Well, I have this allergy. Been allergic to nickel in jewelry long time, so wear only gold. Few years ago discovered it in multi-vitamin and was being treated for dermatitis. recently allergy got worse and unable to find md who knows of it. Dermatoligist told me "better do research as it's only in metal." and allergist doesn't know anything either. I have yet to be tested. From info found on internet, Vitamin C helps to absorb nickel (it works!) Even got info from CVS pharmasist to back up info found on 'net. I can tolerate low levels of food nickel as long as I don't eat too much. My question is, does anyone have issue with raised liver enzyme with no known cause?

Hi

I'm new to nickel allergies! I haven't had time to read this whole thread yet, but hoping someone could answer this question for me. Are there any chemical symbols/synonyms for nickel which I might see in lists of ingredients in cosmetics etc? I mean, will it always be listed as just plain "nickel" (or NI), or are there other terms to look out for?

Thanks a lot.

Unfortunately food and cosmetic ingredients do not list elemental components (i.e. which elements are in the product). For instance, a cosmetic could list sunflower oil in its ingredients and if you did not know that nuts and seeds are typically high in nickel, then you might think that this product is alright when in fact it could have a significant amount of nickel in it.

That is one of the difficult things about this allergy, you can not just look at the ingredients and tell if it will be OK for you. Even lists that I have found on the internet have conflicting data. Things that are listed as avoid on one list are reported to be Ok on another. Maybe it depends on where the food was grown and what was in the soil there…. I still get blindsided sometimes

Hi, I have only just found out today that I have a nickel allergy. I am 33 and have suffered excema/hayfever my whole life. For the past 10 years (could be slightly more or less) if have had dermatitis on my hands. The constant dryness, itchiness, splitting and cracking over the years has been a constant source of distress. Only today have i found out the actual term, which escapes me at the moment. Dr's and pharmacists over the years have only ever provided me with short term topical treatments like cortisone creams.

A few weeks ago my hand became infected and my Dr referred me to a allergy and hormone specialist. I can tell you one thing I have never been more happy to find an answer to my issues. The specialist has put me on a nickel free/dairy free/wheat free diet which from the brief research I have done seems to be quite limiting. Other than the dermatitis there could be other issues such as hormonal and stomach issues. I came across this forum tonight and have read about half way down. My head is spinning. I can relate to a lot of people on this forum and am looking forward to gaining more knowledge in this area.

This next stage of my journey is looking to be one that will be challenging but if it will help me have a better quality of like then I am willing to do whatever it takes. To know I am not alone is an added bonus.

I've just read most of the thread. I was diagnosed with a severe nickel allergy through the horrible patch tests last October and the spot they tested is still blistering now 8 months later. The dermatologist told me to wear titanium jewelery (I also have tested positive for a gold allergy and other things) but that it couldn't possibly be causing my constantly cracked and peeling fingertips which are getting so bad my fingernails have started to become bent and deformed. I also have many other symptoms - fatigue, mental fog, very poor short term memory, hair loss, unexplained tendonitis and bursitis and tearing in both shoulders, ridiculously heavy menstrual bleeding, burning ring of small blisters around my lips anytime I put anything on other than petroleum jelly, bloating & abdominal pain, and more. All of this started after the birth of my last child and a significant infection from a C-section. I have eliminated most nickel contact since I now have a test kit, but haven't tried the food elimination yet.

I have had many tests run for many conditions and the only thing that comes back abnormal has been my TSH but only slightly over the normal range here (5.01) and a small amount of tpo antibodies. I've been on a low dose of synthroid for 2 months and the fatigue and mental fog has improved a great deal but none of the other symptoms so far anyway.

I'm wondering if anyone else has thyroid issues as well? A lot of the reading I have done seems to link thyroid with autoimmune issues.

Thanks!

Autumn

Anyone who has a doctor not believing nickel in food, the following site give info. This site is of the company who does the allergy testing. *edit* click on each item and it will give more info. So glad my allergist believed me to start with. the allefgist who took off the patch thought I was crazy.

I am so happy I found this thread. My husband had a stent (nickel & cobalt chromium) placed in his heart in 2009. The day after, he came home with a small rash on his chest. Needless to say, two years later, he is head to toe with red skin, blisters, rashes, severe itching and burning skin. This man has not had one day free of these symptoms. We have been to every specialist, and no one knows what is wrong with him. We've tried every lotion & potion the dermatoligist suggested, Prednisone therapy for a month, twice. That kept the symptoms to a dull roar, but never took them away completely. We all know what long-term prednisone does to internal organs.

