I had a burning sensation on the back of my neck this morning, and later in the day it turned into a red rash with "speed bumps" raised up (not little round bumps, but big raised areas).

I wore my mom's vintage pearls to the opera last night (stepdad pays, what a great guy!!) and the rash, about 4-5 inches long, may correspond to the areas where the silver clasp touched over the course of the evening.

After a bit of research, I see that silver usually contains nickel and that can cause an allergic rash hours to days after exposure. However, this rash does NOT itch, as all the nickel-allergy sites say; it just burns when touched.

It ain't shingles because it crosses the centerline of my neck. (I learned ALL about shingles before I was REJECTED for a shingles-vaccine study because I have paresthesias, fancy that!)

Anyone had this? I don't remember ever having a reaction to jewelry before. I've had what I supposed to be heat rashes on my neck in the summer, but it's COLD these days! and this is a raised rash.

Nancy T.

Weird, Nancy!! I've never had that reaction. Do you have some benedral? I hope it heals soon..

I have a nickel allergy too, and can only wear jewelry that's 14k gold, or silver that is either .825 silver, or .925 silver.

All silver jewelry, and I mean ACTUAL silver jewelry, not the stuff that's electroplated, has to be stamped somewhere on it as .825 or .925 silver. If you dont see that stamp, then it's not real silver.

I'm very careful when I buy silver jewelry now. I have to inspect it to make sure it's stamped, otherwise I'll just be wasting my money. Ticks my relatives off because they dont realize that the electroplate stuff is usually nickel...they think if it's silvery colored then it's real silver.

Yep, I'm allergic . . . and have a mouth full of caps which contain nickel:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ghlight=nickel

Many people, especially men it seems, are allergic (or sensitive) to nickel. I used to work for an international watch manufacturer, and that had to be the number one complaint; rashes on the arm, or even just under the watch face.

Cherie

Add me to the list! It's actually very common!

I used to work for a plastic surgeon and we carried special earring for people to use to pierce their ears that contained no nickel.

A lot of people who end up with inflammed or infected ear lobes from piercing (and I suppose other body parts --- bad visual here! ) would wear these 22k earrings. Occasionally, I end up with a pair of cheap earrings and my ear lobes will flare up and I will wear them for a couple of weeks to calm down my ears.

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

What symptoms do you get from your nickel allergy? My rash does not itch at all--it just burns. Anyone know if this is likely?

Thanks,

Nancy (not a jewelry wearer... but it was fun to wear pearls to the opera!)

That's exactly it, Nancy . . . burning with rawness, kinda' like eczema-looking. When it is in the ears, often they will get a puss-like weepiness, and will feel infected. If it's in the mouth . . . who knows, maybe it causes MS.

Cherie

I don't have a nickel allergy but I am sensitive to Aluminum. I can't drink out of soda cans or eat off of anything that has an aluminum base or coverage.

I also have a nickle allergy. My derm gave me a simple sollution for those special occassions: Just coat the offending piece with clear nail polish. Please note this a short term solution only, as it wears off. I also wouldn't use it on anything really expensive IMHO. I use it for the locket (a sentimental gift) and it works great.

I don't, but my son does. He's had it all his life. Snaps on baby clothes broke him out, belt buckles still do, he can't wear nickel in necklaces, etc.