By steve on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - 10:17 pm:

I think i'm allergic to braces on my trousers , i keep getting an itchy red rash on my back what can i do ?

By sherri on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 - 06:49 am:

has anyone any feedback on if living in a mining town that mines nickle can cause such reactions. My mom who is fighting ovarian cancer gets these awful blister like rashes on her hands, feet, and now in her eyebrows...her body is fighting the cancer so hard and this reaction is just taking the energy from her....when she comes to our house (away from the mining town) she instantly clears up...I would appreciate any help

By loulabelle on Saturday, May 15, 2010 - 10:24 pm:

I have a severe nickel allergy.

I get small water blisters, my lips can swell and blister, i get many inner mouth ulcers. With regard to my mouth/lip i am using plastic cutlery only. I get lots of burn type blisters on my body. I am now going on a low nickel diet, and doing the most obvious things as in avoiding jewelerry, metal objects in my everyday life.

Toiletries - The one area that I would love advice on, is what skin care is safe to use? moisturisers, face creams etc?

Cosmetics - my consultant said I am ok to use Bare Minerals (Barecentuals).

By doll6719 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 06:33 am:

Does anyone know if Nikel is found in cans of soft drink??

By Kate on Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 06:42 am:

I haven't read all the posts so someone may have said this already . . .YES, YES YES. A nickel allergy can cause excema. I have it and was experiencing some of it below my belly button. My doctor said it was a reaction to nickel. I stopped wearing this one belt I have and it went away. Whenver I wear the belt, the rash is back. Wish is were that simple for the rash on other parts of my body.

By llily on Saturday, September 27, 2008 - 09:27 am:

I have had a nickle allergy and contact dermitits for several years were my eyes and face will blow up and get red,dry and patchy when it hits really bad I give myself epinefrin shots given to me by my Dr.
The epi-pens(2per box) and those help alot
also I'm going to try the Heavy Metal Detox at my local Vitamin Cottage store.
As for make-up I don't know of any nickle free make-up but you can try a skin primer like at(Ulta.com) before your base make-up or invest in

(www)
web1.sasa.com/SasaWeb/eng/product/viewProductDetail.jspa?itemno=102416206001 ,that is specialy formulated acseine emulsion to protect your skin from recurrence of dermititis as well as try dipping your eyeliner brush in visine (get the red out)then dip it into your powder or cream eye liner and apply,that makes it non-itchy.

By L.A on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 01:10 am:

Hi
Ive had eczema all my life, but its always been pretty mild, only in the inside creases of my elbows and knees, and never really had too much of an effect on my everyday life. Although in the last year it has gone out of controll. spread all over my stomach, back, arms legs and neck. I have tryed cortisone creams which work whilst i am using them but then it comes back when i stop, have tried avioiding certien allergin foods such as dairy, gluten, preservitives ect but the eczema wont go away. About a year ago when all this started i got my belly button peirced... could i have a nickel or metal allergy that has caused my skin to get out of controll...?? anyones thoughts would be greatly appresiated!!

By Jo on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 08:38 pm:

Hi
Nickel is in tap water!!! You need to get a water distiller - Ebay often sell them or just google 'water distiller'. If you are allergic to nickel you can't get better if you are drinking it in the tap water.
I have had great results when I started to use a distiller - my skin was horrendous before then.
My consultant told me my problem was nickel and said just to avoid coins, well coins certainly weren't affecting my whole body!! Anyway I saw a complementary practitioner who told me about nickel in water and I haven't looked back. try it!
Plus don't forget that water conatins nasty chlorine - in other words bleach and many people can react to this too!

By gemma on Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 03:12 pm:

Hi, for the past 6 months I have come up in a rash which started around my eyes (very Red)and eyes themselves being very blood shot (conjuctivitis) went to the docs gave me eye drops but did not really work.... they did not know why around my eyes were very red it seemed to have just run it course which was about 6 weeks... then when that dissappeared I started to get a redness across my forehead and down one side of my face the right side more than the left.. this was not really ichy more like a burning.... a little bumpy to the touch very painful like boiling water had been put on my face.... All through this been going to docs had steroid tablets Antibiotics tablets,steroids creams..... feeling very down about this being on my face having time out of work not wanting to go out... the rash on my face seems to have gone but now have Ezema down my back arms and around my stomach doctor sent me to be refered to go and have some patch testing done only one has come out that being Nickel... I am really confused as I never have a reaction to earrings belts watches... I thought with the patch testing I might have got somewhere... But not sure if nickel is that Problem as I know that you can show a positive to a negative in patch testing as it is very concentrated. Have to go back tomorrow Fri 15 August 08 now they have been off for two days and see if any more has reacted which they have not.... did read about nickel in foods.. If you show positive to a patch test but can ware nickel earrings belts and watches and not have a problem could it be to do with nickel being in foods... please Help kind regards gemma

