Today’s topic we’re going to delve into is NickelAllergy.
If you’re continuously experiencing itching, redness, and pus in the areas where you wear jewelry or precious metals, the cause might be #nickel, which is commonly found in these items.
Nickel allergy
Nickel and cobalt, which are often in prolonged direct contact with the skin, are key causes of allergic contact dermatitis. These metals are widely contained in items like belt buckles, earrings, necklaces, zippers, buttons, watches, etc.
The patient in question is a 13-year-old girl who recently bought a new bra. For the past month, she has been experiencing red, itchy rashes and blisters on her chest. To identify the cause, a patch test was conducted, showing strong positive results for Nickel sulfate and Wool alcohol even after 48 and 96 hours. She was diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis caused by nickel, and after removing the decorative elements on her underwear and using oral medication, she improved after about a month.
As a side note, a DMG test (Dimethylglyoxime, where the reagent is dropped onto the test area and rubbed with a white cotton swab to determine the extent of redness) was conducted on 91 belt buckles sold in Korea to check for nickel content.
Of the branded belts, 20 out of 55 (36.4%) showed positive results for nickel, while 25 out of 36 non-branded belts (69.4%) showed positive reactions.
Nickel, a material used to coat other metals for a shiny finish, is the most common allergen causing allergic contact dermatitis. It can be found in earrings, necklaces, clothing buttons, zippers, computers, cell phones, wristwatches, etc. Domestic studies show that 34.1% of people tested positive for nickel, with a higher rate in women.
Nickel allergic contact dermatitis mostly occurs in areas of jewelry contact and can be confirmed through patch tests and DMG tests. Once diagnosed, it’s crucial to avoid the causative substances as much as possible.
In Korea, about one-third (34.1%) are sensitized to nickel, making it a fairly common condition.
Women, in particular, are thought to have more sensitization because they’ve been wearing nickel-containing earrings since they were young, and symptoms can worsen with continuous wear. So, if areas where you wear belts, earrings, or necklaces continuously become red, itchy, and pus-filled, it’s recommended to suspect nickel allergy and seek medical attention.