[Rhapsody]

I was just wondering if there might be someone here in the forums that has had to deal with this allergy..... with in jewelry, food, clothing and household/work items.

I am almost 40 years old and while I have never had an allergy of this type - I have just recently become allergic to Nickel and Nickel Sulphate which is often found in jewelry and most common daily foods, especially in green food and citrus fruit.

Any HELP would be greatly Appreciated!!

... for I am tired of all the daily coughing, nasal & chest congestion, spitting up of thick phlegm... not to mention the body rash from where the metal touches my body.

I cannot wear my wedding band any more -

[californiaDana]

I have a nickel allergy every sincince my first daughter was born. Now I wear gold, but it has never benn an issue with food.

Dana

[Rhapsody]

Originally Posted by californiaDana

I have a nickel allergy every since my first daughter was born. Now I wear gold, but it has never been an issue with food.

Dana

I too wear GOLD jewelry, but that is exactly what is causing my skin to break out and not to be able to wear my 14k Wedding Band any more (after 20 yrs of marriage), reason being is that most GOLD that is 14k or less is often mixed with Nickel to make the metal stronger and last longer.

Now what............... I guess my body has just become very sensitive to Nickel over time, therefore, I am having problems with food and other items that contain Nickel in them.

Should Foods Containing Nickel Be Avoided?
There is disagreement within the medical community as to 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 for Nickel Allergy
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, but it can and will return with exposure.


What is a lady to do........ HELP!! - anyone?


Rhapsody -

[Cherie]

I started years ago breaking out under my wedding ring. The doc said it was the nickle that is used to harden the godl and suggested I paint several layers of clear nailpolish in the inside of the band and let it dry thoroughly between coats. That has worked for years to keep the rash at bay.

Never knew it affected foods as well. Can you imagine having to paint every leaf of spinach with clear nail polish, letting it dry and then eating it?:icon_wink:

[Boopers]

I have always been allergic to any metal that is not gold. When I was 18, I got my ears pierced for the first time and after they healed, I bought these great pair of earrings but they weren't gold. I didn't know then, that I was allergic. I ended up getting metal poisoning that ran down both sides of my neck!! Talk about painful!! So, everyone knows that if they buy me jewelry of any kind, it has to be gold. Needless to say, I don't get much jewelry!!
So far, I haven't been allergic to any food!


Linda

[mrsD]

It is not understood well, as an allergen. If you are not getting mouth sores,
I would not think it is having an effect.

If you want to try an experiment, you can take Zantac or Pepcid over the
counter for a week, or two and see if they have a positive effect.
H2 antagonists, are often used in food allergy reactions. (Prilosec will NOT
work--it is not an H2 antagonist).

[Rhapsody]

Originally Posted by mrsd

It is not understood well, as an allergen. If you are not getting mouth sores, I would not think it is having an effect.

YES, mouth sores can be a sign that you are having an allergic reaction to Nickel, but there are other symptoms (which I have).......
Skin reactions such as itching, burning, redness or other rashes are common symptoms with Nickel sensitivity, and asthma attacks are another, but less frequently seen in people.

I personally tend to get the over all body rash that comes and goes when I come into contact with Nickel, in food and items.... plus I suffer more from sinus problems when to much Nickel gets into my body, via vitamins and food.

SIGH!!! What can I say, but that I have become extremely sensitive to Nickel this past year.... one of those rare few people that fall into the 2-5 % range that will develop Nickel Allergies.

Thanks for the advice with the suggested experiment - I have done something similar to that and it helped some, but not enough.

[Lara]

Hi Rhapsody, I'm sorry to read of your problems with the allergy.
I'm curious as to whether you've ever had any type of orthopedic surgery or implants of any kind? I'm only asking because there are a few articles in PubMed regarding the onset of generalized dermatitis after certain orthopedic procedures using products containing nickel.

[Lara]

Wow, I was just doing some more reading. Nickel is in so many things. I had no clue! This must be an awful allergy to have, Rhapsody.

mrsd, is the Zantac or similar something that will affect the PH of the skin. That's what I was thinking about. I've had a few of problems over the years with discoloration from jewellery (obvious to me now that it's probably the nickel) and I only noticed that when it was extra hot weather and I was perspiring. I've never had the dermatitis though. I was just putting two and two together here and wondered if it's the PH of the skin that would make that discoloration... like leech out some of the nickel and if so, would that be worth checking into for Rhapsody?

http://allergies.about.com/cs/nickel/a/aa011000a.htm

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.

[Rhapsody]

Originally Posted by Lara

Hi Rhapsody, I'm sorry to read of your problems with the allergy.

NO.... I have never had any surgery that involved implants or metal devices and YES.... I have the Nickel Kit for items, but that does not help much with food that I eat. I did however realize this week that the Vitamin that I take has 5mg of Nickel added to it, therefore, I am changing to Centrum (reg formula for adults) for it does not add Nickel to its vitamin.... other formulas of Centrum do however, so one with a Nickel allergy must read the label to find out.

I have already been to my doctor and a dermatologist and they both have confirmed that it is indeed the Nickel that I am allergic to, they have a Nickel Testing Patch.

Still lost and hoping that someone else may come along that has this problem as well and maybe they can HELP me out a little.... for eating a Nickel FREE diet is near to impossible.