By jthi on Sunday, August 10, 2008 - 04:53 am:

This clear polish appears to be safe and dermatologically-tested.

on the web at: earringdoctor.com/reaction.html

By Sandra on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 12:31 pm:

My twin sister and I have nickel allergies. We have just found out that 18/0 grade stainless steel does NOT contain nickel.(This can be confirmed by looking at the British Stainless Steel website). It is relatively easy to buy cutlery made of this type of stainless steel by looking online for companies which sell cutlery or catering supplies. I searched for "18/0 stainless steel cutlery" and have seen several websites which specify the grade of cutlery they sell. 18/0 stainless steel also seems to be cheaper than 18/10 which is often used for cutlery (I understand the 10 refers to 10% nickel).
Also it is possible to buy nickel free sewing needles made by "Prym", I bought mine from John Lewis.

By spider on Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 04:19 pm:

Hi, I've suffered with eczema all my life and was diagnosed with nickel allergy almost ten years ago. For about six years I gained great relief from following a low nickel diet but for the last four I have had increasing problems. This maybe because once my skin healed I re-introduced some high nickel foods in small and occasional amounts. At the moment I'm adhering to my diet strictly again but it doesn't appear to making much difference. I was wondering whether nickel levels build in the body and then take time to subside, in which case this maybe the reason the diet is failing to work. I would be very interested to hear from anyone else who has had a similar experience. More recently I have considered homeopathy and de-sensitization therapy and would be again grateful to hear from anyone else who has tried that approach.

By jenny p on Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 05:18 pm:

In Oct 2004 I had 8 "titanium" implants put into my mouth.Within 24 hours I developed diarohea followed by headaches,shooting pains, aching joints, tinatus,mood swings ,lack of concentration.At one point after a severe attack of vertigo an e.n.t specialist thought I had wilsons disease because I had developed dark brown patches on my iris's. These brown patches were apparently a sign of copper overload...perhaps brought on because the body could not cope with all the poison metals in the implants and copper is the most common metal in our food chain/system? When I called the dentist to find out what he had put in my mouth knowing I was allergic to metal and telling me no-one was allergic to titanium implants...it transpired that titanium has to have alloys in it to make it hard as bone for the implant!!Alloys including alluminium ,talladium,chromium,molybdendum,palladium vanadium to name but a few... and NICKLE There are grades of titanium in dioxides and trichlorides!! My symptoms persisted until the implants were removed lock stock and barrel in january 08. I had to fight to have this done as not many people medical or non medical actually belive that such allergy exsists Having told my dentist at the outset I am allergic to metal he has admitted liability(watch this space)Jenny P

By jenny on Thursday, April 10, 2008 - 06:42 pm:

Since cosmetic companies do not list content of substances it is not easy to find metal or nickel free products.I will ask somebody who works in that field such as make up artists but it is always better to hear from somebody who have this problem.I can't give up make up so please tell me if you know which brand have natural ingredients especially for maskara,eye pencils and other eye make up,thanks!

By nickel one on Sunday, March 09, 2008 - 09:44 pm:

Hi All...I see ev1 is having same probs as me. I was diagnosed to being a very high allergy reaction to Nickel after my first child was born. All the time i was a nurse I never broke out.(had to return to workforce in another occcupation) I wear no jewellery and just cloth back watches..i have been on all the creams and puva treatments. It seemed to subside for awhile but i find when i get stressed out it flares. right at present2008 i have a flare and it has not flared like this since 10 years ago.Back on the creams but really no relief. Wearing my gloves at work. I work in hospital but not as a nurse. my only explanation is we have had a long cold dry winter and that seem to activate it i guess.

By SandyR on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 08:37 pm:

Hello

What a fabulous site to stubble upon. I was just 'googling' for a new face cream for eczema as mine has ceased to be sold in the UK.

