Living in misery with a nickel allergy on my hands

Nickel Detect / Nickel Alert on eBay or Amazon (affil links) A. Some people are highly allergic to nickel and have sometimes severe skin rashes from nickel exposure, but nickel is not everywhere. Assuming you are not exposed to nickel chemicals, and stay away from nickel alloys (stainless steel and many jewelry alloys), you shouldn't have a problem. If you're staying away from nickel and still have the problem, I'd seek a second opinion. The problem may be something other than nickel. Yes, you may test positive for nickel allergy, but the problem could be something else. Jeffrey Holmes, CEF Spartanburg, South Carolina A. My first comment is that I am not a dermatologist, but I have an interest in nickel induced eczema. It sounds to me as if you may have become sensitised to nickel, that is, you react to the smallest amount and the reaction can come out anywhere on your body. I would suggest you remove all jewellery, including rings, earrings and bracelets as these are the most common source of nickel, where it is used in alloys to make them harder; lots of gold articles contain nickel, unless it is 24 karat gold, then it is pure. Other bits of jewellery can use nickel as an interlayer and this will also cause you problems. In Europe it is now illegal to sell jewellery that contains nickel at levels that could cause your problem, but this is not the case in the US. If you want to wear jewellery, you must ensure it is nickel free, so ask the jeweler to give written proof it is so. I would also suggest you wear rubber gloves only when necessary, as they can make your hands sweat and leave you skin vulnerable to attack. It is possible that your original eczema has been aggravated by the use of washing detergents - this is not unknown and is common where soaps get trapped under rings. Hopefully removing all your jewellery, even if you don't think it contains nickel, will help. I would keep pestering your dermatologist or find one who is more positive to your cause. Once the source of your allergy has been determined and removed, the problem will go away. It is possible that you are not just allergic to nickel, but to other things as well, so get a thorough checkout for all known allergens. I hope this helps. Good luck. Trevor Crichton R&D practical scientist Chesham, Bucks, UK

"Nickel and the Skin"
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A. It seems to me, that many people have forgotten that humans did not invent heavy metals like nickel. Nickel is everywhere in nature and your food, especially nuts, seeds and therefore also bread contains nickel.
A friend of mine also got nickel allergy, and she got a list from her doctor containing the kinds of food that she should avoid.

Nickel Guard

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A. Are you sure it disappeared, Luci? Using the search term 'Pro-Q foam lotion skin protectant', I see it referenced in a number of articles, and there are similar products if it's no longer made.

But I think coating whatever is touched with Nickel Guard, or at least clear nail polish or polyurethane may do a better job, and put the blame & the cure on the nickel rather than the student :-)

A. I too have severe contact dermatitis on my hands which began about 5 years ago whilst living in Arnhem Land Northern Australia. I have suffered frequent infections and have been prescribed steroids. Although, still to be patch tested, it has been suggested by the Dermatologist that it is a nickel allergy This is really depressing and I understand your pain as your hands are your most used tools. There is a degree of disability as you lose your sense of touch and your fingers don't move efficiently, tasks take longer, getting a job is hard and your hands look awful. Simple tasks become painful and awkward. Things like keys, coins, door handles, taps, zips, cutlery, pots and pans just to name a few. I even avoid stainless steel as it does contain a small amount of nickel but will ask my dermatologist.

A. I have suffered from a nickel allergy on and off for years, most recently in a tropical country where the itchy rash spread up my arms because of touching my sweaty forearms after initial contact with stainless steel products, especially cookware and door knobs.

Nickel is one of the most common substances causing contact dermatitis.
Another is latex and I note that you are in the cleaning business so could be using latex gloves. This was my experience. Once I recognize what the problem is and take counter measures things improve rapidly.

Good luck to you all ... this is definitely an unpleasant experience.

A. I have the same problem. I found that the exercise equipment at the gym has nickel plating and that was causing most of my reaction on my hands. It took me months to figure it out (I wear no jewelry so knew it wasn't that). I have had a rash for six months.

The only thing I've found that works is coating the affected areas in Eucerin ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] (the stuff that's like petroleum jelly) overnight (I put thick layers of the Eucerin on and cover with giant bandaids or bandages). That at least helps with the cracking and reduces some of the pain after a day or two of that. It doesn't take away the itchy bumps when I do accidentally expose myself to it, but at least the reaction is reduced and my finger cracks aren't as painful.

I hope that helps you.

A. I developed the problem with my hands in Feb. 2015. My doc didn't know what it was, prescribed a cream, (which didn't work at all), and suggested the dermatologist. I have tried several things, like calamine lotion, the steroid cream, peroxide, neosporin, and even prescription burn cream. If you want this to go away, almost overnight, GO TANNING! I learned this from a good friend who had eczema on his elbows pretty bad. IT WORKS! OF COURSE, it is not a permanent cure, but results are almost immediate!

