Allergic reaction to the skin can occur from many things in the environment and even in your everyday life. Objects that you use every day could be irritating your skin, or cause an allergic reaction. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to nickel is a good example of this, and there are ways to prevent this reaction. This can appear on the skin as a rash where the skin may be red and itchy. Blisters can also appear in the later stages of the reaction.
Objects Containing Nickel
There are many objects you probably come into contact with on a daily basis that contain nickel. If you are having reactions, here are a few things to look for in order to determine if your rash is from nickel. Coming into contact with items such as the following can result in ACD to nickel.
- Coins
- Zippers
- Jewelry
- Cellphones
- Eyeglass frames
Foods Containing Nickel
You can stay away from objects containing nickel, but you may not have thought about the foods you are eating. There are many common foods that contain nickel, and if incorporated into your diet, they too can result in allergic reactions. If you are unsure about which foods contain nickel, check the labels. Here are a few foods to look out for:
- Soy milk and chocolate milk
- Chocolate and cocoa powders
- Nuts and seeds
- Many canned and processed foods
- Some grains
Testing for Nickel Contact Dermatitis
If you are having frequent skin rashes under your watch band, below your bellybutton or on your ears after wearing costume jewelry, you might have ACD to nickel. There are a few ways to test for a nickel allergy, one of them being a skin patch test. This test will be done by putting small drops of common allergens on your skin and cover them with patches to see how your body reacts. Nickel can be included in this test.
Nickel is one of the most common skin allergies. If you suspect you have ACD to nickel, contact me to find out more information and get a confirmatory test.
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