I have had eczema since 3 years old, i'm now 44, and I have only been free of the condition for the past two years - after under going a patch test of 39 substances.
The results showed a nickel, Potassium Dichromate (found in cement, leather, paint, textiles, pottery glaze, colour and photographic chemicals), Colophony (rosin found in sap of pine trees, used to make glues, adhesives like scotch tape and elastoplast, occasionally found in mascara, eye shadow and clear soaps), and lastly Colbalt chloride (a common metal found in jewellery, dental implants, artificial joints) allergy!
Along with a comprehensive guide as to what everyday articles the allergens were in I was also given a list of foods to follow for a low nickel diet - Foods to avoid are
Tea / Soya protein / Herbs / Cocoa / Walnuts, Cashews, Peanuts and Hazelnuts / Oats.
Other foods in small quantities;
Cauliflower / spinach / peas / buck-wheat / shellfish / instant coffee / stock cubes / dried beans / Almonds / wholemeal bread & flour / margarine / all sweets / tinned fruit / fish & fish paste.
The news was a hard cross to bear, but after all the years of trying conventional and alternative therapys, I was determined to give it a try. I changed my job as I worked in an office for a brass manufacturing company and metal was too dominate in my everyday life, I changed my diet (as you can imagine) dramatically and the end results were - I have almost completely cleared my eczema, a patch still reoccurring on my thumb knuckle of my right hand!!! That is no elaberation - ask my friends and family.
Gone are the steroid creams, sunlight Puva treatments, the many hospitalisations, the guilt, the social outcast, the physical and mental torment and having to talk to Doctors and Dermatology departments who don't seem to understand the mental impact of Eczema.
I hope this 'ramble' helps anyone who is in the same state that I was. Insist on a patch test.

By anna on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 10:23 am:

Hi Deb!
I´m also sensitive against make up and iron oxides. I think it depends on the metals in the iron oxides.
The tips from me is a japan brand called acseine. The pigment in the make up is treated with silicia so the skin never get in contact with the pigment. I haven´t tried the make up yet because i haven´t find a good place to shop from.i live in Sweden and the brand is impossible to find here. if someone find a site in english,please let me know.

By grammashar on Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 01:39 pm:

Hi, I was diagnosed a few years with nickel allergy as well. It became apparent when I was diagnosed with IBS. Which is worse with the intake of nickel in my diet. One can and will trigger the other.

I can't cook in stainless pots, nor am I not suppose to eat with stainless cultlery. But how far can one take this thing and live a normal life?

The most bothersome foods for nickel are soy products, they are the worst, followed closely by shell fish,nuts, grains other than white flour,
seeds, green leafy vegies,yeast,baking powder,and the list goes on. Its not an easy diet to follow, and there is nothing in the prepared food line that doesn't have all of the above added to them.

Thank goodness they now have other oils available, and other oil margarines for baking products. Other than that, its butter.

I am sure that 98% of all packaged products contain soy these days. Not only is it high in nickel, it rates one of the highest in the sprayed with pesticides area.
So don't think that soy won't kill you.
It's highly over rated, and one of the first ones on the allergy lists other than milk and gluten.

I can't wear jewelry other than silver, and even those hooks on bra straps can drive you crazy.
Watches are a no no without a felt pad underneath them.

I am not sure how active this list is, but from the dates of the messages, not so active these days.

Anyway, was doing more research on nickel to see if there was new information and came across the last post above with a new date on it so thought I would reply.

Thanks
Gramma Shar

By Bugs on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 10:45 pm:

I was diagnosed with nickel allergy five years ago, and the hospital suspected I may be sensitive to dietary nickel so gave me some tables of food lists. It started six years ago, two days after my son was born. My symptoms (itchy skin, rash, sore eyes and conjunctivitis, swollen tongue, tingly lips) have just returned, for the first time in five years, but now I'm aching all over and feel really exhausted. Tests show it's not arthritis or anything like that. Is it the nickel in my body or am I malnourished from the restrictive diet - I am lactose intolerant too. Has anyone else any knowledge or experience of this?

By Mat on Friday, September 14, 2007 - 09:32 pm:

My daughter had that problem. The solution was brass buckles. More affordable than pewter or silver.

By Fluffle on Monday, July 02, 2007 - 06:06 am:

I'm amazed doctors would tell someone that they're crazy for having a nickel allergy. My family has just about every allergy under the sun - frankly it seems likely to me that we all have an allergy of some kind - it's more a question of finding out what it is before you can deal with it.

This site has good advice on nickel allergies - and testing for it: Nickel allergy

By jean9v on Thursday, April 05, 2007 - 01:49 pm:

B Diamond....

