Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNickel AllergyAutoimmunityThe RelationshipLifestyle ModificationsTreatmentsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Nickel Allergy
Autoimmunity
The Relationship
Lifestyle Modifications
Treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
Anickel allergycould make you more susceptible toautoimmune disease, according to research.Nickel allergy is sometimes called nickel allergiccontact dermatitis(NACD).
Nickel is the most common cause of metal allergies. And it’s being increasingly tied to several types of autoimmune disease. Researchers are looking into common underlying mechanisms to understand how the two may be related.
This article will look at what a nickel allergy is, how it may be related to autoimmune disease, how to manage your life with an allergy to something that’s hard to avoid, and what treatments are available.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Nickel is a common metal. It’s used in a lot of everyday items that you come into contact with, including:
Medically, nickel is used in:
Nickel is part of many metal alloys (combinations of metals) and is often used to plate metal alloys.
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Symptoms
In people who are allergic to the metal, nickel causes a skin reaction calledallergic contact dermatitis. Once you’ve been exposed to nickel, allergy symptoms can take three days or more to appear.
Symptoms can range from mild to disabling, depending on how sensitive you are. Symptoms may include:
These signs usually only appear where the nickel touches your skin. However, in some severe cases, swelling and redness can spread to other areas of your body, as well.
Some people have a systemic nickel allergy that involves:
In rare cases, nickel can cause immediatehivesat the contact site.
Causes
Nickel allergy can be acquired anytime during your lifetime, unlike some allergies like food allergies that often occur very early in life.
How Allergies WorkAllergies are a “misfire” of your immune system. In an allergy, your immune system mistakes something harmless as a threat to your health, like a virus or bacterium. It then tries to rid your body of it, which is what leads to inflammation and other symptoms. The immune response involves sending specialized cells to go after the target substance.
How Allergies Work
Allergies are a “misfire” of your immune system. In an allergy, your immune system mistakes something harmless as a threat to your health, like a virus or bacterium. It then tries to rid your body of it, which is what leads to inflammation and other symptoms. The immune response involves sending specialized cells to go after the target substance.
If allergies are a misfire, autoimmunity (“auto” means “self”) is friendly fire. In autoimmunity, your immune system tries to destroy a part of your body.
The type of cell or tissue subjected to this friendly fire depends on the specific disease. For example:
Researchers haven’t yet uncovered the cause of autoimmune diseases. But it’s believed to involve a genetic predisposition plus exposure to something that confuses your immune system.
This could be pathogens (viruses or bacteria), medications, or environmental exposures, such as chemicals or cigarette smoke.Metal exposure is considered environmental.
Autoimmune reactions typically involve T cells, including CD4+and CD8+ T cells.These same types of cells play a role in nickel allergy.
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The precise relationship between these illnesses is unclear, but allergies and autoimmune diseases both involve similar immune-system activity. Several studies have noted a link between nickel allergies and autoimmune disease.
A 2014 paper suggested that a systemic nickel allergy is a risk factor for developing autoimmune thyroid disease.Another study found that people with nickel allergy from oral exposure were especially likely to have an autoimmune disease.
The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IOAMT) reported that metal can cause inflammation. And that inflammation can lead to the development of both allergic and autoimmune diseases.
A 2020 review of research found that metals may suppress or damage the immune system. That may lead to allergies and/or autoimmunity, depending on your susceptibility.
Research suggests that metal allergies, in general, may be especially linked to autoimmune conditions that affect connective tissues, such as:
Avoiding nickel is the most important thing you can do to avoid triggering your nickel allergy. This may mean:
For those with systemic allergic contact dermatitis to nickel, you may also need to cut nickel-containing foods out of your diet. Some of these include:
Treatments are available for both allergic contact dermatitis due to nickel and autoimmune conditions.
For autoimmune diseases, the primary treatments are anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs.
Your healthcare provider may also suggest other medications depending on your disease, symptoms, and severity.
How common is it to be allergic to nickel?
Is nickel allergy life-threatening?
If you have allergic contact dermatitis to nickel, touching nickel is not considered life-threatening and typically will only result in a rash.Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, is not associated with allergic contact dermatitis to nickel.
Can autoimmunity be cured?
No, autoimmune diseases can’t be cured.They can often be successfully managed with medication. Research into possible cures is ongoing.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
If you believe you have a nickel allergy, talk to your healthcare provider. If you have a nickel allergy and start to notice symptoms that could point to an autoimmune disease, let your provider know about that, too. Living with and managing these conditions may not be easy, but it is possible. Your doctor can help you work out the best treatment plan.
