|
Nickel allergy is among the most common causes when it comes to  developing various forms of allergic contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is a very itchy rash that appears on the skin once an allergen is touched. Usually, these allergens are harmless substances. Nickel allergy has been associated with watchbands, jewelry, coins and eye wear frames. People of all ages can be affected by this allergy. For instance, you may develop a nickel allergy once you are exposed to nickel one time or you can develop the allergic reactions only after a longer period of exposure to nickel. However, there are plenty of treatments available and they can help you reduce the nasty symptoms of your nickel allergy. But once you have developed a nickel allergy, you are likely to stay very sensitive to this substance for the rest of your life and you will have to do your best and avoid it. People who are allergic to nickel will react to this metal as soon as they come into direct contact with it. This happens because their immune system will be telling their bodies that nickel is a harmful substance to them. The main symptoms of a nickel allergy are likely to affect the person within 10 to 48 hours after he has been exposed to this substance and they may actually last up to 2 or 3 weeks. The most common symptoms caused by a nickel allergy include severe itching, bumps and rash on the skin surface, redness in skin color, draining fluid and blisters in the most severe cases and dry patches of skin, patches that look like a burn. Nickel is present in many items that people use on a daily basis. For instance, belt buckles, jewelry, zippers, phone parts and even some nutritional supplements may contain nickel. Some even speculate that body piercings are to be blamed as well for the increasing number of nickel allergies. In this case, you should remember that , if you have a piercing, the nickel in it will be both outside and inside your skin. Often, for nickel allergies, cortisone creams are used in order to alleviate the inflammation and antihistamines are used in order to relieve the nasty itching. Once you body has become sensitive to nickel, this reaction will continue to increase. Usually, the allergic reaction in the case of a nickel allergy is localized but it can also spread through the whole system of the person suffering from it. Patch testing is a sure way to determine whether you are suffering from a nickel allergy or not. An allergist will test you for foods, environmental factors, dust mites and chemicals in order to find out whether nickel is the real culprit in your case. Also, if you are suffering from a nickel allergy, it is wiser to think about all the things you are coming into contact with during your whole day. You should do this in order to stay away from things that can trigger allergic reactions in your system. For instance, even the smallest paper clip that contains nickel could become a cause for your allergic reactions. So, you should not overlook any item even if it seems to be an innocent one. Photo - Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/roxsm/4426037547/
|