Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentRisk FactorsPreventionWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Risk Factors
Prevention
When to Seek Medical Care
Nickel allergy is one of the most common causes ofcontact dermatitis, a rash or irritation when the skin comes into contact with an allergen.
Nickel allergies are lifelong. If you have a nickel allergy, you will experience an allergic reaction whenever you are exposed to the metal.
This article examines the symptoms, causes, diagnoses, and treatment of nickel allergy.
What Causes a Nickel Allergy Rash?
Nickel is a silver-colored metal often mixed with other metals to make items. It is the most common cause of metal allergy. A nickel allergy rash occurs when someone allergic to the metal comes into contact with it, resulting in an inflammatory response.
The exact cause of nickel allergy is unknown, but,like other allergies, it develops when the body’s immune system reacts to a normally harmless substance. A nickel allergy can happen after your first exposure to nickel or after repeated or prolonged exposures.
For a nickel rash to occur, there must be direct, prolonged contact between the skin and an item containing nickel, and enough nickel must be released from the item and absorbed into the skin to cause a reaction.
Nickel is commonly found in many items, including:
About 12% to 15% of women and 1% to 2% of men are sensitive to nickel. While the reasoning is unknown, it may be because women tend to wear more jewelry and have more piercings than men.
Nickel Allergy Symptoms
Nickel allergy symptoms usually begin within hours after touching the metal but can happen up to two days after exposure and last up to a month.
Symptomsusually only occur on areas of the skin that come into contact with nickel but can also occur elsewhere on the body. Symptoms include:
Nickel allergies are not life-threatening and do not causeanaphylactic shock.
How Is Nickel Allergy Diagnosed?
Nickel and AutoimmunityThere have been conflicting studies on whether nickel and other metal allergies play a role in developingautoimmune diseases. Some research has shown that metal allergies may prevent autoimmune activation.Other studies have suggested that internal or external exposure to nickel may have autoimmune potential in susceptible individuals.
Nickel and Autoimmunity
There have been conflicting studies on whether nickel and other metal allergies play a role in developingautoimmune diseases. Some research has shown that metal allergies may prevent autoimmune activation.Other studies have suggested that internal or external exposure to nickel may have autoimmune potential in susceptible individuals.
Nickel Allergy Treatment
There is no cure for nickel allergy. The only way to avoid symptoms is to avoid contact with the metal.
Treatmentis designed to relieve symptoms and can include at-home remedies such as applying cool compresses, oatmeal baths, or over-the-counter (OTC) anti-itch medications.
Sometimes, healthcare providers will prescribe acorticosteroidor other medication applied to the skin (topical medication). An oral corticosteroid such asprednisonemight be prescribed in some severe cases.
Nickel Allergy Risk Factors
A nickel allergy is not inherited but acquired after direct, prolonged contact with items that release nickel onto the skin. Once you have your first allergic reaction to nickel, your body will continue to respond to the metal, and it will take less nickel exposure to cause future reactions.
Things that canraise your riskof nickel allergy include:
If you are allergic to nickel, you also have an increased risk of allergic contact dermatitis on the hands (hand eczema).
Ways to Avoid Nickel
Avoiding nickel is the only way to prevent a nickel allergy reaction. However, it can be difficult to do so because nickel is in so many everyday objects.Although regulations to prevent nickel from being in items such as jewelry and cell phones have been introduced in China, and some European countries, the United States and most other countries do not regulate the use of nickel in consumer items.
There are steps you can take to avoid coming into contact with nickel. They include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should see a healthcare provider if your rash, itching, or blistering becomes severe, which can all be signs of infection. Also, seek care if your rash doesn’t go away within a couple of weeks after you no longer come into contact with nickel to determine if something else may be causing your symptoms.
Summary
Nickel allergies are one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis and are typically easy to treat. The most common symptom is a red, itchy rash. If you are allergic to nickel, you will be for life. The best way to avoid or stop a nickel allergy rash is to avoid contact with items containing the metal. However, nickel is found in many everyday items, such as jewelry, keys, tools, and eyeglasses, and it can be difficult to avoid contact altogether.
