itch.

Yes, gloves definitely. What do you think? Leather driving gloves, opera gloves, or something that pings nicely as I put them on at the counter?

Am also relieved, scabies never suited me.

Oh? Money is fine. No gloves then. Shame.

Did you just get it all of a sudden MoH? They are odd allergies aren't they? My mother has suddenly developed an allergy to some plant and she's 70. [chatty]

Hmm. Might wear gloves anyway. Just in case.

[perks up] Yes those tres creepy medical ones, you know stretchy and white, favoured by highly strung yet brilliantly professional serial murderers in tv dramas.

Am being silly, mostly just feeling heady with relief to know the cause of the rash.

I never knew I cared so much about this rash

Boco.. that's what I tell people. I make a point of telling any new boyfriend in case they try and buy me some cheap shit impure item

I've had it since I was about 13ish I think (not sure) but pretty much from wear I started wearing a watch all the time. I also used to horse ride a lot and had a rash across my stomach from the jodphurs. I had already had my ears pierced and had been wearing cheap hoops/studs etc.. I think it was that that caused it.. I can't wear any earrings now.

I seem to be less effected since having dd but it's still there

latex gloves

Do you want me to start inhaling stuff from a small cannister as well? Saying 'Boco wants sprouts!' in sinister squeaky fashion in the greengrocer? Well I won't do it.

But I do appreciate your interest in this matter.

Luckily I don't have any jodphurs. What do you do about jeans? I wear them all the time, you don't get them with non metal buttons or zips do you?

You will have the best luck with silk gloves. Preferably raw with no dyes....or if you don't have a problem with dyes then professionally dyed to go with whatever you fancy in outerwear.
I can only wear the hypoallergenic earrings now. You might try titanium or platinum. They tend not to lose anything in the wearing that softer metals (gold or silver) do. You can also decide to wear purely stones cut to jewelry or glass.
Clothing made of silk or bamboo fibers are especially forgiving for those with allergies. Or as you say of the "princess and pea" persuasion.

I just had my last appointment for the patch tests - and dr said that I should avoid handling euros and 20ps, wear 'light gloves' when counting money! and not put coins in my pockets.

Apparently it's the biggest nickel reaction he's seen for a very long time. [proud] My back is very angry and red and hot. But so much that he can't tell if i'm allergic to any of the things around the nickel patch, so I've got more patches and have to go back next week.

So, am on the look out for this paint on stuff now.

Re the paint stuff (which I'm going to look for!) i have always just used normal nail varnish in the past which usually works, although you do have to reapply when it starts rubbing off. Also put plasters etc over.

It's so annoying though, you finally find a pair of jeans or shoes that you like and fit OK and they send you mad itchy! And whatever I use to cover it always rubs off/falls off and the whole thing is annoying!

I got terrible nickel allergy reaction on wrist from watch straps. It lasted for 3 years then no reaction any more. Bizarre.

Relieved you have a cause anyway, Boco, what a shame you went through so much misery before you found out. May we Fruity Bitches remove the surgical mask and rubber gloves now then?

Oh And I developed an allergy to latex around the same time, which I discovered having been advised to wear marigolds while washing up, by the GP, to avoid making the contact dermatitis i had also developed at the same time, worse.

I didn't quite make the connection between condoms and latex and my persistant and recurrent, erm, irritation Down There for quite a while..... luckily the (non-nickel) penny dropped before I accused DH of sleeping around.

Glad yours stopped FMF - how strange that these things appear. Yes, do you remember when the first dr said it was something vile? He said it was a kind of scabies caused by an animal mite! I was repulsed. But, he was wrong - 2 doses of scabies treatment later and just nickel.

I've just been told by my optician that I have a nickel allergy! So that's why my face has been minging and red for the last two years.

I was a bit slow working it out as I couldn't wear my wedding ring or watch because of a reaction and have had loads of thyroid tests because of pains under my chunky necklace.

It's a shame they don't do smart titanium glasses but at least I'll get my normal skin back. I've had a non-underwired bra which is such a relief and have thrown my zipped boots out. My biggest problem now, though, is shaving. I now understand after trying all kinds of soaps that I react to razor blades. I also react to Veet (even the sensitive one) and so will have to be waxed. Any ideas on how to get rid of hair easily (and permanently if possible) without metals?

At least I won't have to constantly ask for more scabies and lice lotions!

My Mum does - actually what she said ws that she ws allergic to kitchen utensils - very cunning my mother

I get this. LUckily it is used less and less in costume jewellery now.