Nickel allergy

What it is

Nickel is a leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis, an itchy rash that develops when the skin touches a normally harmless material.⁶ Contact dermatitis is a common type of rash, and it appears where the skin touched the trigger.⁴ Nickel is the metal people are most often allergic to. More women than men have the allergy, probably because more women have pierced ears, and AAAAI calls body piercing the single most common cause.⁶

It is not the same as irritant contact dermatitis, a skin reaction to something touching the skin that comes from irritation rather than from an allergy.¹

Contact dermatitis can develop right away, or it can appear only after months of exposure to a substance.¹

Symptoms it causes

In people who are allergic to it, nickel causes an itchy red rash, similar to a reaction from poison ivy.⁶ ACAAI describes contact dermatitis as red, itchy bumps, especially where the skin met the allergen, and lists a rash, blisters, itching and burning among its symptoms.⁵

MedlinePlus says contact dermatitis causes redness, itching and sometimes small bumps, and that some rashes can lead to blisters or patches of raw skin.⁴

AAAAI says a nickel rash can appear up to two days after touching the metal and last up to a month.⁶

AAAAI says an allergist/immunologist is the best doctor to diagnose nickel allergy.⁶ An allergy patch test checks for allergic reactions to allergens that touch the skin. A provider places small patches that look like adhesive bandages and contain small amounts of specific allergens. They are worn for 48 to 96 hours, and then the provider removes them and checks for rashes or other reactions.³

Where it’s found

Nickel is in many metal items that sit against the skin, and jewelry is a frequent trigger of nickel allergy.⁶ AAAAI adds coins, keys, eyeglass frames, home fixtures, metal snaps on clothing, dental braces, crowns and dentures, and orthopedic surgical hardware.⁶ ACAAI notes that nickel is a component of stainless steel and of other alloys used to make costume jewelry.⁵

Nickel is one of many substances that cause allergic contact dermatitis. AAFA lists its most common triggers as certain plants, such as poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac; metals such as nickel or cobalt; preservatives in cosmetics, industrial products and cleaning products; fragrances in perfumes, soaps, lotions and some personal care products; rubber and plastic products, such as those containing latex; and hair dyes.²