However, you can find alternatives to nickel, such as stainless steel or brass, or take steps to avoid contact with nickel, like painting clear nail polish on the areas of jewelry that touch your skin.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nickel allergy: How to avoid exposure and reduce symptoms.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Two cents about nickel allergy.Sparrow Health.Nickel allergy.Nickel Institute.What do you need to know about nickel allergy?.DermNet.Nickel allergy.Rachmawati D, Muris J, Scheper RJ, et al.Continuing the quest for autoimmunity due to oral metal exposure.Autoimmunity. 2015;48(7):494-501. doi:10.3109/08916934.2015.1033688Drenovska K, Shahid M, Vassileva S.Nickel and skin: from allergy to autoimmunity.Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2020;20(7):1032-1040. doi:10.2174/1871530320666191231115437Ahlström, MG, Thyssen, JP, Wennervaldt, M, Menné, T, Johansen, JD.Nickel allergy and allergic contact dermatitis: A clinical review of immunology, epidemiology, exposure, and treatment.Contact Dermatitis. 2019; 81: 227– 241. doi:10.1111/cod.13327American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Contact dermatitis tips for managing.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Contact dermatitis diagnosis and treatment.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nickel allergy: How to avoid exposure and reduce symptoms.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Two cents about nickel allergy.Sparrow Health.Nickel allergy.Nickel Institute.What do you need to know about nickel allergy?.DermNet.Nickel allergy.Rachmawati D, Muris J, Scheper RJ, et al.Continuing the quest for autoimmunity due to oral metal exposure.Autoimmunity. 2015;48(7):494-501. doi:10.3109/08916934.2015.1033688Drenovska K, Shahid M, Vassileva S.Nickel and skin: from allergy to autoimmunity.Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2020;20(7):1032-1040. doi:10.2174/1871530320666191231115437Ahlström, MG, Thyssen, JP, Wennervaldt, M, Menné, T, Johansen, JD.Nickel allergy and allergic contact dermatitis: A clinical review of immunology, epidemiology, exposure, and treatment.Contact Dermatitis. 2019; 81: 227– 241. doi:10.1111/cod.13327American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Contact dermatitis tips for managing.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Contact dermatitis diagnosis and treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nickel allergy: How to avoid exposure and reduce symptoms.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Two cents about nickel allergy.Sparrow Health.Nickel allergy.Nickel Institute.What do you need to know about nickel allergy?.DermNet.Nickel allergy.Rachmawati D, Muris J, Scheper RJ, et al.Continuing the quest for autoimmunity due to oral metal exposure.Autoimmunity. 2015;48(7):494-501. doi:10.3109/08916934.2015.1033688Drenovska K, Shahid M, Vassileva S.Nickel and skin: from allergy to autoimmunity.Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2020;20(7):1032-1040. doi:10.2174/1871530320666191231115437Ahlström, MG, Thyssen, JP, Wennervaldt, M, Menné, T, Johansen, JD.Nickel allergy and allergic contact dermatitis: A clinical review of immunology, epidemiology, exposure, and treatment.Contact Dermatitis. 2019; 81: 227– 241. doi:10.1111/cod.13327American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Contact dermatitis tips for managing.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Contact dermatitis diagnosis and treatment.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nickel allergy: How to avoid exposure and reduce symptoms.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Two cents about nickel allergy.
Sparrow Health.Nickel allergy.
Nickel Institute.What do you need to know about nickel allergy?.
DermNet.Nickel allergy.
Rachmawati D, Muris J, Scheper RJ, et al.Continuing the quest for autoimmunity due to oral metal exposure.Autoimmunity. 2015;48(7):494-501. doi:10.3109/08916934.2015.1033688
Drenovska K, Shahid M, Vassileva S.Nickel and skin: from allergy to autoimmunity.Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2020;20(7):1032-1040. doi:10.2174/1871530320666191231115437
Ahlström, MG, Thyssen, JP, Wennervaldt, M, Menné, T, Johansen, JD.Nickel allergy and allergic contact dermatitis: A clinical review of immunology, epidemiology, exposure, and treatment.Contact Dermatitis. 2019; 81: 227– 241. doi:10.1111/cod.13327
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Contact dermatitis tips for managing.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Contact dermatitis diagnosis and treatment.
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