13 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.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:10.2174/1871530320666191231115437Cleveland Clinic.Nickel allergy.Nickel Institute.What do you need to know about nickel allergy?Johns Hopkins Medicine.What are common symptoms of autoimmune disease?Stejskal V, Reynolds, TM.Metal allergy - the missing link in autoimmune connective tissue disorders?. Poster presented at: 2013 Controversies in rheumatology & autoimmunity (CORA); Budapest, Hungary.International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT).Autoimmune disease and metal implants and devices.Pilli D, Zou A, Tea F, Dale RC, Brilot F.Expanding role of t cells in human autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system.Front Immunol. 2017;8:652. Published 2017 Jun 7. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.00652Deng Q, Luo Y, Chang C, Wu H, Ding Y, Xiao R.The emerging epigenetic role of cd8+t cells in autoimmune diseases: a systematic review.Front Immunol. 2019;10:856. Published 2019 Apr 18. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00856Andrioli M, Trimboli P, Maio D, Persani L, Minelli M.Systemic nickel allergic syndrome as an immune-mediated disease with an increased risk for thyroid autoimmunity.Endocrine. 2015;50(3):807-810. doi:10.1007/s12020-015-0581-2Rachmawati D, Muris J, Scheper RJ, et al.Continuing the quest for autoimmunity due to oral metal exposure.Autoimmunity. 2015;48(7):494-501. doi:10.3109/08916934.2015.1033688American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nickel allergy: How to avoid exposure and reduce symptoms.Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.What the deal with autoimmune disease?Burton BR, Britton GJ, Fang H, et al.Sequential transcriptional changes dictate safe and effective antigen-specific immunotherapy.Nat Commun. 2014;5:4741. Published 2014 Sep 3. doi:10.1038/ncomms5741
13 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.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:10.2174/1871530320666191231115437Cleveland Clinic.Nickel allergy.Nickel Institute.What do you need to know about nickel allergy?Johns Hopkins Medicine.What are common symptoms of autoimmune disease?Stejskal V, Reynolds, TM.Metal allergy - the missing link in autoimmune connective tissue disorders?. Poster presented at: 2013 Controversies in rheumatology & autoimmunity (CORA); Budapest, Hungary.International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT).Autoimmune disease and metal implants and devices.Pilli D, Zou A, Tea F, Dale RC, Brilot F.Expanding role of t cells in human autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system.Front Immunol. 2017;8:652. Published 2017 Jun 7. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.00652Deng Q, Luo Y, Chang C, Wu H, Ding Y, Xiao R.The emerging epigenetic role of cd8+t cells in autoimmune diseases: a systematic review.Front Immunol. 2019;10:856. Published 2019 Apr 18. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00856Andrioli M, Trimboli P, Maio D, Persani L, Minelli M.Systemic nickel allergic syndrome as an immune-mediated disease with an increased risk for thyroid autoimmunity.Endocrine. 2015;50(3):807-810. doi:10.1007/s12020-015-0581-2Rachmawati D, Muris J, Scheper RJ, et al.Continuing the quest for autoimmunity due to oral metal exposure.Autoimmunity. 2015;48(7):494-501. doi:10.3109/08916934.2015.1033688American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nickel allergy: How to avoid exposure and reduce symptoms.Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.What the deal with autoimmune disease?Burton BR, Britton GJ, Fang H, et al.Sequential transcriptional changes dictate safe and effective antigen-specific immunotherapy.Nat Commun. 2014;5:4741. Published 2014 Sep 3. doi:10.1038/ncomms5741
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.
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:10.2174/1871530320666191231115437Cleveland Clinic.Nickel allergy.Nickel Institute.What do you need to know about nickel allergy?Johns Hopkins Medicine.What are common symptoms of autoimmune disease?Stejskal V, Reynolds, TM.Metal allergy - the missing link in autoimmune connective tissue disorders?. Poster presented at: 2013 Controversies in rheumatology & autoimmunity (CORA); Budapest, Hungary.International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT).Autoimmune disease and metal implants and devices.Pilli D, Zou A, Tea F, Dale RC, Brilot F.Expanding role of t cells in human autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system.Front Immunol. 2017;8:652. Published 2017 Jun 7. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.00652Deng Q, Luo Y, Chang C, Wu H, Ding Y, Xiao R.The emerging epigenetic role of cd8+t cells in autoimmune diseases: a systematic review.Front Immunol. 2019;10:856. Published 2019 Apr 18. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00856Andrioli M, Trimboli P, Maio D, Persani L, Minelli M.Systemic nickel allergic syndrome as an immune-mediated disease with an increased risk for thyroid autoimmunity.Endocrine. 2015;50(3):807-810. doi:10.1007/s12020-015-0581-2Rachmawati D, Muris J, Scheper RJ, et al.Continuing the quest for autoimmunity due to oral metal exposure.Autoimmunity. 2015;48(7):494-501. doi:10.3109/08916934.2015.1033688American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nickel allergy: How to avoid exposure and reduce symptoms.Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.What the deal with autoimmune disease?Burton BR, Britton GJ, Fang H, et al.Sequential transcriptional changes dictate safe and effective antigen-specific immunotherapy.Nat Commun. 2014;5:4741. Published 2014 Sep 3. doi:10.1038/ncomms5741
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
Cleveland Clinic.Nickel allergy.
Nickel Institute.What do you need to know about nickel allergy?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.What are common symptoms of autoimmune disease?
Stejskal V, Reynolds, TM.Metal allergy - the missing link in autoimmune connective tissue disorders?. Poster presented at: 2013 Controversies in rheumatology & autoimmunity (CORA); Budapest, Hungary.
International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT).Autoimmune disease and metal implants and devices.
Pilli D, Zou A, Tea F, Dale RC, Brilot F.Expanding role of t cells in human autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system.Front Immunol. 2017;8:652. Published 2017 Jun 7. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.00652
Deng Q, Luo Y, Chang C, Wu H, Ding Y, Xiao R.The emerging epigenetic role of cd8+t cells in autoimmune diseases: a systematic review.Front Immunol. 2019;10:856. Published 2019 Apr 18. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00856
Andrioli M, Trimboli P, Maio D, Persani L, Minelli M.Systemic nickel allergic syndrome as an immune-mediated disease with an increased risk for thyroid autoimmunity.Endocrine. 2015;50(3):807-810. doi:10.1007/s12020-015-0581-2
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
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nickel allergy: How to avoid exposure and reduce symptoms.
Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.What the deal with autoimmune disease?
Burton BR, Britton GJ, Fang H, et al.Sequential transcriptional changes dictate safe and effective antigen-specific immunotherapy.Nat Commun. 2014;5:4741. Published 2014 Sep 3. doi:10.1038/ncomms5741
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