I'm another one with a nickel allergy, but it didn't show up until I was 30 years old! Prior to that I could wear any kind of earrings!
I used to be able to where the Simply Whispers earrings, but now I can't even wear those!
So it's 14 kt, gold or nothing at all. I haven't tried Titanium yet.
Allergic to Nickel
From Judy Tidwell,
Your Guide to Allergies.
An Allergy That Is Increasing
The popular trend of piercing various body parts has triggered an increase in allergic reactions to nickel.
"In the 1980s, the incidence of allergies to nickel was about 10 percent," Dr. David Cohen of the New York University School of Medicine told CNN. "By the mid-1990s, that number had increased almost 40 percent to 14.3 percent."
Who Is Susceptible?
The allergy to nickel can develop at any age. It is more common in women, but the incidence in men is increasing because of the popular trend in piercing various body parts. Once nickel allergy occurs, it often persists for a lifetime.
A reaction is usually triggered by prolonged exposure. With body piercing the skin is directly exposed to the nickel for long periods of time, therefore increasing susceptiblity.
Doctors recommend using stainless steel posts for piercing and using them until the holes completely heal. Make sure the jewelry used is nickel free.
While reports of nickel dermatitis are now rare in most workplaces, there are occupations such as hairdressers, cleaning crews, and hospital staff who are involved with wet work that may be susceptible to nickel dermatitis.
Nickel Exposure
Nickel is often mixed with other metals to produce an alloy. Gold jewelry of 14 karats or less may contain enough nickel to provoke a reaction. Even though pure sterling silver contains no nickel, it is often coated with it. White gold alloy often contains nickel.
Stainless steel contains nickel but its structure is such that the nickel is unable to escape or to be leached out by perspiration or moisture.
The word hypoallergenic may be misleading on some jewelry. The posts may not contain nickel but the jewelry might.
Besides jewelry, nickel may be found in belts, clothing hooks, eyeglasses, hairpins, metal buttons, watches, and zippers.
Also consider cigarette lighters, cupboard handles, doorknobs, handbag catches, keys, key rings, kitchen utensils, lipstick holders, needles, paper clips, pins, pens, pocket knives, powder compacts, razors, scissors, silverware, thimbles, toaster, tools, and vacuum cleaners as potential sources of nickel.
Does It Contain Nickel?
There are kits available to test items for nickel content. The kit consists of two small bottles of clear fluid; one contains dimethylglyoxime and the other ammonium hydroxide. When mixed together in the presence of nickel, a pink color results. Ask your doctor or pharmacist where you can purchase one of these kits.
Contributing Factors
Factors that contribute to nickel contact dermatitis may include sweat, humidity, temperature, the general condition of the skin, and occlusion (e.g. by gloves).
Should Foods Containing Nickel Be Avoided?
There is disagreement within the medical community, whether a nickel-sensitive person should avoid dietary nickel. A nickel-restricted diet may be prescribed for highly nickel sensitive people for a few months to see if there is any improvement in symptoms.
In this instance, the foods to avoid include acid foods cooked in stainless steel utensils, baking powder, beans, buckwheat, canned fruits, canned vegetables, cocoa & chocolate, dried fruit, figs, green beans, kale, leeks, legumes, lentils, lettuce, licorice, linseed, millet, nuts, oats, onions, oysters, peas, pineapple, prunes, raspberries, salmon, shellfish, soy powder, spinach, rhubarb, sprouts, sunflower seeds, tea, tomatoes, wheat bran products, and multigrain breads.
Treatment
There is no way to desensitize a person with nickel allergy with shots, pills, or any other method. Avoiding use of nickel containing products is the key in treatment. Often times a rash can be stopped by applying a cortisone cream or lotion.