Contact your dentist and ask him... if it has Nickel.... tell him why.... otherwise you are wasting time and money... if it does....

read these other messages: for your answer...

there are other solutions for what other metals can and probably are being used for this..

j

By bdiamond on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 05:21 pm:

I am having a partial denture, the dentist said he is going to make it out of metal. does anybody think it will have nickel in it? i also suffer with a nickel allergy.

By Miss on Thursday, March 08, 2007 - 03:01 pm:

I have a nickel allergy only on my eyelids...doc told me stop using everything on my face which I have done now for 3 days..not fun. The only place I have irritation is my eyelids...red itchy very dry, very ugly. I think maybe it is my eyelash curler?? Anyone else have this problem, also once you stop contact with the nickel how long will it take to clear up?

By Elise on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 02:53 am:

My daughter has a severe nickle allergy that causes severe rashes and if near her mouth, cause her lips to swell. Stainless steel does not have nickel in it and she has been fine using it. We were also told that some golds have it, some do not. If it says plated, it does. Sterling and platinum do not have it. when necessary, we cover up the metal part with tape or fabric, or something so not in contact with her skin. Her ortho has nickel free stuff and so far, she has not reacted to what he has used. You need to be very open tieh doctors, etc...because nickel is in a lot of things. Fortunately, she has had no problem with nickel found in food.

By Heather on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 04:26 pm:

I am getting married in July this year and my partner and I are looking for wedding rings however, my partner has previosly developed eczema on his fingers when ever he has worn a gold ring. Do you think that platinum will be ok instead as I don't know too much about allergies but he wants to wear a ring. Can anyone help or suggest anything?

By me. on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 11:25 pm:

i am allergic to my braces. since they have nickel in them. what should i do?

By Deb on Monday, December 11, 2006 - 01:45 pm:

I have been told i have a nickel allergy. Make-up makes my eyelids swollen. Does anyone know of any nickel free eye shadow/foundation - this is a nightmare, esp with xmas parties coming up!

By glass on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 02:51 pm:

My daughter has two different reactions to nickel
she will have severe hives and itching on skin contact. And she will have anaphalactic type reaction after eating foods cooked on stainless steal pans. oils cooked in metal pans and acidic foods cooked in metal pans pull the nickle out and leaves it in the food....
I have run into a problem getting this diagnossed as it is a very rare reaction.(found Dr. peter aronson Thank God)
Be aware menstral cycle does affect the allergy, the closer to your cycle the worse the reaction
the good news over time nickel does wear off, so the older the pans the better

By kelly on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 05:24 pm:

HI I WAS JUST WRITTING TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY ELSE OUT THERE THAT IS ALLERGIC TO NICKEL IN BRACES OR FILLINGS IN THERE MOUTH.BECAUSE IVE HAD AN ALLERGY DERMATITUS ON MY LIPS FOR A QUITE SOME TIME NOW I WAS WONDERING IF THAT WAS DUE TO THAT.AND IF ANYONE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM.

By Yo on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 06:53 am:

I think that the solution of putting nail polish over nickel may be harmful. Most nail polish contains formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate. Pregnant women cannot be exposed to these chemicals. The companies are not required to list ingrediants. Zoya products are safe.

By sympathetic on Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 12:38 am:

My daughter has an intolerance to nickel. I hope this may help someone else. The coloring in ortho mouth pieces also releases nickel. A major source though for females is nail polish which puts directly into blood stream causing systemic reactions for people who have severe allergies. Claire's jewelry stores now have ear tubes that make it possible to wear earings without metal contact.

By maryellen on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 06:19 pm:

my daughter is severely allergic. braces almost killed her. causing a poison to go throught her mucus membrane into the stomach lining and then into the digestive system and into the blood stream.ortho knew this and put bands and wires in her mouth not telling me they were not nickel free. her orthodontist knows this and took them off. a few years later he notified me that to let me know that he can now do braces completely nickel free. about 3 weeks ago my daughter broke out with the rash and blisters from toes,foot legs,back,stomach arms and face and lips. i took her to the orthodontist and asked him if he did anything different when he last saw her, he swears nothing different was done. that is until he took the wire on the bottom off and said to me this little tiny wire that is maybe a 1/2 inch long that he used to tie the wire was different and he does not know if it is nickel free. well the wire did not go back on to see if she can heel the soars, they are starting to heel but now my daughter is really digging and found a real interesting sight on the internet.google.com type in severe nickel allergy and go down 7 spots to current products and practice:nickel allergy & orthodontics you can also find other sights that may interest you. needless to say braces are not the only thing that bothers her.money, pencils at the top metal by eraser, school desks and chairs even painted, can food veggys from the ground dirt has nickel in it, silver wear , metal pans, jewelry except platinum or titanium, pressure treated lumber has chromium in it which contains nickel, causing her feet to blister when walking on the porch can and has caused a staf infection on hands and feet.concrete contains nickel and that surrounds my whole inground pool out side of it on the platform. i dont mean to write a whole letter but i have been dealing with this since she was a baby and she is now 16.and she only gets more severly allergic each year she will get worse not better. be ware there are so many things out there that contain nicle, even your multi vitamins its on the labels.
best wishes to all. remember nickel free still contains 5% nickel.