A. Hi All, Just wanted to share my experience with my nickel related hand dermatitis in the hope of helping others with this painful condition. As a 20-something person in the 80's, I wore a lot of large metal costume jewelry and after wearing a large necklace in the heat of the summer, got my first painful rash and initial diagnosis of contact dermatitis. I stopped wearing costume jewelry and was fine until I was a young mother in my 30s. Wanting to provide healthy food for my family, our diet was high in whole grains with lots of fruit and vegetables. Heavy into the salad craze at the time, I consumed lettuce, tomatoes and other raw vegetables on a daily basis. But it was after a friend brought over a large chocolate cake that my hands began to blister, weep, and eventually crack and split open. The itching was sooo bad I was in tears at times. Hands cracked and bleeding I went to a dermatologist in NJ where I was living at the time.

The Dr. (who was also Merv Griffin's dermatologist) did a patch test and found not only did I have nickel allergy but also housewives' eczema and allergic to preservatives commonly found in shampoo and conditioner - something else that I used daily. He had seen a recent article about nickel related hand dermatitis and gave a copy to me. Nickel is naturally found in the earth and therefore can be found in many foods. I stopped eating lettuce of all kinds, onions, corn, mushrooms, peppers, legumes, nuts, chocolate, tomatoes (especially canned). I wore gloves when working with potatoes, zucchini, or eggplant. Over time, I began to see an improvement and was able to introduce, in moderation, most vegetables.

I work with only with Sterling Silver and 14K Gold fill in my work and the only material I've ever had a problem with is 14K White Gold fill so I stay away from it. I have a corticosteroid cream that I use sparingly when I have an outbreak. The key is to get it out of your system by avoiding nickel containing foods. Wear gloves to prevent exposure - I avoid latex. Cotton gloves at night if you think you are scratching. Most recently I was told after applying my cream that wrapping the hands with some plastic wrap will help the medicine penetrate and work better. I recommend using the internet to learn as much as you can. If you can avoid steroid creams, do so. I am beginning to see the effects of using corticosteroids on my hands on a long term basis. Even though I only use the cream occasionally, I can feel my skin beginning to thin and more sensitive. Best wishes everyone!

A. I have been having a lot of redness and sulfite allergies.
Well I had an allergy test done and found out I have nickel allergies and a slight Gold allergies. There is hope for you who have these allergies. It is called NAET [Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique]. It works to get rid of allergies. It is a process and you have to be dedicated but then it will be over. I feel your pain and frustration and I had to drive an hour and a half to go to my appointments. I really want everyone who is able to, to try it. And no I am not in anyway associated with promoting it.

A. I have a nickel allergy and have had great success on a low nickel diet as well as avoiding jewelry that is not stainless steel, sterling silver, or 24k gold.

My hands and feet were covered in eczema, which began appearing two years after a nasty tick disease called Rocky mountain spotted fever. Doctors had a hard time diagnosing me because I had no history of a tick bite. I have found that because my hands and feet were the most affected, that is where my nickel reactions localize.

I have been gluten and Soy free for a year and a half and in addition to the reactions becoming almost non existent I also went from having 20 migraines in a month to 2-3. I found that gluten and Soy are major inflammation producing foods which exacerbate the nickel reactions as well as induce a migraine within 2-12 hours of consumption.

Hope this helps! Who knew that nickel in food could be such a pain! Also, I am a 29 y/o female and I had RMSF in June of 2008.

A. I too have been suffering from peeling skin, cracking almost all fingers, bleeding for the last 16 months continuously. I saw several dermatologists. Each one treated me for psoriasis or dermatitis. I have used almost all kinds of prescribed medications and over the counter ointments & creams without much results. Two months ago I requested my dermatologist to do a patch test for nickel. The test results came negative; however, I refused to trust that result and went on a complete nickel-free, histamine-free diet, along with wearing cotton gloves. I began seeing a recovery three weeks after I went on the diet. Now it has been 6 weeks since I started this diet and all my fingers are almost back to normal. There are several websites giving nickel-free, histamine-free food lists.

A. After seeing an allergist, using all kinds of ointments with little cure, he asked if I drink a lot of tea. I would start my day with 3-4 cups. He said quit drinking tea. Couldn't believe it started clearing up. Found also when I worked in the garden my hands would break out. Nickel in dirt? So, avoiding tea, dirt, jewelry, zippers, etc., I no longer have the sores all over my hands, ears & wrists. I also took and still do take zinc 50 mg a couple times a week which is good for your skin and immune system.

A. There is a list of food that you have to quit eating in many sites. Tea , chocolate, nuts and legumes have high content of nickel. Stainless steel also. Try to check if you don't have any other infection in your body, like an urinary infection. Fighting the infection, your body reacts more to the allergies. Try also to do a detox on your body. I try to take anti-inflammatory natural remedies like ginger and turmeric. When I went to the doctor they gave a list products that contained nickel. I also tested positively to allergy to a preservative which includes phenoxetanol that is in many lotions, soaps, and shampoos (including organic products).