Nickel is a metal found naturally in the environment, not only in common objects but also in small quantities in many foods, including some grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Nickel allergy is characterized by an immune response to the metal when the body comes into contact with it, as our organism may recognize it as a potentially dangerous agent, thereby triggering an allergic reaction.
It often manifests as an itchy skin rash. It can also cause other skin changes, such as redness and blisters.
Once it has developed, it is unlikely to disappear. The only way to treat it is to avoid, or at least reduce, contact with all objects and foods containing nickel.
What are the symptoms of nickel allergy?People with a nickel allergy usually begin to develop a skin reaction as the main symptom 12 to 48 hours after coming into contact with an object containing nickel. Symptoms include:
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The allergic reaction affects only the part of the skin that comes into contact with the nickel. Even the ingestion of foods containing small amounts of nickel can trigger an immune response that causes skin signs in any case.
The rash usually lasts for two to four weeks after exposure.
What causes a nickel allergy reaction?
People with allergies have an immune system that mistakes a typically harmless substance for a potentially harmful one, thus beginning to produce chemicals designed to remove it.
The exact cause of nickel allergy is not known. However, researchers believe that nickel sensitivity may be genetic.
How is a nickel allergy diagnosed?
Your doctor or dermatologist may suspect a nickel allergy based primarily on the skin signs and the patient's history.
If suspected, a patch test is performed, which involves applying a small amount of nickel to a patch that is then placed in contact with the skin.
Patch tests are generally very safe and should not cause a major, and therefore dangerous, allergic reaction.
48 hours after the patch test, the presence or absence of the characteristic signs of an allergic reaction is checked. If the skin looks irritated, the allergy may be diagnosed.
How is a nickel allergy treated?
There is no cure for a nickel allergy. As with other allergies, the best treatment is to avoid the allergen.
Foods that contain nickel
As we have already mentioned, nickel is also present in a large number of foods, including:
- nuts and seeds
- soy milk
- chocolate and cocoa powder
- some canned and processed foods, including meat and fish
- some grains, including: oats, buckwheat, wheat germ, whole wheat pasta
- some vegetables, including: asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, tomato
- some legumes, including: dried chickpeas, lentils, peas
- soy-based products, such as tofu
- some fruits, including: pineapple and pears
- all canned fruit
- black tea
Avoiding all foods containing nickel is very difficult if you want to maintain a balanced diet. Therefore, it is best to start by refraining from using cooking equipment that contains it, avoiding wearing jewelry containing nickel and clothing with zippers and buttons coated in it, and then possibly proceeding with a nickel-free diet. Finally, also pay attention to medications and supplements that might contain it among their excipients!
Bibliography
- https://server.aad.org/Forms/Policies/Uploads/PS/PS-Nickel%20Sensitivity.pdf?
- https://www.the-dermatologist.com/content/goblin%E2%80%99s-copper-%E2%80%94-time-nickel-directed-us-health-policy-here
- Lidén C. (2018) Metal Allergy: Nickel. In: Chen J., Thyssen J. (eds) Metal Allergy. Springer, Cham.
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nickel-allergy/symptoms-causes/syc-20351529
- https://www.aocd.org/page/NickelAllergy
- Sharma AD. Low nickel diet in dermatology. Indian J Dermatol 2013