By JoJo on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 08:38 pm:

Hi,

I've become really curious about the cause of my eczema and nickel regarding its content in my diet. I found a couple of articles that are really interesting that people may want to look at as it states what nickel is found in:

food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/evm_nickelpdf
allergies.about.com/cs/nickel/a/aa011000a.htm

Please note, the first has got www in front, the second hasn't. I couldn't copy it properly 'cos of the profanity blocker!

I'm certainly going to try and reduce my intake and see what happens!

By Gina on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 10:55 pm:

I tend to find me nickel allergy comes out on my stomach from belt buckles, poppers on jeans on the fly and on the inside of the pockets. I just cover them up with plasters. It is especially worse in the summer. Also cheaper jewellery.

By larry on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 10:19 pm:

I am researching for my wife and have never heard that people can be allergic or sensitive to nickel before this. Nickel is in most stainless steel. For more info about this check out mercola.com.

By Binky on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 05:26 pm:

Are there any eye cosmetics on the market that don't have nickel in them? What was the answer to having cosmetic surgaery ( eye liner and mascara)? Is that possible? Please write!

By tunkany on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 06:09 pm:

I read somewhere that canned food has nickel.... if it's true that could explain some nickel allergy mysteries...

By Lynn on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 03:54 pm:

Two winters ago I developed a rash on the front of my right shin. My doctor prescribed Bethamethosone ointment which took it away. But when I stopped using it the rash returned. It pretty much went away when warm weather came back. This past winter it returned but also showed up on my other shin, then spread to my stomach, chest and arms. The ointment from before wouldn't affect it this time. Also when warm weather returned it worsened. I now have it on my eyes, neck and inside my elbows. My doctor referred me to a dermatologist who gave me Desonide ointment. Like before it will take it away but the eczema returns when I quit using it. My dermatologist did patch testing which showed that I am allergic to nickel and cobalt. He prescribe Akni-mycin which does nothing and advised me just to stay away from nickel and cobalt.
I am really frustrated cause it makes no sense. I do not wear much jewelry and do not have pierced ears. I have stopped wearing my wedding band but no changes. My keys are covered with plastic. I just do not have a clue where this is coming from. I am also suspecting that nickel is not the real problem. I am also frustrated that my dermatologist did not seem to want to help more. Does anyone have any suggestions on detecting where it is coming from? PS I had asthma when I was young but outgrew it. It returned briefly when I was pregnant with my daughter but again left. My daughter had eczema on her cheeks when she was a toddler but outgrew it. She now has seasonal allergies. I am sorry for giving you my life story but am looing for some advice.

By Watermelon on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 04:51 am:

Is it possible to have permanent makeup, or eyebrow tattooing, if you are allergic to nickel? My first bout with nickel allergy 35 years ago was severe. It happened in my pierced ears and I contracted both impetigo and blood poisoning. Now I'm just crazy enough to want to have my eyebrows tattooed. Am I totally crazy?

By razielle on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 02:28 pm:

A year ago I developed a sore, blistering flakey patch on the palm of my right hand. The original cause is still a mystery, and several creams have been tried and failed. An allergy test has now shown I have a nickel allergy. I was told that with a nickel allergy only to wear either 18ct or 24ct gold, however I also have an allergy to Potassium Dichromate and Neomycin Sulphate (turns out the latter is found in the creams I had been initially given, Betnovate & Dermovate!) which as far as I can make out rules pretty much all metals out. Not sure about Titanium though. Anyone know anything about Titanium?

Never had anything like this before, so it's really quite reassuring to see other people's experiences here. I'm not the only one, after all!