He has an appointment with an allergist tomorrow, and we are hoping to find out if he is allergic to nickel or cobalt chromium. I suspected a nickel allergy a year ago, and was told by cardiologist that it never happens. However, on the website of the company that makes the stent, they have a disclaimer about potential nickel allergy with the stents! After doing a lot of research, I am finding all of my husband's symptoms fit with a nickel allergy. When I mentioned my thoughts to the cardiologist & what happens if he is allergic to nickel or cobalt chromium, he dismissed it saying that they NEVER remove stents, that my husband will just have to learn to live with it. After two years, my husband is exhausted, drained, doesn't sleep, in constant pain, has no quality of life, and really doesn't want to live too much longer with this. Honestly, I don't know how his body will hold up under such constant inflammation. Again, if the stent stays in place, how does he cope?

Will post again when I find out for sure. Good information on this thread. Thanks so much.

I had to register here just to post this message. I have had a severe nickel allergy after wearing watches with nickel in them since very young. I used to get creams to put on my wrist to remove the rash but they thinned the skin and in the end my rash spread over most of my two hands after a few years.

However I found out that eating poppy seeds which you can get from any herb/natural remedy shop removed the rash in the same way after a week. I found out about this off the internet reading how poppy seeds remove nickel out of your body. So I recommend any one with a nickel allergy tries it. Eat two teaspoons of poppy seeds every day for two weeks and you should see the nickel rash vanish and stay gone for months.

It isnt a cure but it certainly works and eating poppy seeds is far better than using endless creams and constantly watching your diet. I believe poppy seeds do have nickel in them (like all nuts and seeds) but they extract a lot more nickel out of the body than they add so I think that's how they work. So it may take a week for them to start to work. But they definitely work for me.

I would also say that there seems to be various types of poppy seeds and they all look the same. Some are quite sweetish - similar to eating peanuts - whereas some seem to be quite bitter. So look around if you get ones that taste horrible you may find some nicer ones.

Good luck.

Hello, this is my first time blogging. I have nichel allergy, lactose intollerance and soon will do lots of testinf including fiinding out more about wheat, gluten and recently a sad skin depigmentation. I have been strong researching, trying to find a good allergist, dermatologist, etc here in Rome Italy or for the future in Nyc. Any contacts? Most important though is this question: What is the exact link for the FDA metals in food? you say p. 129 but I haven't found the correct link. I have several lists which I will willingly share but first want to continue my research. I look forward to getting and giving info and support. Sharing experiences could be very important. Ciao

Great info from everyone, thank you very much for keeping this thread alive so long.

I was always sensitive to nickel in cheap jewellery and jeans buttons, etc. but only metal objects against my skin.

I had an allergic reaction to a swab with chlorahexamine while getting Iv antibiotics for lyme disease, and have become very sensitive to a lot of chemicals and even my water, and my nickel allergy is now much worse.

I have only this to add to all this great info. As a gardener, i had a problem with a lack of certain nutrients in my garden soil, as indicated by certain symptoms in the plants. I could not remedy the problem, but still had a good year in the garden which is organic and permaculture in style. (northern Canada)
I can not eat commercially grown lettuce without cramps and bloating almost right away, and as a chef I have had lettuce from many suppliers over the years.
Here's the thing, I can eat the lettuce from my garden in large amounts with NO problems whatever. I never get any problems from my own garden produce, even things on the nay nay list for nickel, like potatoes and beans, but store bought stuff is always a problem. I have come to the conclusion that it how these things are grown and fertilized greatly effects the nickel levels. My garden has been low in phosporus, and I do not use chemical fertilizers. My mother in law uses chemical npk type fertilizers and I can not eat her lettuce either.

I am hoping those who miss their veggies might try growing at least lettuce on a window ledge, and try it out. Just try to find soil that is low in minerals with nickel...
and do not use fertilizer unless you are sure it has no nickel. This is just a suggestion the seems to be working for me that may give some of you a better diet if you can grow a few things in the right soil.

I can no longer work due to Lyme disease crippling me, as I have lost my sight and my ability to work, as Canada refuses to allow me to get more treatment. As a chef, you have to taste everything you serve (if you are any good) and I was so nauseated all the time, but I had not considered that I was surrounded by stainless steel EVERYTHING all day, tables, tools, walls, sinks. I am hoping this may be part of my skin problems, as i have ACA from the Lyme, and already have severe skin problems and loss of collagen, but the itchy oozing rashes seem unrelated to the regular outbreaks of other lyme symptoms.

Thanks to one and all for offering at least the faint hope of resolving some of the constant pain I am in.