What is a nickel allergy?

The nickel allergy is the most commons contact allergy in this country . The trigger is contact with nickel, which can be jewelry or food. Nickel is a hard, silver-white metal that is often used in industrial production because it is ductile and therefore easy to process and it is also inexpensive. In 1994 the European Union issued a directive regulating the use of nickel. 

According to the allergy information service, two in ten people are allergic to nickel . On average, women are affected more often than men, which is probably due to the fact that they wear jewelry containing nickel more often. It is not only cheap costume jewelry that contains nickel, even silver and white gold often contain nickel . The German Skin and Allergy Aid e. According to V., up to 20 percent nickel can be found in the alloy in 18-carat white gold, for example.

In contrast to immediate type allergies such as pollen or insect venom allergy, in which the symptoms appear more or less immediately after contact with the allergy trigger, nickel allergy, also a contact allergy, belongs to the late type allergies . This mean that there is usually a delay of 24 to 72 hours for the reaction to the nickel .

The reason for this delayed reaction is the so-called T lymphocytes. These are helper cells that are located in the lower layers of the skin and the lymph nodes. In the cases of a contact allergy, the T-cell “remembers” the intruder. This is basically a sensible mechanism, as the T cells can become active more quickly the next time they come into contact with them. If you are allergic to nickel, the cells react by migrating to the upper layers of the skin and causing an inflammatory reaction there. Since they have to get there first, there is a time lag. Quite apart from the fact that the hard-working defense workers grossly overestimate the danger in this case.

Nickel allergy: it has these causes

The metal ions in nickel are very small. So small that the human immune system doesn't actually recognize them. In other words, nickel alone cannot actually trigger an allergy. It is only when the T cells classify it as dangerous, attach themselves to it and cause inflammation that an allergic reaction occurs. This process, during which the T cells notice nickel as an intruder and react faster and faster to it, is called sensitization. This usually takes months or years. The fact that people not only react allergic when they eat something containing nickel, but also (and especially) when only their skin comes into contact with it, is probably due to the fact that the slightly acidic sweat dissolves the nickel particles from the metal and these through the upper one Skin barrier, the horny layer, penetrate.

It is unclear why someone develops a nickel allergy; it can be assumed that the individual skin condition is just as important as sweating, frequent washing or existing inflammation. Gender and age also seem to play a role. A study in which scientists evaluated data from 100,000 test persons between 2005 and 2014 showed that only 8.5 percent of children up to 10 years of age have a nickel allergy, with 12.35 percent of those aged 13 to 17 years and finally 15.5 percent of adults. The "Study on Adult Health in Germany" (DEGS1), which collected data from almost 8,000 test subjects between the ages of 18 and 79 between 2008 and 2011, showed that 12.7 percent of women were affected by a contact allergy, but only 3.4 Percent of men.

A nickel allergy therefore arises from contact with nickel. But what is nickel in it and should it not come into contact with nickel allergy sufferers if possible? Here are a few of the mosts common triggers:

• A nickel allergy can result from jewelry (e.g. earrings, necklaces, bracelets).
• A nickel allergy can also occur under the watch on the wrist.
• A nickel allergy can develop on the face from glasses .
• A nickel allergy from piercings is also possible.
• And last but not least, nickel is also found in certain foods . A nickel allergy from food can also occur (see " Foods that contain nickel ").

 

Nickel allergy: symptoms

You can usually recognize a nickel allergy by the reddening of the part of the body where the nickel-containing product came into contact with the skin. For example, in the area of ​​the navel, if there was nickel in the trouser button or belt buckle.

After that, swellings, blisters or small wounds that ooze, as well as crusts often form . Often the area itches or burns. Scientists speak of allergic eczema here . According to a patient survey by the Robert Koch Institute, 0.8 percent of adults in this country will develop such eczema at some point in their life. In the event of long (chronic) contact with the allergen, the skin of a nickel allergy can also begin to flake or thicken.

Nickel can be found in jewelry, make-up, deodorant or rubber gloves, among other things, which is why the symptoms often appear on certain parts of the body:

• If the symptoms show in the armpit, check your deodorant or depilatory cream for nickel as an ingredient.
• A nickel allergy in the eye area can result from the frame of glasses as well as from make-up or eye drops.
• If you feel redness and itching in the belly button area, this is usually due to the trouser button or belt buckle.
• A nickel-containing chain or toe ring on the foot can cause discomfort.
• If the nickel allergy occurs on the face, this can also be due to the make-up.
• A nickel allergy on the hand usually comes from jewelry such as rings or, if the redness is more in the area of ​​the wrist, from watches or bracelets.
• If the nickel allergy shows up on the neck and / or in the middle of the cleavage, in most cases a chain or a pendant is likely to be the culprit.
• If you have a nickel allergy on your ear, you should check or replace your earrings. It is then very likely that they contain nickel.

With a nickel allergy, the rash is usually limited to the area where there was contact with the allergen; the allergic reaction is an external one. However, if food is the trigger for the nickel allergy, symptoms can also occur internally. People with a nickel allergy often experience symptoms in the intestinal or digestive tract when they consume foods that contain nickel. In addition, skin reactions are also possible here. This constellation is called systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS) in technical jargon .

Test options for nickel allergy

Which doctor is the first point of contact is different. Many people first go to their family doctor when they first notice redness, itching or eczema . He can then refer the affected person to a dermatologist, who at best has an additional qualification in allergology.

To determine if it is a nickel allergy, the doctor will first ask you what symptoms you have, when and how often they came on, what your habits are, and whether there are already allergies in your family.

Afterwards, he often does a skin test to make sure that it is a contact allergy and not a disease with eczema such as neurodermatitis . In the epicutaneous test that is typically used , the doctor sticks a plaster with test clips onto the skin. In the brackets there are allergen preparations that the doctor suspects as triggering allergies. After 48 and 72 hours, the doctor checks whether the skin has reacted to one of the preparations. Since dyes and preservatives, cobalt and other substances can cause a contact allergy in addition to nickel , it is important that the doctor precisely determines the allergen so that the person affected can avoid it accordingly (if possible).

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