By Graham on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 05:58 pm:

I have had a noticeable allergy to nickel for 3 years, which was only properly diagnosed today. Here are the locations and causes of my eczema:
- Right hand (3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers): Due to handling nickels, quarters, and car/house keys on a regular basis. The car keys when tested showed a HIGH concentration of nickel.
- Right thigh (usually in the summer): Due to sweat allowing nickel from keys and coins to get through my pocket to the skin on my thigh.
- Under right eye: Due to nickel in my glasses frames.

My doctor was never able to diagnose this - it required a visit to Ottawa's top contact allergy specialist... The solutions involve less contact with items containing nickel, getting aluminum car/house keys, getting titanium glasses frames, as well as eczema maintenance with hydrocortizone in mild cases or Dermovate in stronger cases.

By lorio on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 08:28 pm:

HI,
I'm begining to supect a severe nickel allergy as well, since i am reacting to a very pure maek up from a company that only uses arrowroot powder and iron oxides in their products. i have researched and found that iron oxides contain nickel. This allergy makes sense, as my earrings always bother me, and my trouser buttons.. I'd like to find some eye cosmetics that do not provoke and allergic dermatitis reaction. Does anyone have suggestions?
thanks, loriann

By Peachy on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 02:49 pm:

Madame Flaky, where you been girl? Hope all's ok.

By davinder on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 12:03 pm:

Good to have you back, Madam Flakey.

By Madam Flaky on Saturday, November 02, 2002 - 08:27 am:

I thought being allergic to nickel was quite a common thing. Those doctors who don't know this should be checked for brains. I am allergic to nickel and have reactions to certain jewellery and money. Maybe this is why I never have any?!

By Anonymous on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 12:45 am:

i have a nickel allergy and when i tell this to people and particular to doctors they look at me like i'm crazy or i was making it up so for those of you who are allergic to nickel your not alone

By Elaine on Sunday, February 03, 2002 - 05:29 pm:

The worst source of nickel allergy for me is the bottons on trousers, which make my tummy blister.

Yes, really the only thing you can do is paint over the nickel with clear nail varnish or put a plaster on the skin which would be touched by the nickel.

I found that my medic alert bracelet (of all things!) was making me itchy cos although it says it is stainless steel I was told that it most likely had some nickel in too. All I can do is buy another bracelet which is backed with materian instead.

Watch out for watches - the metal area that touches the skin can cause problems

By Carla on Wednesday, October 10, 2001 - 09:34 am:

I have a nickel sensitivity (amongst many other things) and always have 'holes' in my back where my bra clips irritate my skin. You can buy plastic covers for earring posts in jewellers but then you still have the stud touching your ear which, yes you can paint with clear nail varnish but patch test a little bit somewhere first as you may be sensitive to that.I just don't wear jewellery unless it's gold now I wear a plastic or silver watch and try to avoid nickel where poss but it's very hard as it's in money, keys, paper clips, metal pens and I found my glasses were made of it (Specsavers will tell you which are Nickel free if you ask). I was told to keep off tinned foods as they can contain a high concentrate of nickel and aluminium. It is very hard to know what to do with this one, I think you just have to try your best to avoid it.

By Christine on Thursday, October 04, 2001 - 02:29 am:

Has anyone else out there been diagnosed with having a sensitivity to nickel and other metals? Just wondering if you had managed to clear up or control your eczema through avoidance of metals. Also, have you found any good sources for nickel-free jewelry or other ways to wear regular jewelry? Someone mentioned that you could paint clear nail polish over earring posts, but that sounds a little suspicious to me... Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

By ROB D on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 02:13 pm:

I USED TO SUFFER FROM RED ITCHY PATCHES ALL OVER MY BODY BUT ESPECIALLY ON MY HANDS AND CHEEKS, THESE PATCHES BECAME VERY VERY DRY AND ITCHY.

I WAS PRESCRIBED AN OINTMENT WHICH GOT RID OF THE PATCHES ALMOST STRAIGHT AWAY, BUT THEY ALWAYS CAME BACK ONCE I'D STOPPED USING THE OINTMENT.

I BECAME VERY PARANOID ABOUT THE PATCHES AND AS A RESULT MY SOCIAL LIFE BECAME NON EXISTENT, TO MY AMAZEMENT WHILST I WAS SPENDING MY TIME IN DOORS MY CONDITION DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY, I LATER REALIZED THROUGH EXPERIMENTING THAT I WAS ALLERGIC TO THE CLEANING AGENT PUBS USE TO CLEAN THERE DRAUGHT PIPES WITH I NOW STICK TO DRINKING MY BEER FROM THE BOTTLE AND MY SKIN IS FINE. TRY IT!